Electricity: Cutting the cords

Batteries let us live life on the go. They power the laptops, smartphones, handheld games and music players that accompany us everywhere. Yet no matter where we take our favorite electronic gadgets, they eventually end up in the same place: plugged into an outlet to recharge.

That is changing. Batteries will always need recharging. But two new technologies will free us from the tangle of cords and plugs. They will make recharging a snap, even on the go.