Charging and powering equipment through thin air seems pure fantasy. However:

A system that can deliver power to devices without the need for wires has been shown off at a hi-tech conference.

The technique exploits simple physics and can be used to charge a range of electronic devices.

Eric Giler, chief executive of US firm Witricity, showed mobile phones and televisions charging wirelessly at the TED Global conference in Oxford. Jonathan Fildes, BBC.

If you’ve an ancient house like mine the only question you’re going to have is when can I install it?