Power cords are messy. They clutter up your space and make things kind of ugly. But, alas, they are necessary for the millions of gadgets we must have. Wireless electricity has been talked about for a long time, but for one reason or another it just hasn’t worked out. Well, engineers at MIT now think that we could start seeing it in use as early as 2011 or so. They’ve even formed a company to develop the technology: WiTricity Corp.

The futuristic concept is safe for humans and pets, eliminates the need for problem-prone wiring and expensive batteries, and is just around the corner. It sounds too good to be true, but the through-the-air, completely wireless home isn’t too far off for us. Imagine being able to work on a laptop that never goes dead, power your kids’ toys, and even charge your electric car – all without wires, plugs or batteries. And according to the research team, it wouldn’t add a significant amount to the current cost of energy.