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Mapping Weak Signals

Inspired by: corporate press » Electronic Devices Powered by Body Heat

version: 2 / updated: 2011-01-26
id: #1505 / version id: #953
mode: VIEW

Originally submitted by: Sivert von Saldern
List of all contributors by versions (mouse over)
Last changed by: Maurizio Sajeva
WI-WE status:
submitted unpublished

Source of inspiration

Corporate Press (e.g. AFP, BBC, CNN)

The source of the Weak Signal is

Welt Online

Signal's headline

(max. 9 words)
Electronic Devices Powered by Body Heat

Signal's description

(approx. 150 words)
Please describe the Weak Signal (approx. 150 words)
Small wearable electronic devices such as watches or portable MP3 players can be already powered by body heat. Thermoelectric materials might also be implemented in energy-intensive application fields, which are charactarised by high losses of energy due to unused heat emissions, particularly in cars or industrial machines.

Keywords

body heat, electronic devices, energy, power, technology

Mini-description

(max. 250 characters)
Small wearable electronic devices such as watches or portable MP3 players can be already powered by body heat. Thermoelectric materials might also be implemented in energy-intensive application fields.

Signal's first apperance

2005-now

Signal's potential evolution

It could lead to...
issue type of issue/development potential impact on society timeframe for the issue to become at least 50% probable
#1 an increased number of small and large-scale application fields continuation
 		beneficial
 		now-2025
#2 a reduction of external energy demand due to self-sefficient power supply continuation
 		mainly beneficial
 		now-2025

Under what assumption the Weak Signal might evolve.

The weak signals might actually evolve if research on autarc

Importance

please specify
please select
Level 4: important for the whole world

Filters preventing the signal's monitoring

information/communicational filters (media/editorial interests, language, reasoning)
economic filters (business/market interests)
scientific filters (knowledge/technology access)

Key driving forces of this signal

Please use these boxes to provide up to 2 drivers of HIGH importance. Click on HELP to see examples:
Driver 1 Driver 2
Technological/Scientific There is a growing demand for decentralised and self-sufficent energy supply
Economic energy savings

Signal's relevance for European Grand Challenges

where? please justify:
particularly relevant Europe world
Energy security/dynamics
Techno-security, hazard & risk
Sustainability and climate change

Signal's relevance for thematic research areas

please justify:
particularly relevant
ICT - Information & communication technologies
Nanosciences, nanotech, materials & new prod. tech. pushed developments of nanosciences
Energy

Pan-European strategies influencing the signal

please justify:
particularly relevant
Developing and funding world-class research infrastructures
Strengthening research institutions and universities

Research-friendly strategies potentially improving understanding of the signal

For further information about 'research-friendly strategies' click here
please justify:
particularly relevant
Overcoming sub-criticality and systemic failures
To be subcritical means that the effort in a particular field or subfield lacks resources, equipment or a sufficient number of researchers to achieve a desired goal
Strengthening the actors in the research-friendly ecology
(i.e. Research funding organisations, universities, businesses, Research and Technology Organisations, Researchers and Citizens)
Creating a closer link between researchers & policy-makers
(e.g. supporting both thematic and cross-cutting policies, highlighting the strategic purpose of the European Research Area, etc.