IBM Predicts Solar Sidewalks in 5 Years
According to IBM’s annual “Next Five in Five” report, thin-film solar cells will be embedded in driveways, sidewalks, paint, rooftop, and windows within 5 years.
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The prediction is based on an expected drop in the price of thin-film solar cells, which are 100 times thinner than silicon solar cells.
Thin-film solar cells are already cheaper than silicon-wafer cells because of a production process that allows them to be printed and arranged on any flexible backing, including cell-phones, notebook computers, and clothing.
Other IBM predictions include digital shopping assistants, personalized genetic maps, and advances in voice recognition software.
Photo Credit: NREL
I agree with Mike. Let’s instead clone more dinosaurs, wait thousands of years (don’t argue with that, all you people who says millions of years are anti-jesus and anti-american) and then use the oil from that. It’s like planting trees but BETTER. Solar energy is for pussies.
In response to Uncle B. The supreme court recently vowed to go after the higher ups of the oil companies if they were unable to account for the rediculously high prices of gas in this country. This is one of the main reasons that gass has gone down so low in the past few months.
i heard rumors that apple is going to try to get this type of technology installed on mac books so they can finally liberate us from chargers.
Love to see more on thin film in paint and how that would work.