Generator Powered by Body Heat

We've seen all sorts of power-saving tricks built into devices recently, but little has been done to address the fact that a lot of devices use power sources that end up getting tossed into landfills. I'm not exactly on a soap box about this, but it just seems weird to address a device's power use without coming up with something better than a disposable AA battery as a source of the power. Applied Digital Solutions seems to be moving toward an environmentally friendly means of powering devices - albeit on a small scale. The company has developed a miniaturized thermoelectric generator, which comprises a half" diameter ceramic-based "battery" that converts low gradient body heat flow into electrical power. The battery is a solid-state device that doesn't contain any chemicals and, according to the company, would never need to be replaced. Right now, the device generates 1.5 volts of electricity with 10 micron amps and is able to operate continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Applied Digital thinks the new body-heat battery has a wide variety of potential uses, including powering attachable and implantable medical devices and keeping your wristwatch running forever (as long as you're wearing it and you're still producing body heat). The company currently has plans to develop a battery capable of generating 3 volts of electricity with 10 microns. It also plans to integrate the batteries into its Digital Angel products. Scheduled to launch in November 2001, Digital Angel products combine biosensor technology and web-enabled wireless telecommunications linked to Global Positioning Systems (GPS). Digital Angel monitors body functions, such as temperature and pulse, and transmits that data, along with accurate location information, to a ground station or monitoring facility. You might not want your boss insisting you wear one so he knows when (and where) you're playing hooky, but it could come in pretty handy if you're lost somewhere or hurt, as can be the case for rescue personnel and others. The battery sounds like an especially good idea. If it put out a little more juice, you could use your stress to power your PDA.