Qi Charging Comes to Ikea - Kind Of
posted Saturday May 4, 2013 by Scott Ertz
Since we first brought you information about the Qi wireless charging standard, the hope of a wireless world has been in the back of my mind. While we saw creative uses like a fully Qi countertop that can run a skillet anywhere, instead of needing a dedicated cooktop, what we have not seen is any of these cool uses come to market.
We have, luckily, seen a number of devices implement the technology, such as the Nokia Lumia 920 and HTC 8X, but only the Verizon version. The closest we have gotten to accessories, however, is the Palm Touchstone-style charging pads - no counters, desks or nightstands. That is, until now.
Thanks to a DIY project found on YouTube, you can turn an inexpensive Ikea nightstand, or any piece of furniture you're willing to cut into, into a charging surface with just a Nokia charging pad and a little time. A pair of videos explains both how to create the modification, as well as discusses any health-related inquiries, such as the effects of having an inductive charger so close to your head (for the record, there is nothing unsafe about it).
If you are the kind of person who enjoys projects and wants to give this great one a shot, hit the break and check out the videos. Make sure to let us know how your project has gone. I'll update on my process as well, as I intend to give it a shot.
Instructions