Flatpack furniture manufacture Ikea has this week announced the launch of a new range of furniture in the form of the Home Smart collection that is equipped with new Ikea wireless charging technology.
The new Ikea wireless charging furniture range has been fitted with charging points that supports QI wireless charging. Offering users support to more than 80 compatible handsets from manufacturers such as Samsung, Motorola, Panasonic and Sony.
The new Ikea wireless charging furniture will go on sale throughout the US and UK next month and will include floor, table and work lamps. Before expanding into more traditional furniture such as bedside tables and solo charging pads that will be capable of being positioned anywhere within your home.
However the furntiure might not be as environmently friendly as you might think. Julian Kirby of Friends of the Earth explained in an interview with the BBC :
“A key principle that manufacturers of furniture with built-in wireless charging technology should consider is that the furniture is designed to be easy to disassemble for upgrade, reuse, repair or recycling,”
“Disposable electric toothbrushes are one example of a terrible product design in those respects – it’s virtually impossible to separate out the tech from the batteries and plastic casing which means valuable and often toxic materials are dumped in landfill or burnt in incinerators.”
Lets hop Ikea has thought of the upgrade path of new changeing technology when it becomes available. For more information on the latest range of furniture from Ikea matters now equipped with QI wireless charging jump over to the official Ikea website for full details as they become available.
Source: Solid Smack : BBC
Filed Under: Design News, Technology News