It has become common among sci-fi fans to express disappointment that the shiny future we were promised once upon a childhood – flying cars, jetpacks, videophones, robot assistants – hasn’t completely come to pass.
Not sure about the flying cars or robot assistants, although I’m sure they’re not far off at this point. As for the videophones, they exist, though maybe not exactly in the form you’d expect. Video conferencing and Skype seem to be filling that role at the moment, but can actual video-transmitting phones be far behind?
But as far as the jetpack goes, we can officially stop whining: for a mere $86,000, you can soon purchase your very own Martin jet pack. Let the people say Amen.
It’s not technically a jet pack, but still awesome. (At least not in aeronautical terms, there’s a discussion about it on the Martin Jetpack site).
I remember Mythbusters tried to build one themselves.
I want one . . .
Yep, I have their Logo on my Locker at work (Yes Really!!!)
Hmmm… More like a personal ducted-fan helicopter. I bet you couldn’t walk with it on your back like the Rocketeer.
video-transmitting phones – intriguing proposal. I honestly can’t make a business out of it, myself, nor or probably ever, but I still notice that it is, in fact, quite an intriguing proposal. To integrate web-cam, touch-screen LCD, and phone in one portable, single-purpose device – it would probably require broadband internet for connectivity, so would be best marketed to urban markets.
Could make the video cel phones, too. I bet that that would be a lot more likely to take off.
Just calling it as I see it
Cheers!
Gimbal – I’m with you. Most of the time, I’d prefer not to be on camera. I have a camera on my laptop, and I could go all vid-conference any time I wanted, but I don’t want. I think most people are probably in that camp. But the video phones do exist, whether we use ‘em or not, eh? It’s the future.
Like Mercy says, if my jet-pack is going to be that big, I say skip it and go for the flying car. That would be plenty cool enough for me
That’s cool, but I’m with Skeptible, I’t kind of bulky. I would certainly love to try it. Or if I was given one I would keep it. Whereas if I was given a really expensive car like a Lamborghini, I would sell it in a heart beat and buy a house.
PS Missing Moon Town but we’ll see you when we see you. Thanks.