If you ask me, smartphones are one of the
greatest things to happen to humanity.
You’ve got a palm-sized computer with you
at all times!
…Also making them one of the most annoying
things ever!
You know, that computer requires power, so
you constantly have to charge the thing.
So, why don't we just make smartphones solar-powered?
Seems like a great idea in the making!
The limited time you can use your phone without
plugging it into a socket can cause a whole
slew of problems, from being unable to answer
an important call to failing to find an electrical
outlet when you need it most.
As for the sun, it's always there, it's an
endless source of energy, AND people already
use it to charge batteries!
You can see solar panels on factories and
buildings, parking meters, streetlights, swimming
pools, backpacks, and even calculators!
But with smartphones, it’s not as simple
as it may seem.
To charge your gadget with the help of a solar
panel, you'll have to leave it in direct sunlight.
You might know that modern phones are vulnerable
to extreme temperatures, especially when they're
scorching.
As for an electronic device left in the sun,
it’s bound to get red-hot!
Smartphones start to strain as soon as the
temperature reaches 95°F. They get warmer
and warmer, and all the electronics they're
packed with eventually become overheated.
The result?
Nonrecoverable data loss, permanent battery
damage, all that hard-earned money you gave
for the thing burns up along with it!
That’s not even the worst of it!
The heat from the sun can lead to battery
leakage, which can cause a fire!
Plus, smartphones are called "smart" for a
reason.
If they feel that their life is in danger,
they can just shut down to protect themselves
from getting fried.
It means that solar-powered smartphones must
be structurally different, for example, made
of different materials so that they can deal
with sunlight and not melt from the heat.
Another problem with solar panels is deciding
where to install them.
I don't know about you, but my smartphone
is in a protective case at all times.
I imagine yours is too.
It means that it’d be too inconvenient to
place a solar battery on the back of the device.
As for the opposite side, it's covered with
a screen that takes up the whole front part
of the phone.
Ok, then why not just put solar panels on
phone cases?
You could probably connect the cover to your
device with a cable and charge it this way!
But then again, where do you keep your smartphone
throughout the day?
Mine’s always in my pocket, and no sunlight
gets there!
Rven when I pull the phone out and hold it
in my hands, its back still faces down!
It means that if the device was equipped with
a solar panel, it would also face the ground,
not the sky!
I've already mentioned solar-powered calculators
– they’re about the same size as a smartphone,
so those tiny panels should work, right?
Well, consider this: calculators don't need
nearly as much power as your cell phone does.
They don't transmit tons of data, take pictures
and videos, or make calls.
When using a calculator, you do it mostly
in the open where the thing can feed on some
sunlight, while your phone is hidden somewhere
in the darkness of your pants pocket or your
bag.
And one more thing: let's compare a calculator's
tiny and simple LCD display and a smartphone's
large, bright, colorful one.
The amount of energy the devices need to make
their screens work is worlds apart.
By the way, the most powerful calculators
don't use solar panels!
And now, how about the weather?
I mean, most people don't live somewhere where
it's sunny 24/7!
The ideal conditions for charging your solar-powered
phone would be a clear sky and bright sun
shining directly on the panel.
But it’s often overcast, it may rain, it
could be foggy, and indoor artificial light
isn't suitable for charging solar batteries.
It means that your beloved gadget wouldn't
get a stable charge, which puts you right
back at square one: your battery’s low at
an incredibly inconvenient time!
Still, lots of manufacturers are looking for
ways to make solar batteries work for cell
phones.
Not many people know about it or even remember
them, but there used to be smartphones powered
by the sun!
They first appeared in 2009 because it seemed
like the only way to deal with electric power
outages in some regions.
At that time, if you solar-charged your phone
for 1 hour, you could then use this energy
to call someone and talk for about 5 to 10
minutes.
Doesn’t sound like the epitome of efficiency,
but you gotta hand it to them for the innovation
– it was the very first phone of its kind.
Some more advanced phones equipped with solar
panels came out later on.
There was Samsung’s "Blue Earth" that provided
users with access to the Internet, social
media sites, and YouTube.
These smartphones had Wi-Fi, 3G, and GPS.
But their main problem was that the solar
panels didn't actually charge the phone – they
just kept the battery topped off.
And even though that particular phone model
didn't need tons of energy to work, the solar
battery was still pretty much useless, which
is why the device ended up being quite unpopular.
In short, any company that’s tried to come
up with a functioning solar-powered phone
encountered the same problems.
The back covers were usually too small, and
the solar batteries weren't big enough to
keep phones functioning.
You already know that smartphones need loads
of energy to work.
And even if the whole phone was covered in
solar panels, this would still fail to make
your device work for as long as electrical
charging does.
As for the energy received from small solar
panels on the phone's back cover, you’d
only be able to keep your phone in standby
mode and probably talk for a short time.
And now, imagine the amount of time you spend
Googling, Instagramming, and Face-timing every
single day!
A solar panel just wouldn't be able to pull
it off!
Still, producers haven’t lost hope, and
they keep upgrading solar-powered phones.
They’ve now invented a special film that
changes light into electricity.
This see-through film could be installed in
smartphones between the display and touch
screen.
It would allow gadgets to charge faster and
more effectively while they're in use.
It makes a lot more sense than placing a solar
panel on the back of the device when your
phone has to be face down to get charged!
Another bonus: while external solar panels
were also more likely to get damaged, that
thin film would be safely hidden inside the
phone.
Light could pass through it, and it would
collect energy from the sun's ultraviolet
and infrared radiation.
You wouldn't even notice that your phone is
charging, AND you could carry it anywhere
while it does!
No more cords or “cordless” magnetic charging
pads that, let’s face it, still have to
be plugged in!
Would you make the switch to a solar-powered
cell?
Let me know down in the comments!
But even this wonder-film can't solve one
big problem: not enough sunlight.
That's why experts are trying to develop transparent
solar concentrators.
Those are supposed to be flat and come in
different sizes, from several feet to a few
inches.
Concentrators can capture ultraviolet and
infrared light and send it to the edges where
it gets converted to electricity.
Another idea is to create a separate solar
sheet you could roll out and charge.
Then, when the battery’s full, you could
connect it to your phone to charge the device.
But even if these technologies succeed, let's
not forget about human nature.
It takes people a long time to get used to
something new and revolutionary.
With solar-powered phones, we’d have to
change our habits.
No more keeping your phone in your pockets
or bag, you’ll have to remember to leave
it in the sun.
Not to mention the additional patience we’ll
need to allow our gadgets enough time to charge!
Oh, and speaking of taking a long time to
get used to something -- wanna see my flip-phone?
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And here are some other cool videos I think
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Just click to the left or right, and stay
on the Bright Side of life!
