Powermat Wireless Charging System:
Lose the cords!

• Print

Homedics, a global manufacturer of personal care electronics, wanted to branch out into a new area in consumer electronics in order to leverage new induction charging technology into a bold, new line of wireless charging products that would simplify people’s lives. They asked Smart Design to guide them in this big challenge, working from early research and concepts right through to manufacturing support and final production.

As with any technology challenge, the team worked to prove out and integrate technical, usability, and aesthetic considerations into the line of products through an iterative process that included many prototypes, user tests, and complex engineering issues. The revolutionary charging system is centered on two charging mats – one for in home/office and one for travel – and a series of receivers and docks that enable “drop and charge” for devices as diverse as iPhone, BlackBerry, MP3 players, cell phones, headsets, hand held electronic games, digital cameras, and GPS units. Each component has a sleek physical design, but is also simple, intuitive, and easy to operate, eliminating the need for lots of cords or searching for the right adaptor. Innovative features include magnetic alignment so that devices hit their optimal charging spot every time, RFID handshake to maximize energy efficiency for specific devices, audio and visual confirmations to know your device is charging, and auto shut-off to save energy.

Launched to great excitement at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2009, and hitting stores now, Powermat has created a big splash in the marketplace with both prominent placement in big box stores such as Target and Best Buy, and with extensive media coverage and ad campaigns. Consumers are responding to the products and early numbers indicate great potential for a hit product.