Is This For Real?

[SloopJonB]

They claim this is real - anybody know anything about it?

http://huvrtech.com/

[Soñadora]

They claim this is real - anybody know anything about it?

http://huvrtech.com/

since it's out there On the Line it's gotta be real cuz, y'know. It's like V-I-D-E-O so yeah. On teh interwebs.

[BeauV]

I'm guessing this is really good special effects. But, if it's "real", then sign me up I'm GOING FOR IT!!

[JoeP]

TGTBT

[SloopJonB]

Well that's what I figured but then I thought - if it's a hoax, it's a hell of an expensive one and would Christopher Lloyd get involved in a hoax? My kid says that skateboarder is a top champion as well so the same applies.

I can't help remembering when the Segway came out 15 or 20 years ago - people thought it was faked too.

I just can't imagine what physics principles this thing would operate on - takes more than fancy gyroscopes, that's for sure. I'd be a lot more convinced if it required a steel floor to hover over.

[Orestes Munn]

I'm guessing this is really good special effects. But, if it's "real", then sign me up I'm GOING FOR IT!!

The fact that you didn't dismiss this immediately probably explains something about how you got where you are today, Beau, but put me in the NFW(!) column, anyway.

[Ish]

http://www.avclub.com/article/christopher-lloyd-joins-back-future-hoverboard-hoa-201816

[BeauV]

I'm guessing this is really good special effects. But, if it's "real", then sign me up I'm GOING FOR IT!!

The fact that you didn't dismiss this immediately probably explains something about how you got where you are today, Beau, but put me in the NFW(!) column, anyway.

LOL - OM - I can't tell you the number of times I have said NFW and been proven wrong. However, with this HOVr board, there is simply no way that it could carry the energy required, let alone use that energy, to do what was being shown. Have a look at this if you'd like an idea of what it takes to lift a person and fly them around:



That said, maybe someone really will develop an anti-gravity drive and we can all float around like this. You know, you probably could do this with magnetism but the control systems to stabilize it would be DIFFICULT! Also, the entire surface of the road would need to be a giant killer magnet.

[Tigger]

Also, the entire surface of the road would need to be a giant killer magnet.

And if you dropped your keys, you could forget about every getting them back!

[BeauV]

Also, the entire surface of the road would need to be a giant killer magnet.

And if you dropped your keys, you could forget about every getting them back!

Imagine what it'd do to your pacemaker and pocket knife!!

[The Red Lady]

Sorry guys and gals, looks like we have a troll...http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftechcrunch.com%2F2014%2F03%2F04%2Fwhy-are-all-these-celebrities-participating-in-an-epic-fake-hoverboard-troll%2F&h=RAQEuCbmG

[Ish]

Sorry guys and gals, looks like we have a troll...http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftechcrunch.com%2F2014%2F03%2F04%2Fwhy-are-all-these-celebrities-participating-in-an-epic-fake-hoverboard-troll%2F&h=RAQEuCbmG

Yup, look four or five posts back.

[SloopJonB]

That looks like a hell of a lot of money to spend for an Internet prank. Anybody here know anything about the costs involved in a production like that? It looked to me like it must have been well into 6 figures at least.

[cavelamb]

Oh yeah.
Someone discovered anti-gravity and decided to make hover boards to keep it out of the hands of the military.

More to the point - http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html

Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) is a colorless and odorless chemical compound, also referred to by some as Dihydrogen Oxide, Hydrogen Hydroxide, Hydronium Hydroxide, or simply Hydric acid. Its basis is the highly reactive hydroxyl radical, a species shown to mutate DNA, denature proteins, disrupt cell membranes, and chemically alter critical neurotransmitters. The atomic components of DHMO are found in a number of caustic, explosive and poisonous compounds such as Sulfuric Acid, Nitroglycerine and Ethyl Alcohol.

