Broadcasters pump out tons of of RF from their big microwave towers, operating on the mere hope that some of the RF will hit a TV antenna and deliver unto someone the evening news. Since power demands for electronic devices continues to reduce (see Moore’s Law), those radio waves can now act as currents in a stream, turning the digital wheels inside small electronic devices. Best of all, the TV station (or cell tower or home Wi-Fi network) will never feel the burden of these added devices. It’s just RF that didn’t make it to its intended location.

The same team at Intel Labs Seattle also figured out a way to develop motion-sensing RFID tags that require the same off-the-shelf RFID transceiver used to simply count boxes and other simple tag apps — in other words, gear that’s already in place in many buildings. By sticking the little tags on a bunch of household products in a room, the researchers could track what people were doing with 90% accuracy. Some people are already testing these Wireless Identification and Sensing Platform (WISP) RFID chips for use inside the human body (pacemaker location) and deep under the sea (testing seawater 1km below the surface).

The thing is, none of these technologies are going to charge your phone or power your laptop. For that, you’ll need Intel’s other wireless power initiative, Wireless Resonant Energy Link, first shown off in 2007. Currently, a demo model features a 45W lightbulb operating at full brightness at 1 meter with around 80% efficiency. And best of all, it doesn’t electrocute people when they walk by. [Intel Labs Seattle]

Indeed, Kenny is selling his OLPC monster on eBay for $US26,001. Yeah, that’s completely insane, but keep in mind that 80% of the proceeds go directly to the OLPC foundation. Hmm…I think I would rather have the 130 or so XO laptops that would buy me. [eBay via Engadget]

Normal mirrors reflect light back at a 90-degree angle, but this universal mirror reflects light, including microwaves and lasers, back in the exact same direction from which it originated. It uses metamaterials, structures smaller than the light’s wavelength, to force said light to bounce back at this specific angle. Because metamaterials are so difficult to create, this universal mirror is only 1×10 centimeters in size, and can only reflect light with longer wavelengths (like microwaves).

Invisibility cloaks use these same metamaterials to guide light around an object instead of sending it back out, and while the opposite may not seem as cool, it may have just as many uses. It could be used for radar location, deflection laser weaponry and as a general-purpose shield. The tech is still a few years off, but it’s very futuristic and interesting stuff. [MSNBC]

Sometimes, when you’re sitting at your desk, all you want are some piping-hot baked beans. Hey, we all know it, why not admit it? That’s why Heinz is working on a USB beans microwave.

No, this isn’t a joke. The Beanzawave—yes, Beanzawave—is billed as the world’s smallest microwave, measuring just 18.8cm tall by 6.6cm wide and 15cm deep. It’s perfect for desktop bean cookery, and Heinz is even dabbling in Lithium Ion batteries for on the go beans heating. Amazing.

The whole shebang should be released for am ere $US160 if Heinz ever does release it, which it’ll do if consumer feedback is positive. Consider us on board, Heinz. [ via Fast Company]

[Dark Roasted Blend]

One is a backpack-sized portable ADS that uses microwaves to roast your skin, creating what the Pentagon gingerly calls a “repel response”—in other words, OWOWITBURNSOWOWTURNITOFF. They say it causes no permanent damage, but there have been cases of second-degree burns.

And then you’ve got the PhaSR, that Starship Troopers-looking laser rifle above. Not only does “dazzle” you with lasers—not the kind that’ll make your sight any better—it has a infrared beam attachment to burn your skin too, which is more currently practical than the microwave-based pain beams, though the latter penetrates clothing better. The National Institute for Justice is testing it “in various scenarios, which may include prison situations as well as law enforcement.”

Meaning we can look forward to videos like this one, but with a sweet Halo rifle instead of a dinky taser dishing out the pain: [NewScientist]

As you can see in the video, it required some careful planning. First, finding the microwave ovens with the right “ping”, so they could have the notes required to play Jingle Bells. Then, setting up the timers so, when the cooking time was done, the pings created the song. It can’t beat that Burt & Loni Sing Xmas vinyl. but it’s absolute genius. []