An electrical generator is a device that produces electrical energy from a mechanical energy source using electromagnetic induction. The process is known as electricity generation. Prokudin-Gorskii-30.jpg|thumb|right|222px|Early 20th century Alternator made in Budapest, Hungary, in the power generating hall of a hydroelectric station. ]]

Historic developments

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Before the connection between magnetism and electricity was discovered, generators used electrostatic principles. The Wimshurst machine used electrostatic induction or "influence". The Van de Graaff generator uses either of two mechanisms:

• Charge transferred from a high-voltage electrode
• Charge created by the triboelectric effect using the separation of two insulators (the belt leaving the lower pulley)

Electrostatic generators are inefficient and are useful only for scientific experiments requiring high voltages.

Faraday

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Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:39:25 -0400
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The Seattle Times: Business & Technology

Bush, Paulson say economy's rebound will take time
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The economy shot warning flares on Wednesday that it was still in profound trouble despite the government's latest financial rescue plan.
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America's financial power center has shifted from Wall Street to Washington, D.C.
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NYT > Technology

Gadgetry Takes a Hit as Nervous Consumers Plan for Lean Holidays
Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:59:37 -0000
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A New Line From Apple: The Metal MacBook
Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:58:16 -0000
Steven P. Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, announced a new line of notebook computers that he said were manufactured in a new way.
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Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:22:19 -0000
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CNN.com - Technology

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Authorities shut down huge spam ring
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NPR Topics: Technology

Energy-Saving Windows A Legacy Of '70s Oil Crisis
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BBC News | Technology | UK Edition

Broadband speed tests questioned
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Reuters Video: Technology

Apple's $999 laptop
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AP Top Technology News At 10:08 a.m. EDT

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CNET News.com

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Google-owned video site is unwilling to give presidential campaigns special treatment, saying that they should rely on their rights under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
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SolarCity updates is solar panel monitoring software to include home electricity usage and Open Energy creates a touch-screen device for tracking energy usage and production.

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