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Microsoft Dixons Carphone Nokia

Microsoft and Carphone Warehouse shock audiences with potato phone charger

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By John McCarthy | Opinion Editor

July 25, 2014 | 3 min read

Microsoft and Carphone Warehouse have launched ‘Back to Light’, an outdoor campaign which sees the new Nokia Lumia 930 wirelessly charged by over 800 apples and potatoes for the public to see.

The Carphone Warehouse now ships Nokia Lumia 930s with wireless chargers

The American computer giant, which now manufactures Nokia phones having purchased the department earlier this year, commissioned Caleb Charland, a science enthusiast and artist to create the magnificent phone-charging art piece.

Inspired by the school science project, where an electrical current is generated using a potato, Caleb created ‘Back To Light’, which is displayed at Westfield shopping centre, Shepherd’s Bush.

Thomas Messett, head of digital marketing and advocacy for Europe Microsoft devices, said: “Following the success of our lightning experiment that took place in 2013, we were keen to explore another way that we could harness natural energy and charge the brand new Lumia 930 device.

“We have an obligation to ensure we are always looking for new energy-efficient ways to improve the performance of our products and we’re proud to have done that with wireless charging on the Lumia 930 and some of our other Lumia products.”

Caleb Charland who designed the piece, said “I am so proud to be part of this great charging project. The utter simplicity of this electrical phenomenon has endlessly fascinated me. Many people have had the experience of drawing power from fruit in the classroom, and it never ceases to inspire the imagination of all ages.

“I have never worked with anything on this scale before, and it was a challenge. By creating this large organic charger to power a Lumia 930 device, this work speaks to a common curiosity we all have for how the world works, as well as a global concern for the future of Earth’s energy sources.”

The Nokia Lumia is widely acclaimed as the best Windows phone yet.

Microsoft Dixons Carphone Nokia

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