by Muyiwa Matuluko

Just when we thought wireless chargers and 30-second superchargers were in no danger of loosing their coolness effect any time soon …

Orange, a mobile phone company based in the UK, have produced a T-shirt that is capable of charging mobile phones using just sounds from one’s immediate surroundings. The science that makes this possible is called piezoelectricity.

The T-shirts have woven into them a base of piezoelectric film, commonly employed in those huge hi-fi speakers you groove to at the club . The piezoelectric film possesses the ability to generate electricity from mechanical stress (e.g sound waves). This generated energy is stored in a battery which can then be plugged into a mobile phone to charge it.

If you are already  imagining just how much electricity can be generated from ambient sound – not much really. At least not enough to make it practical enough yet for daily use. According to Orange’s scientists, it takes about a whole weekend to generate enough electricity to recharge 2 standard mobile phones or one smartphone once, “if you’re lucky”.

Bear in mind this energy is generated from ambient sound. So perhaps staying long enough in a really noisy place could prove more effective. One can already imagine folks in the club struggling to get the spot closest to the sub-woofers. That can’t be good for any human’s overall health.