For those of you who were around in the mid-to-late 80’s, you should be aware of the cult blockbuster film Back to the Future. If the terms “DeLorean” and “Marty McFly” aren’t coming to mind, then you probably haven’t watched it, let alone heard of it. In the second instalment, Back to the Future II, Marty McFly is transported to the year 2015 where “hoverboards” are a common form of personal transportation.
To the uninitiated, a hoverboard is essentially a skateboard without wheels that can levitate above any surface. Check out the video below to see one in action.
Okay, okay, the video is a complete hoax, but now you know a bit more about a hoverboard.
Many companies over the years have tried to capture the imagination of consumers by creating products that appeared to offer hoverboard-like properties. Many were hoaxes. But now, in 2015, we may be seeing science fiction come to life!
Hendo Hoverboard
I don’t know about you, but that gets me excited! For the technically astute, you might have noticed that the hoverboard levitation is based up electromagnetism. The same principle has been used commercially in Maglev trains for over a decade. This means the Hendo Hoverboard only works when placed above a special conductive surface. Although it is only a proof of concept, we can “believe” in the future of frictionless personal transportation.
I’m pretty sure if I ended this article here you’d all be pretty disappointed. I know you were all expecting a commercially available product that you could order right now. Sadly, no such product exists. But what if I said you could make your own? Watch the teaser below.
For details on how to create this DIY hoverboard, head on over to the Mr Hoverboard blog.
Now imagine if the Back to the Future movies were never created. Would we have ever had the notion of a “hoverboard”? And by setting a prediction of 2015, would the development into hoverboard technology be where it’s at today? An idea is a powerful thing. It has a way of defining the future. Setting a date can act as a catalyst to manifest that idea sooner. If you want to achieve something in 2015, set a date and “believe”.