| Batteries have been an extremely integral part of | | | | going dead while you're alone on the road. Also, |
| our daily lives for many years now. And with | | | | with the energy issue we face as a nation, such |
| more and more devices going portable every day, | | | | technology in vehicles is a top priority. |
| it is easy to see that batteries will continue to be | | | | Batteries are also still becoming smaller and more |
| needed for quite some time. However, as | | | | versatile in their application. The increasing use of |
| research and development continues in fields of | | | | lithium batteries in phones and computers has |
| science and technology, we may see battery | | | | driven developers to design new batteries that |
| usage change dramatically in the coming days. | | | | are as thin as a piece of paper and also as flexible |
| Battery breakthroughs are not a new concept by | | | | as one. This will more than likely begin to show up |
| any means. As with all areas of technology, some | | | | in portable devices very soon since it will allow |
| of the things we take for granted today were | | | | manufacturers to decrease the size and weight of |
| once on the cutting edge of technological battery | | | | these devices and allow more freedom in the |
| development. Rechargeable batteries are one | | | | development process due to their flexibility. |
| example of this, and the fact that small lithium | | | | Finally, alternate forms of battery chemistry and |
| batteries could be manufactured to fit into | | | | technology are constantly being researched in |
| portable devices like telephones was a shocking | | | | order to find cheaper, more efficient forms of |
| notion to some people while the technology was | | | | portable energy. Perhaps the most exciting of |
| still new. Now we hardly see anyone without a | | | | these is the development of the nanobattery. |
| small lithium battery in their pocket or purse. With | | | | Nanotechnology deals with energy on the atomic |
| this in mind, here are some promising areas of | | | | level, and recent advances in this area have |
| development that we may take for granted | | | | created opportunities for such things as wearable |
| sooner than we think. | | | | battery clothing. Something like this would mean |
| Scientists have discovered a way to make a | | | | great things for many people as devices would |
| battery that charges in minutes and lasts for | | | | eventually be able to be plugged directly into |
| years on a single charge. At the time being, size is | | | | clothing. |
| an issue, although the developers hope to make | | | | Batteries are moving from being a necessary |
| the batteries economical for devices such as | | | | afterthought of electronic development to an |
| electric cars, laptops, and cell phones. Imagine | | | | exciting opportunity for advancement and |
| never having to worry about your computer | | | | versatility. But hopefully these advancements |
| dying in the middle of a project or your phone | | | | won't put companies like ours out of business! |