Imagine a room in which everything charges automatically. That’s the idea behind the Cota Tile, a ceiling fixture that can send power over radio waves to devices like phones, laptops and smoke detectors, so long as they’re outfitted with special receiver chips. (Think Bluetooth or wi-fi connectivity, but more advanced.) Bellevue, Wash.-based tech startup Ossia, which developed the Cota, said it’s working on licensing the technology before the Tile hits the market–though it will likely be many years before this kind of wireless power is commonplace.
–Julia Zorthian
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Jane Fonda Champions Climate Action for Every Generation
- Biden’s Campaign Is In Trouble. Will the Turnaround Plan Work?
- Why We're Spending So Much Money Now
- The Financial Influencers Women Actually Want to Listen To
- Breaker Sunny Choi Is Heading to Paris
- Why TV Can’t Stop Making Silly Shows About Lady Journalists
- The Case for Wearing Shoes in the House
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Julia Zorthian at julia.zorthian@time.com