The original SimCity had a power system that was beamed down from orbit, course it also had a disaster if the satellite ever went off it's orbit too, it'd be a space based death ray straight out of a James Bond movie. I hope JAXA is considering that into their plans, but it's definitely a great way to help ease the energy crisis that we're going to see.

The density of the microwave beam is extremely low. The antennae is *big* (think Arecibo or larger). Birds won't go flying into it & go poof, although I suspect airflight will be restricted. Even if it's not enough to hurt you, plane electronics could be scrambled.

Not that it doesn't make for a just durn peachy Bond villain superweapon, as you've noticed (or Godzilla/Akira thingamajobber, which is my preference).

The big challenge, as I understand it, will be keeping the fairly fragile solar space panels from flexing too much. They're pretty thin and weak comparatively, for that size.

What's happening to all the used-up phones? Are we recycling them, or are they going in the landfill?

I'd suspect the landfill.

I'm not a luddite, but I'm also not a technology bandwagon jumper either. I have a phone, it works fine. It doesn't play music, or send text messages, or take pictures. I've thought about upgrading, but honestly... why? Mine works. And what will happen to my phone, and all the other phones out there that are dumped every day for a new model? Where do they all go? What harmful chemicals/metals/plastics/etc. are in a cell phone?

Is your phone greener and more noble because it's low function? The last time I checked all the toxic substances in it were because it's a phone, not because of what it can't do.

One of the reasons there are so many cell phones is because it's cheaper and easier to erect towers than it is to string telephone wire. Like in Chile or Central Africa or Central Asia or Micronesia. And if the US and the FCC didn't have its head up its ass, your US phone would interoperate with the rest of the world's systems.

I borrowed one once to make a call and had to be shown how to use it!

There are still some people like me.

Someone - probably one of those gorehounds who love Japanese horror - will find some way to kill people by cell phone. Then he'll do one mass call and wipe us all out.

Since Americans love paranoia instead of confidence, Clinton instead of Obama, I expect this idea to take off all over the place.

has nothing to do with being a nifty star trek-like gadget.It has to do with tremendous unserved demand for phones world-wide and all the benefits of communication.

Aside from the obvious of farmers/fishermen being better informed about market prices for their crops, the day-to-day advantages of phones are huge.

Imagine life without one. And I don't mean the idle chat. I mean the calling for information, to inform someone of a situation (like I can't make it to dinner, Mom), to arrange a social visit (as opposed to showing up at your friend's door and hoping they are in.) Calling in sick to work.

Sure, microwaves beamed from outer space will catch on if they are cheap enough to replace current forms of energy, not because they are nifty.

If nifty was all that counted, half the world would own an iPod.

I live in a city. My employer pays for my bus pass so I ride the bus for free. Yet I'm considering buying a car and incurring all the expense, including parking, that goes with car ownership just so I can get away from these yammering cell phone jerks on the bus. And, of course, there are the damn ring tones that express their personality. Look at me: I'm an inconsiderate jerk!

iPod + Bose Noise canceling headset. Much cheaper than a car, insurance and parking.

No longer a brick, better quality sound than Kirk's (though I still envy his signal being able to reach orbit!)

But whatever you do, don't try crossing the US Border with one!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/06/AR2008020604763_pf.html

When did you guys cross the line and turn into the Soviet Union? Paranoia will destroy ya.

I don't have a cell phone, but living in Chicago, with so many people with cell phones around me, I feel like I have one by proxy, since I get to hear them talking all the time. The one good thing with the proliferation of cell phones is that I no longer have to hear people talking loudly on the bus or train:

"What? Yeah! I'm calling you from my cell phone. My CELL PHONE! Yeah, totally! Wait, we're passing under a bridge, I may drop out. Hello? Hello? Yeah! My CELL PHONE! Wait, I've got another call coming in. Hello? Yeah! Hey! Yeah, I'm talking on my cell phone. My CELL PHONE! Can I call you RIGHT back?"

Now it's taken for granted that they're calling on their cell, now that the novelty of having one is gone. Progress!

The orbiting solar power arrays sound interesting, although with our country's rather militarized priorities, I can see orbiting death rays more readily than orbiting solar power plants.

Who would spend billions of dollars to reinvent Tesla's concept of wireless power transmission and yet are creeped out by them thar wireless phones. Tell you whut, iffin commun-i-kay-shun is such a dang darn bother to yall, stay off the intertubes.

Actually, many cellphone sellers and electronics stores have bins where you can donate old cell phones. These then go to various causes, women's shelters, charities, etc. If your phone still works when you get a new one, that's what you do with it and it is reused by someone who can't afford one of their own.

Cell phones are a completely unnecessary device,

Ours is a World of unnecessary necessities,

Now even the peasants must be decadent,

So much talking yet so little being said,

Technology is a god without whom communication is impossible,

Humans are sick of their organic selves,

The cold creatures we become are only more wretched,

It is fun to believe talking more makes life more meaningful,

My! think of all the conversations to be eavesdropped on,

How safe the feeling when the Queen Bee facilitates all interaction,

Brain tumors, migration patters interrupted, toxic chemicals to fill more holes,

A very few getting rich off of a plastic gadget,

Keep it is perspective, you are not a magician but your toys are magic,

Someday the device will read vital signs and tell us who is and who is not worthy of our time.