As we've brought more phones, laptops and assorted gadgetry into our lives, we've gotten used to bringing along all the cords, chargers and batteries necessary to keep them powered up. Today we're looking at new technologies to provide power to our electronics without the wires. Eric Giler, CEO of WiTricity, and The Takeaway's tech contributor Farhad Manjoo, who also covers technnology for Slate.com, say wireless power may still be a few years away from mainstream usage...but it's on the way.  

If you've ever sat down to do work on a computer, you know that "productivity" and "access to the internet" frequently fight each other tooth and nail. When you're supposed to be writing a proposal, you're tempted by YouTube highlights of Tom Brady’s game winner against the Buffalo Bills. Or maybe it's new pictures of your friend’s baby shower on Flickr, or your Twitter feed. A number of new software applications try to act as traffic cops, shielding you from distractions. New York Times and Slate writer Farhad Manjoo tells us about some of these productivity tools. We also speak to Tony Wright, who founded a productivity and analytics company that created an application called RescueTime.

Read Farhad Manjoo's article in The New York Times

Find out more about the other applications mentioned on air:

• Firefox plugin, LeechBlock
• A Windows-only program, Freedom