Piezoelectric Power: Autonomous Energy or Imbedded Exploitation?

I was scrolling through I blog and I noticed a post which made reference to piezoelectric materials: the microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) that have been garnering a lot of press attention as of late. Unlike other similar microelectronic systems, piezoelectric materials have the unique ability to generate their own power by converting motion into electricity. This has sparked a lot of interest in piezoelectric as a portable self-sustaining source of power for small electronic devices like cellphones and music players. The technology is still fairly primitive but in the last few months several concept devices, some imbedded in shoes have been making the rounds in the press.

Most of that research has come out of Georgia Tech where ZL Wang's NanoScience and Technology Group have created the first fully motion-powered nano device.

Wang, along with Liwen Lin who runs the LinLab at UC Berkley are researching ways to make piezoelectric power more efficient and durable so that it can be integrated into more consumer goods. As of now the technology is still largely conceptual though in the last six-months several US Patents have been filed by major corporations including Nokia.

Though much of the rhetoric surrounding piezoelectric research emphasized individual autonomy, and civic reclamation of power, interest from corporations like Nokia lead us to imagine a more dismal future....or maybe not. What do you think? Leave your comment below.