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