Why isn't wireless charging ubiquitous? The tech is available yet cables abound

2 points by biturd ↗ HN
I googled this, but can't find a good reason why we are still using a cable to charge our "low powered" devices.

I have had a SoniCare™ toothbrush since I was a kid ( 1999 ). The first one had wireless charging. Who wants to brush their teeth with a wired device plugged into a 110/220 volts and put that in your mouth. Talk about "chewin' on tin-foil".

My brother still has his original SoniCare™ toothbrush. ~19 years old and still going strong. The model is now so old… e-Bay is one of few sources for replacement heads. Though It keeps chugging along…

I understand that a toothbrush is not a phone, camera, tablet, laptop, etc., but these brushes are able to hold a charge for ~three weeks. No wires, all you do is "dock" your toothbrush into a stand — some of the newer ones have a cup that you store your brush in — it charges from there.

From ~2011 forward they charge over USB. I was planning on traveling, and wanted to stay away from packing different power adapters with me.

Anyone with a background in wireless charging ( Inductive Charging I believe ) care to take the time to explain to me why I can't have a "pad" I set my devices on to charge them?

Maybe it is a safety issue, though I can't imagine a less safe environment than a bathroom:

* Steam * Water * High Voltage Power * DC Converting Power Transformer * Need To Be Water Resistant/Proof

All of which could fail and cause problems — all of which you shove into your mouth.

Thanks.

* I was going to link to the Sonicare™ website in the url field, would that have been bad form?

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