Sunlight = free, electricity = not free, so doesn’t it seem like a no-brainer to charge up your gadgets and small electronics using a solar charging device? That’s exactly the thinking behind the Ray, which uses the sun’s rays to juice up iPhones, iPads, iPods, most cameras, and a plethora of non-Apple cell phones. The popular item has not even technically been released yet (it’s available for presale) but in just 1.5 days, it has already amassed 400 pre-orders. The ray operates via a standard USB cable and can easily be used while hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, on a plane, or just in the car as a cell phone battery backup.
As solar technology becomes more efficient and affordable, it opens a world of opportunity for renewable and low cost energy. While for some, this means access to power when they might not have it, for others, it means access to electricity for everyday needs. Companies like ‘Sungevity’ and ‘Empowered by Light’ ( http://www.sungevity.com/everychildhasalight ) have teamed up to bring solar technology to third world countries like Zambia. Imagine the possibilities as the technology becomes more effective!