01 April,2011 10:28 AM IST | | Agencies
Out jogging and your iPod has run out of battery? Well, don't worry, your heart could soon be powering your iPod and your mobile phone too.
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Scientists have found a way of powering a range of devices with body movements. A team has created a tiny chip that uses natural motion to generate power for hand-held gadgets. They plan to use the human heart to power these devices, including iPods and mobile phones, eliminating batteries.
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Scientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology in the US, made their discovery using zinc oxide nanowires which create electricity whenever they are manipulated, the Daily Mail reports.
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In theory, any body movement, even the pinch of a finger, could be used to generate power. So far the team used the technology to transmit a radio signal and to power LCD displays and diodes, but they are convinced it can go much further.
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Lead researcher Zhong Lin Wang from Georgia, said: "This development represents a milestone toward producing portable electronics that can be powered by body movements without the use of batteries or electrical outlets."
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"Our nano-generators are poised to change lives in the future. Their potential is only limited by one's imagination," Wang added.
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In experiments five 'nano-generators' created about the same amount of power as two AA batteries - three volts. Wang said: "While a few volts may not seem like much, it has grown by leaps and bounds over previous versions of the nano-generator."