A few weeks ago we shared Instructable‘s handy DIY guide to building your own solar-powered USB charger. Now, the website has provided a guide to creating a solar-powered charger for rechargeable NiMH AA and AAA batteries with a twist – it’s made from a playing card!

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Post tags: DIY, inhabitat DIY, instructables, instructions, playing card, playing card solar charger, rechargeable batteries, solar powered battery charger

For years we’ve been keeping a close eye on UK-based Soner Ozenc, of SOPDS (Soner Ozenc Product Design Studio), who has wowed us repeatedly with his electroluminescent designs. But it is his latest work, a high-tech illuminated prayer rug, that is poised to catch on throughout the Muslim world. Devout Muslims pray towards Mecca five times a day, sometimes using a small and portable mat that rolls out. SOPDS’ EL Sajjadah is a rug that illuminates when it is pointed to the holy city of Mecca – and they just launched a Kickstarter campaign to support it!

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Post tags: Blue Mosque, EL Sajjadah, electro luminescent fibers, illuminating prayer mat, Islamic art, kickstarter, prayer mat, rechargeable batteries, Soner Ozenc Product Design Studio, SOPDS

Have you ever looked at your debit or credit card and wondered what your balance was? Well, rather than going to an ATM or checking your online statement, ultra-thin batteries could potentially allow for a tiny screen on your card to display your balance. It is one of several ideas being discussed for the incredibly thin and flexible technology.

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Post tags: credit card thin batteries, faster recharging speeds, lithium-ion batteries, NEC, NEC batteries, NEC thin batteries, orb, rechargeable batteries, ultra thin batteries, Ultra-thin Organic Battery for IC cards

Each year consumers in the US throw away about 3 billion batteries. If you were to string 3 billion batteries end to end, they would wrap around the entire earth 4 times! Battery waste has also been piling up in America’s landfills for over a hundred years, introducing toxic chemicals into the earth that are harmful to all forms of life. earthCell batteries are a green take on the age-old battery, combining the convenience and reliability of alkalines with the environmental friendliness and high performance of rechargeables. Each pre-charged LSD-NiMH battery lasts 30-50% longer than alkalines, even in high-power devices, and there’s no waste because you can return used batteries to earthCell with the included, prepaid mailer. For more information or to get your own set of batteries, check out earthCell’s Kickstarter page here.

+ earthCell Batteries

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Post tags: earthCell, earthCell batteries, eco friendly batteries, high power rechargeable batteries, rechargeable batteries, renewable energy, zero waste batteries

You’re out in the boonies camping when suddenly your flashlight battery dies: this could seriously impair your trip! But it’s just this kind of situation that Brother Industries Ltd has in mind for its new batteries, which can be recharged by shaking. In fact, the “Vibration-powered Generating Battery” can run anything that uses power sporadically and takes AA or AAA batteries!

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Post tags: aa batteries, aaa batteries, batteries you shake, brother industries ltd, rechargeable batteries, Rechargeable power

Computing on-the-go couldn’t be easier with the bevvy of smart phones, laptops and netbooks on the market. But printing documents while away from the home or office is a whole ‘nother story — until now. PlanOn’s Printstik PS905ME printer provides completely portable printing power. The lightweight, mobile printer utilizes rechargeable batteries and thermal printing technology so folks can print documents without needing outlets or wasteful ink cartridges.

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Post tags: lithium-ion polymer rechargeable batteries, mobile printers, netbooks, Physorg, PlanOn, PlanOn Printstik, Printstik, rechargeable batteries, smart phones, thermal printers, Vampire Power