Despite advances in materials and fabrics, furniture has remained relatively unchanged for decades; But a new trend is for companies to incorporate a variety of technologies into desks, tables and shelves. The market is still young, but very soon you will be able to see some of these devices in your home.
If you've been to IKEA lately, you've probably noticed that some of their furniture has plastic discs with a cross embedded in the wood; these are wireless charging What you need to know about wireless charging What you need to know about wireless charging Until our devices offer a week of battery life, charging on the go will remain a reality for everyone. Read More Just put your phone on top of the pad and the battery will start charging.
If your phone doesn't support wireless charging, you can buy a case from IKEA that will allow you to charge from one of the patches (you can see one in the image below).
Wireless-charging-capable lamps, tables, and nightstands are currently sold in stores; However, if you don't want to buy new furniture, you can buy single or triple charging pads to plug in and place on top of your desk or table.
While IKEA's wireless charging stations must be plugged into the wall, some companies are looking to furniture that generates power on its own. Studio Natural's Lucio table is covered with solar panels. What is solar energy and why wasn't it removed? What is solar energy and why hasn't it been removed? What is the problem with solar energy? If it really is as important and necessary as many claim, why hasn't it taken over the energy industry yet? Read More Plug in your phone or tablet and charge. There's even a kickstand so you can keep working (or playing) while charging.
An intriguing concept produced by Biophotovoltaics actually powers electronics by harnessing photosynthesis from the moss the board contains. By capturing the electrons released during photosynthesis, the Moss table currently generates enough power to run a digital clock. It's not much, but scientists hope that a low-power laptop could stay alive at the table for up to 14 hours in the near future.
Although the project appears to have been scrapped, the iRock rocking chair is worth mentioning:a rocking chair with a built-in iPad dock, the chair also charges the tablet by converting motion into power. The company's website is down, so it looks like we won't be seeing it any time soon, but it could provide a glimpse of what other manufacturers could bring to the market in the future.
A little less electronically advanced than actual power generation, but perhaps a little more realistic, is hiding cables in furniture. Almost Everyone Has a Ton of Cords How to Hide Your Computer Clutter:Same Cords, More Space How to Hide Computer Clutter:Same Cords, More Space Despite decades of technological advances, the average home computer is still plagued by of an obvious but complex problem:cable clutter. Many home PCs are still riddled with more tentacles than a low-budget... Read More But furniture that incorporates and hides power cords is starting to appear more often, and it can make a world of difference to the clutter in your home.
This two-drawer nightstand from Modus has a power outlet built into the drawer, allowing you to charge a few devices overnight without cluttering your floor with cords and your nightstand with devices.
Similarly, the Herb sofa, a concept piece by designers Burak Kocak, transmits power from an outlet to an outlet on the side of a built-in shelving unit so you don't have to use an extension cord (or sit in a specific way). ) ) to keep your computer connected while you work.
The Cloud Table, created by Studio Maks, is a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture that almost doubles as art, and includes both wireless charging pads and Wi-Fi signal boosters. 8 Tips to Improve Your Wireless Router Signal 8 Tips to Effectively Boost Your Wireless Router Signal If your wireless router's signal doesn't seem to get very far, or if your signal keeps dropping for some strange reason, here are a few things you can do to fix it. Read More
While this board won't be hitting stores anytime soon (and is almost certainly extremely expensive), this could be a sign of things to come. If this board could generate its own power like the Pike above, it would be a stand-alone tech station that helps people use their gadgets.
What else could we see built into furniture? Wireless charging, power generation, hidden cables, and Wi-Fi boosters have all been done, so what's next? Will we see smart home sensors pre-installed in furniture? Although the sensors that come with smart home systems, which Smart Hub for home automation is best for you? Which Smart Hub for Home Automation is Best for You? For a while, people thought the idea was nothing more than a gimmick, but recent product launches have shown that smart home automation is starting to deliver on its promises. The Read More are well designed, there is something to be said for being totally hidden in the arm of a sofa or the leg of a chair.
Maybe security systems looking for a DIY home security system solution? Try One Of These For A DIY Home Security System Solution Try One Of These In the age of digital technology and always-on hardware, setting up a home security system should transcend the art of setting up a box shaped alarm on the wall. Read More will start integrating sensors into furniture, so cameras or motion sensors don't need to be mounted on walls. Or maybe we will see something totally new and unexpected. Microsoft is investigating a sofa that can use embedded electronic devices to display emotion (press the button above to see it in action). Who's to say what else might turn up? We'll be sure to keep you updated on this fresh field as it develops.
What would you like to build in your furniture? Have you seen any other kind of smart furniture? Where will this field go in the near future? Share your thoughts below!
