Making the rounds of Internet gadgetry reports is the device pictured at right, a Wind Powered Phone Charger. The charger, still under development by an Indian science graduate/inventor named N.V. Satyanarayana is an intriguing method to recharge personal electronic devices using "green" technology.

Essentially it's a tiny windmill (5 cm radius) connected to a small generator which converts the kinetic energy into electrical energy to power the mobile device. Not only will it allow you to avoid plugging into a local power grid, it'll also be a solution for situations where there is no power grid available at all. The charger will supposedly work for phones, laptops, mp3 players, handhelds, games and the whole nine, so the power output may be via a USB jack. I don't see an actual generator in the photo, leading me to believe that this is just a conceptual mock-up and we will have to wait for further developments.

[via techtree.com]