10 years

As energy becomes a more expensive commodity, and as developing countries demand more power, we face a substantial challenge in finding ways to bring technology to distant places. One technological advance proposes a solution: kinetic power.

In the Third World, people must charge their electrical devices (such as cell phones) wherever they can. Most nations do not have a reliable electrical grid, most homes are not wired for electricity, and electrical outlets are scarce. However, devices powered by the electricity generated by motion can overcome these limitations.

Consider that, since the 19th century, battery-less wristwatches have run on the small electrical charges created by swinging one's arms while walking. In the 21st century, the XO low-cost laptop now provides its own electricity through the use of a hand crank that charges an internal battery. Small devices, such as cell phones, could use kinetic motion to power them when they are not in use, yielding longer talk-times in more distant locations.

Also, small devices that primarily use RAM chips require much less power than hard drive based devices. As these smaller devices (such as PDAs) become more prevalent in developing nations, they can draw power from the movement of an active population.