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Solar Laptop Keyboard Saves 20 Percent Power

By - Source: Tom's Hardware US | B 34 comments

Logitech's not the only company working on solar-powered keyboards.

Solar-powered stuff is not always popular. Though it works for small stuff like calculators, anything bigger than that and people start to find instances where the fact that the device is solar-powered is a hindrance rather than an advantage. Case in point: when we talked about Logitech's solar-powered keyboard last week, many of you pointed out that gamers often like to play in the dark. Though a lot of people (I won't name names) seemed to have overlooked the fact that it can actually draw power from ambient light, we thought it was a clever solution for those with offices that don't get a lot of light and we're equally as excited by AUO's latest prototype which uses the same technology for laptop keyboards.

AUO recently introduced a 14-inch solar-powered touch keyboard solution for notebooks. By building a solar module into the laptop's lid and the keyboard itself, AUO says the laptop can absorb solar and electric light, lowering the laptop's usage of electrical power by as much as 20 percent.

Though there's not a lot of other information available (release date and price, please), Digitimes reports that the technology will make an appearance at FPD International 2010 on November 10. So, if you happen to be in Chiba, Japan, you might stop by and let us know what you think of this integrated solar-powered touch keyboard for laptops.

Source: Digitimes via Engadget

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Top Comments
  • 10 Hide
    bourgeoisdude , November 6, 2010 3:01 AM
    WrongUsernameDoes the keyboard REALLY take up 20 percent of the laptops power usage? I doubt that.


    LMAO! Epic fail in reading comprehension!
Other Comments
  • 3 Hide
    nforce4max , November 5, 2010 11:50 PM
    Interesting now make solar chargers and other features to charge while not having to be plugged in.
  • 0 Hide
    Manos , November 5, 2010 11:51 PM
    I'll be honestr and admit it sounds silly... But for some this might actually be usefull. Thing is, what if you also have your baterries recharged through solar energy while the laptop is even closed? I find it way easier to have that done instead of taking up space from the inner design of the laptop. Neither that convinient having the sun pointing on the keyboard which means you also get sunlight on the screen. I really dont enjoy light on my screens...
  • Display all 34 comments.
  • 7 Hide
    nukemaster , November 5, 2010 11:52 PM
    With no tactile feedback(click or even having a button to push), I think I will never want to use that kind of keyboard. Put panels on the deck(bottom around the touchpad) and touchpad and everywhere else, but the keyboard it self. NO...please no....
  • -1 Hide
    Supertrek32 , November 5, 2010 11:53 PM
    Yeah... too bad I can never see my laptop's screen outside... Other than that, it's a great idea.
  • 8 Hide
    rembo666 , November 6, 2010 12:00 AM
    I was interested up until I read "touch keyboard". If they made an actual keyboard in which every key was a solar cell, I would pay a reasonable price for that, but a touch-keyboard is useless. Great idea though.
  • 0 Hide
    jrocks84 , November 6, 2010 12:38 AM
    Wouldn't the constant charging and discharging of the battery kill it faster?
  • 1 Hide
    liveonc , November 6, 2010 1:14 AM
    Pixel-Qi & solar cells on the back of the screen seams more energy saving... ;-)
  • 0 Hide
    nukemaster , November 6, 2010 2:16 AM
    Quote:
    Does the keyboard REALLY take up 20 percent of the laptops power usage? I doubt that.

    No, the flat touch style keyboard is just so they can hide a solar panel set under it.
  • 10 Hide
    bourgeoisdude , November 6, 2010 3:01 AM
    WrongUsernameDoes the keyboard REALLY take up 20 percent of the laptops power usage? I doubt that.


    LMAO! Epic fail in reading comprehension!
  • -2 Hide
    fstrthnu , November 6, 2010 3:18 AM
    Seems pretty useless when most of us use our notebooks INSIDE. Even outside with Matte displays, it's still very impractical to use notebooks in direct sunlight (the kind that one would need for this solar keyboard to be most effective). Plus, I wouldn't count on that solar panel doing well if you spill something on it (easier to clean, but...)
  • 0 Hide
    enzo matrix , November 6, 2010 3:19 AM
    Quote:
    AUO says the laptop can absorb solar and electric light

    oooo. "Electric Light"
  • 1 Hide
    dEAne , November 6, 2010 5:10 AM
    yeah I like this one. This can also save the planet.
  • 0 Hide
    Haserath , November 6, 2010 5:22 AM
    enzo matrixoooo. "Electric Light"

    Lightning? I would love to see it absorb that.

    Why don't they just put solar cells on the back of the screen to at least let the screen be out of direct sunlight when being used and having a way to charge the batteries when not in use.
  • 1 Hide
    MasterM40 , November 6, 2010 5:43 AM
    i would love to visit "CHIBA!!!" im just pulling your tail Jane I never catch the misspellings so im excited to finally get one still got love for ya!
  • -2 Hide
    FloKid , November 6, 2010 7:18 AM
    Laptop + Z = Useless -> Laptop + 30Years = Maybe
  • 3 Hide
    Dkz , November 6, 2010 9:24 AM
    Assuming that the solar cell can be recharged while the device is off, then it would be nice, or even more useful for things like smart phones for example, in those cases you are running off battery, you stand in the light, and there you go, extra minutes to write that sms that you need.
  • -4 Hide
    reggieray , November 6, 2010 11:53 AM
    Keyboards use a tiny amount of power. Look how long a wireless keyboard lasts and that's including the wireless transmitter being powered. How about Solar powered displays, then I would be impressed.
  • 2 Hide
    haunted one , November 6, 2010 12:42 PM
    Find a way to do it while still keeping normal keyboards and BANG- the biggest selling point of macbooks are gone. They only thing I like about macbooks is their immense battery life. If non-Apple notebooks gain that......
  • -1 Hide
    Silmarunya , November 6, 2010 12:55 PM
    Very nice. I already thought the solar powered logitech design intresting (I don't game in the dark, I find it makes eyestrain worse and it's just not... cosy), but this is truly useful. A 20% battery life increase (most likely 15% as they'll probably have calculated that 20 at optimum lighting conditions) is massive, especially since it doesn't require a single desing compromise.
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