Ilaria Rosella Pagliaro Fixing a solar socket on a window and generating 220V energy seems like an innovative idea, but the Window Socket, despite being interesting, remains a prototype with obvious technological limitations
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How the window socket works
Now imagine a small solar panel, no bigger than your palm, yet it provides 220V. For people on the go, it’s a handy way of charging one’s smartphone, laptop, or other small electronic devices. Window Socket is a small, solar-powered outlet created by two South Koreans, Kyuho Song and Boa Oh. The concept is simple-to turn sunlight into electricity anywhere with the use of a compact and handy device.
Window Socket is a small disc-shaped device with a minimalist design that integrates a round photovoltaic module. On one side, it captures sunlight, while on the other, a suction cup lets it be fastened directly to a window or any glass surface exposed to light. The device includes a built-in 1,000 mAh battery that needs 5 to 8 hours of sun exposure to charge fully.
This stored energy is then converted into powering 220V devices through an inbuilt voltage converter. The concept was unveiled during Dubai Design Week in 2016 and wowed people because of the innovation it presented as far as sustainability and wearability are concerned. However, this device has never been sold and remains at its conceptual stage.
The limitations of a revolutionary idea
After the initial enthusiasm, one may be plunged into clear technological limitations. For instance, a 1,000 mAh battery turns out to be too low to satisfy the energy needs of contemporary devices. In fact, one would need several full charges of a smartphone with a 4,000 mAh battery to bring it up to 100%. Long exposure time-up to 8 hours-is also highly unpractical for everyday use.
Another issue is in the capacity of miniaturized solar panels: the current technology does not yet allow for enough energy to be produced to power higher-consumption devices. A module this small cannot support, for instance, electronic appliances with significant power needs.
And sure, the ideology of the contraption is for certain a big step toward all people being concerned about renewable resources. However, given the actual technical limitations-not to mention hearsay about nothing going on beyond this project-evidently leads one to frown upon considering this idea suitable for real situations. A portable solar-powered plug could revolutionize how we approach charging our products, but considerably more work goes into making something functional.
