I think everybody with a little scientific literacy understands how the inverse square law makes the idea of broadcast power worthless, at least until we've figured out how to harness stars or "zero point energy" so that we have enough to waste gently basting the world in a bath of beamed power.

But they foresee this tech being used in enclosed spaces in a way analogous to the current practice of providing wireless data connections in public places. And I wonder if it might not be economically feasible in that application. Portable and mobile devices depend on batteries to store energy, and they're inefficient. Devices equipped to "absorb" energy from the ambient environment are a bit like hybrid automobiles, and perhaps the tradeoffs are similarly beneficial, on balance.

Arrell castigated the press for their reporting, but regardless, this is Intel we're talking about. They're not into perpetual motion machines and finding the fountain of youth. I trust that they've done the basic engineering due diligence to show that this is at least possible. I'd advise suitably low expectations and patience.