Powerful change part 1: batteries and possible alternatives for the mobile market

Mobile phone companies sell more batteries than phones to consumers. The devices users buy generally include rechargeable batteries so that they are immediately useful. Companies try to protect their batteries with various design and utility patents to keep third-party vendors from competing too heavily with their after-market sales. This protection is necessary because battery technology changes slowly-consumers receive little incentive to upgrade their batteries unless they fail or the consumer desires a larger one. Power is a difficult issue and is often overlooked in mobile computers. However, innovative opportunities abound for exploring this problem. We introduce the issue and propose some alternatives to batteries. In subsequent issues we´ll address methods of being more power efficient by using resources both on the body and in the environment.