Orange Sound Charge t-shirt will charge your iPhone while you rock [video]
Orange has developed a t-shirt that also doubles as an iPhone charger. The t-shirt which is called the Orange Sound Charge is in a prototype phase at the moment. Extensive testing will be carried out at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.
The eco charging device uses an existing technology in a revolutionary way; by reversing the use of a product called Piezoelectric film, allowing people to charge their mobile phones whilst enjoying their favourite headline act at Glastonbury. Usually found in modern hi-fi speakers, an A4 panel of the modified film is housed inside a t-shirt which then acts much like an oversized microphone by ‘absorbing’ invisible sound pressure waves. These sound waves are converted via the compression of interlaced quartz crystals into an electrical charge, which is fed into an integral reservoir battery that in turn charges most makes and models of mobile phone. As the ‘device’ is worn, a steady charge is able to be dispensed into the phone via a simple interchangeable lead which fits most handsets.
Orange believe that a sound level of around 80dB (which is roughly the ambient noise level of a busy high street) could produce up to 6 watt hours of power. That should be enough to charge up your iPhone which needs 5 watts. The panel in the t-shirt is removable so unlike most festival attendees, you can wash your t-shirt if you need to! Take a look at the video after the break then let us know what you think in the comments!
[Orange]
UK editor at iMore, mobile technology lover and air conditioning design engineer.
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If I ever come across anyone wearing this, they're getting punched in the neck.
I agree...lol
Wow just wow.
I want one....lol
one word, Why?
Wonder if you could hook up speakers to your iPhone and play noise for it to charge. In other words ... would the iPhone drain more than it would charge? (or at least have the charge level hold stable)
Stop wondering. It's impossible to even break even.
This would be awesome on my motorcycle. Engine and wind noise and other vibration could keep my iPhone charged.
Although I wouldn't recommend going through airport security wearing one of these...
How Much Money Was Put Into This Project ? WTF ? Why ? I Love How They Really try and make you believe That This Is Eco Friendly and cutting edge. Why dont you take the money you spent on this and feed some hungry kids or Help build Homes for the poor and homeless or do something anything that might make the planet a better place to live. Instead of wasting the money on some retarded Shirt that is going in the garbage as soon as the show is over. Plant some trees oh wait they dont cut down trees anymore because of paper free billing, right! I have so much hate
Someone like using capitol letters way too much.
Or you could put Your money into something other than the computer and internet fees you wasted to rant over a prototype that uses interesting tech in a practical way. Maybe anger management therapy?
I am an iPhone user that is also a fashion designer...and that is the most hideous thing I've ever seen. I know it's function over form...but they can AT LEAST try to make it look nice. it looks like a teletubby in a bike race.
Do you have to walk roud holding the battery? And to all the the haters lets see you make an eco tshirt that can charge an iphome just by walking AND make it look some designer t-shirt
virgins!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe if it didnt have a big white spot on the front (they can do black right?) and maybe if you didnt have to keep your phone in the middle of your chest. We have pockets ya know..
Need to get your units straight - 80 dB is (indirectly) a measure of power, but watt-hours are a measure of energy. Then you switch back to watts (power) in the next sentence. The net result is that it's hard to figure out what you're talking about.