By Northeast ACE Educator, Brian Stilwell.

Imagine being able to charge your laptop by typing or having your shoes charge your iPod during an evening run…

Imagine living in a world where your batteries never died and your gadgets were totally self-powered…

That would be totally awesome, right?!

Well,  luckily that reality might not be too far off.  Scientists at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia recently reported a breakthrough in the field of piezoelectricity.

(Quick definition: Piezoelectric materials create generate electricity when subjected to pressure.)

Humans have known about these awesome materials for more than 120 years, but it’s only now that we’re starting to put them to generating electricity for daily activities.

The researchers in Australia have managed, for the first time, to accurately measure the amount of energy generated by very thin piezoelectric materials. This scientific discovery should make it easier for scientists to add a thin layer of electricity-generating material into everyday technology, like sneakers, sidewalks, computers – even gym machines.

So, for all you planners out there, be sure to add “texting-powered smartphone” to your 2020 birthday wish-list!  It might be here sooner than you think…

Read more about this technology here.