Renewables

Solar tablet keyboard harvests any ambient light

5th November 2014
Barney Scott
0

Using solar technology to harvest indoor and outdoor light energy into a rechargeable battery, the bluetooth wireless keyboard from GCell offers users the convenience of typing with an iPad at home, in the office or during the daily commute, without the need to change batteries or revert to a mains powered charger.

Providing a contemporary, streamlined and lightweight profile were the company's design objectives, and the portable keyboard weighs only 235g, is less than 6mm thick and has a lavish silicone-paint finish giving it a silky feel.

Compatible with iOS and Android operating systems, it is also programmed with ‘Hot Keys’ allowing the user to perform repeated key functions quickly and conveniently. With a scissor-key structure, each keystroke gives tactile feedback for an improved typing experience.

The plastic photovoltaic cell is robust and shatterproof, eliminating the fear of breakage if dropped. The thin keyboard design, as well as being aesthetically pleasing, is ergonomically friendly, allowing the user to type with more comfort and less strain.

Including a black folio that gives protection whilst maintaining portability, the keyboard has been sized to fit the popular 9.7" tablet sizes including the latest iPad Air 2.

The keyboard and folio are magnetically connected, allowing users to physically detach the keyboard from the folio, for use and pairing with other iOS or Android devices such as smartphones.

Richard Costello, CEO, G24 Power, commented, “We’ve built a product with the demands of the iPad Air 2 user in mind. Nowadays, people take their iPad with them everywhere. They can become prisoners of their devices; perhaps they are writing a thesis whilst travelling, or need to catch up with work on a train but they have left their cable at home or there are no plug sockets available. The GCell wireless keyboard re-charges itself by efficiently soaking up any ambient source of light, indoors or out. With GCell any visible light source becomes an energy source.”

Costello continues, “People can become frustrated by the onscreen keyboard of tablets and we believe we have created the best wireless Bluetooth keyboard on the market. We’ve targeted the demands of the iPad user who want convenience and elegance in a high-end quality keyboard product. We’ve removed the idiosyncrasies found on other solar keyboards. As world leaders in solar technology we have chosen a photovoltaic cell that is shatterproof to withstand everyday knocks-and-bumps, and we have positioned it on the keyboard where it can best harvest light energy. We’ve also enabled the user to remove the keyboard from the folio to pair it with a Bluetooth enabled smartphone making it a very versatile everyday device.”

The GCell solar-powered keyboard folio will be launched at Energy Harvesting & Storage USA, in Santa Clara, 19th to 20th  November, and is expected to be available through retailers in the U.S. and Europe in December 2014.

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