While the initial prototype may not be all that aesthetically pleasing, it’s likely appearance wasn’t one of the main focuses when NEC teamed with Soundpower to create a remote control that doesn’t require batteries. Images and information on NEC’s new gadget are just being released and digested, and the day where battery-free remote controls are the norm is on it’s way to becoming reality.
Several different concepts of battery-free remote controls have come out in recent months, including a wind-up remote that’s already made it’s way to market. What makes the device being developed by NEC unique is that it stores and re-uses the energy generated from vibrations made each time the user clicks the buttons. Whenever the channel is changed or the volume adjusted, the battery-free remote harnesses that energy to be used for future television adjustments.
While the concept of a battery-free remote control is intriguing, it appears that there’s still some work to be done before you find one sitting on the arm of your favorite la-z-boy. With the NEC-Soundpower version still in the development stages, the estimated release date is set for sometime in 2011. As noted by Crunchgear, both companies plan to start marketing it to makers of home electric appliances next year.
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