For more detailed information, including precautions, disposal procedures and storage requirements, refer to one of the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) available for DHMO:

Kemp Compliance & Safety MSDS for DHMO
Chem-Safe, Inc. MSDS for Dihydrogen Monoxide
Applied Petrochemical Research MSDS for Hydric Acid
Original DHMO.org Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for Dihydrogen Monoxide (html)

Should I be concerned about Dihydrogen Monoxide?
Yes, you should be concerned about DHMO! Although the U.S. Government and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) do not classify Dihydrogen Monoxide as a toxic or carcinogenic substance (as it does with better known chemicals such as hydrochloric acid and benzene), DHMO is a constituent of many known toxic substances, diseases and disease-causing agents, environmental hazards and can even be lethal to humans in quantities as small as a thimbleful.

Research conducted by award-winning U.S. scientist Nathan Zohner concluded that roughly 86 percent of the population supports a ban on dihydrogen monoxide. Although his results are preliminary, Zohner believes people need to pay closer attention to the information presented to them regarding Dihydrogen Monoxide. He adds that if more people knew the truth about DHMO then studies like the one he conducted would not be necessary.

What are some of the dangers associated with DHMO?
Each year, Dihydrogen Monoxide is a known causative component in many thousands of deaths and is a major contributor to millions upon millions of dollars in damage to property and the environment. Some of the known perils of Dihydrogen Monoxide are:


Death due to accidental inhalation of DHMO, even in small quantities.
Prolonged exposure to solid DHMO causes severe tissue damage.
Excessive ingestion produces a number of unpleasant though not typically life-threatening side-effects.
DHMO is a major component of acid rain.
Gaseous DHMO can cause severe burns.
Contributes to soil erosion.
Leads to corrosion and oxidation of many metals.
Contamination of electrical systems often causes short-circuits.
Exposure decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes.
Found in biopsies of pre-cancerous tumors and lesions.
Given to vicious dogs involved in recent deadly attacks.
Often associated with killer cyclones in the U.S. Midwest and elsewhere, and in hurricanes including deadly storms in Florida, New Orleans and other areas of the southeastern U.S.
Thermal variations in DHMO are a suspected contributor to the El Nino weather effect.

[floating dutchman]

That does, I'm only drinking beer from now on!

Anyway, I showed my wife the hover board, Hook line and sinker!

Jereon

[SloopJonB]

Beau's comment about the energy storage aspect made me slap myself upside the head - I hadn't even considered that. I was trying to figure a possible way for mag lev to function like that.

I am finding, after spending my working life with large scale mainframes that I am WAY obsolete after only 5 years out. My 5 Y/O granddaughter has a toy that allows her to put an action figure on a stand, called a portal, and play with that figure in a video game on TV - it gets integrated into the game like a Holodeck for toys. If she wants another character in the game she just puts it on the stand.

I am constantly being reminded of Arthur C. Clarke's line "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic".

I think I'm going to go out and buy some bronze castings for my boat tomorrow.

[LarryHoward]

Interesting that pattern makers and castings were approaching the status of antique arts 25 years ago but 3 D printing and the right resins have made casting a "modern" technology in the same way that 5 axis machine tools and near net shape stamping and forging have modernized the old forges to modern manufacturing techniques.

What was old is now new.

[SloopJonB]

Damn, isn't there anything old besides me?

[BeauV]

Ya - Me

[Soñadora]

you know what hasn't gotten old?

Being fabulous.

[cavelamb]

They claim this is real - anybody know anything about it?

http://huvrtech.com/

Now look what you done! Everybody is wondering about it now.

Hats off to Mr. Lloyd!

<http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/is-the-hoverboard-ad-real-or-a-hoax-plus-more-of-the-weeks-best-viral-videos/>

[Tim OConnell]

Cave,
That dihydrogen monoxide is frequently watered down, reducing its potency

[floating dutchman]

Cave,
That dihydrogen monoxide is frequently watered down, reducing its potency

Ha ha!