Battery-Free Game Boy

Researchers at Northwestern University and Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands have developed the first ever battery-free gaming console or game boy that allows the gamer or the user to play indefinitely without stopping or recharging the battery.

The game boy device uses the sun and the user as a source of energy or power to turn it on and play indefinitely. The device has solar panels on its or around the screen and once the user pushes a button it turns as a source of energy or power to the device or a second or another source of power aside from the sun.

“Researchers develop first-ever battery-free, energy-harvesting, interactive device…..  A hand-held video game console allowing indefinite gameplay might be a parent's worst nightmare. But this Game Boy is not just a toy. It's a powerful proof-of-concept, developed by researchers at Northwestern University and the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands, that pushes the boundaries of battery-free intermittent computing into the realm of fun and interaction.” (Tech Explore)

“……this device harvests energy from the sun—and the user. These advances enable gaming to last forever without having to stop and recharge the battery….. "It's the first battery-free interactive device that harvests energy from user actions,"…. "When you press a button, the device converts that energy into something that powers your gaming."…” (Tech Explore)

The researchers want to develop a sustainable gaming system which eliminates the use of battery completely because battery they said is costly and environmentally hazardous.

The main point : Sustainable gaming system is on the way with the newly developed game boy that do not rely on batteries as a starter or introduction.

image from Tech Explore website

image from Tech Explore website