At CES 2024, Lenovo stole the spotlight not just with its latest laptops and desktops but also with a groundbreaking proof-of-concept – a wireless keyboard and mouse combo that defies the norms of charging. Breaking away from traditional USB solutions, the “Mechanical Energy Harvesting Combo” showcased by Lenovo relies on the subtle art of fidgeting to power up your devices.
Lenovo’s ingenious keyboard boasts 68 keys with mesmerizing RGB backlighting. What sets it apart is the solar panel on top, passively soaking up sunlight for recharging. There’s also a dial in the top-left corner. It resembles a volume control wheel but is actually a knob to convert kinetic energy into a battery charge. Just five minutes of fidgeting with this wheel grants an impressive 30 minutes of typing power. But there’s also a USB-C port for alternative charging for the time when there’s no solar energy and no time to rotate the fidget. It also features an on/off switch and a three-position connection switch for seamless RF dongle, wired USB, or Bluetooth connectivity.
Lenovo’s wireless mouse features shortcut buttons and keys for maximum efficiency. The mouse’s secret weapon lies in a ring on the underside. This ring has a key that is designed for mechanical energy harvesting. Wind the key, and it will charge the mouse’s battery. A minute of winding grants an impressive 30 minutes of battery life. The mouse also features up to 12,800 dpi to offer a customizable and precise user experience.
While the Mechanical Energy Harvesting Combo is currently a prototype, Lenovo has not disclosed plans for an official launch.
Stay tuned for more updates on Lenovo’s journey towards redefining how we power our devices.
