Toshiba broke the news today that they invented the Gigabeat, "the player of the future," a multimedia player that runs on fuel, not battery. The devices are powered by methyl spirit (methanol), one litre of which will let the prototype device run for 1,000 hours.
The players come with equipped with what I'll call a fuel gauge, a little indicator that detects the amount of methanol juice is left. Just like a car, it needs to be refueled, which the user can do on their own simply by hooking up the player using its frontal socket. On the back a tap evaporates the used methanol.
Using methanol as fuel is a lot more energy efficient than using alkaline batteries, and in the future, could also become a lot more affordable.
The news was unveiled at Tokyo's CEATEC 2007 exhibition.
Multimedia On Methyl
TOSHIBA Fuel Cell
Trend Themes
1. Fuel-based Multimedia Players - The invention of multimedia players powered by fuel opens up opportunities for disruptive innovation in portable entertainment and electronics industries.
2. Energy Efficiency in Portable Devices - The use of methanol as fuel in multimedia players highlights the potential for disruptive innovation in creating more energy-efficient portable devices across various industries.
3. Affordable Alternative Energy Sources - The affordability potential of methanol as a fuel for multimedia players signifies disruptive innovation opportunities in alternative energy industries and the potential for widespread adoption.
Industry Implications
1. Portable Entertainment - The introduction of fuel-based multimedia players can drive disruptive innovation in the portable entertainment industry by offering long-lasting and easily refillable devices.
2. Electronics - The integration of fuel-powered technology in multimedia players presents disruptive innovation opportunities for the electronics industry, leading to more sustainable and efficient devices.
3. Alternative Energy - The use of methanol as a sustainable fuel source in multimedia players showcases disruptive innovation potential in the alternative energy industry, opening new avenues for affordable and eco-friendly energy solutions.