Finnish airport operator Finavia has begun testing portable charging devices for passenger smartphones at Helsinki Airport in Finland.
The idea behind the project is that passengers will feel free to shop and move throughout the terminal while carrying their device and charger, rather than having to remain close to a stationary charging socket. Each charging device has been printed with Finavia’s branding and is fitted with micro-USB attachments, making them suitable for most android and Windows smartphones.
Eero Knuutila, head of service development at Helsinki Airport, said, “Getting more free time reduces stress and gives passengers better opportunities to utilize the services at the airport.”
The trial is being carried out as part of a thesis for Tampere University of Technology, the second largest university for engineering sciences in the country.
Salla Hankivuo, a student conducting the research, said, “Until significant advances are made in battery technology for mobile devices to allow wireless recharging of devices with new methods, such as via WLAN or infrared, we have to try out alternative ways of recharging batteries.”
The chargers will be distributed every Tuesday and Wednesday until July 23, 2015, between the peak hours of 2:00pm and 6:00pm. They will then be collected from passengers prior to boarding.
