Hoverboard
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A Hoverboard (Also known as Hover Board) is a fictional futuristic hovering deck, resembling a skateboard without wheels or trucks. The name is a portmanteau of the words hover and skateboard. They were first introduced in the films Back to the Future Part II in 1989, and Back to the Future Part III in 1990, where Mattel made a product branded Hoverboard. Attempts to produce the experience of a Hoverboard with available technology have involved hovercraft (or air-cushion) vehicles.
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[edit] Back to the Future
In the Back to the Future series, the Hoverboard model was a hover device marketed by Mattel, invented between the years 1985 and 2015. These devices were capable of floating above almost any surface, but riders are still required to push off the ground with their feet to gain forward momentum, and therefore are often left helpless if left hovering above ice, water or other low traction surfaces; however, as shown in the film, the "Pitbull"-model Hoverboard, fitted with two rear-facing jets for propulsion, was capable of crossing water and similar surfaces. The original prop Hoverboard was on display at the Planet Hollywood in Beverly Hills until August 2000, when it was auctioned to a private party. Director Robert Zemeckis once joked during an interview that the Hoverboards were real, leading a surprising number of consumers to believe so, however such Hoverboards, as seen in the movies, are fictional.
[edit] Technology
There are several theories about how the Hoverboard could work. Space Magnetics (originally named Hovertech) experimented with ferrofluid force fields [1], attempting to ionize a column of air interacting with a magnetic fluid, forming a bubble which the board could rest on. This technology was never made to work, as the ferrofluid simply stuck to the sides of its casing when activated. [cite?]
Another possible way is by use of geomagnetics[citation needed], the act of repelling against the earth's magnetic field. Such as in Back to the Future: the Ride where each loading dock has a case containing a hoverboard, warning us that there is a strong magnetic field. The magnets are clearly so strong that they can reach the Earth's magnetic core that they can hover on it by the year 2015. So far there have been no significant advances toward completing a working device that can do this. It would require a large magnetic repulsion, as the Earth's magnetic field is very weak.
[edit] Popular culture
[edit] Video Games
Hoverboards have made appearances in several computer and video games, such as Hoverboard ASDF, Conker's Bad Fur Day, Kid Chameleon, Sonic Riders, Jazz Jackrabbit 2, EyeToy: Antigrav, There (internet service), TrickStyle, Jak 2 , Jak 3 Unreal Tournament 3 and Rocket Power: Beach Bandits and "The Urbz: Sims in the City DS Version"
The Playstation 2 game Airblade was based completely around a hoverboard using next generaton anti-gravity technology.
In the video game Final Fantasy VIII, the character Zell Dincht is briefly seen riding a hoverboard-like device.
Xbox Live Arcade game Street Trace NYC is a futuristic hoverboard combat racing game.
[edit] Television
On the television show MythBusters, Jamie Hyneman and his team built a makeshift hovercraft, dubbed the Hyneman Hoverboard, from a surfboard and leaf-blowers.
On an episode of Da Ali G Show, Ali G meets with institutional investors and suggests that they begin to market a hoverboard (which was just a skateboard with the wheels removed).
[edit] Cartoons
In an episode of Ben 10, Ben receives a hoverboard as a sort of gift from an alien belonging to Diamondhead's race.
In the French animated series Code Lyoko, Odd's vehicle is a hoverboard called the Overboard.
In the anime Eureka Seven, Renton rides a bodyboard sized hovering surfboard that utilizes an atmospheric energy phenomenon, called trapar, as a means of lift and propulsion.
In the Hanna Barbera series The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, Jonny has a hoverboard that he uses frequently.
In the animated series Get Ed, Ed's primary mode of transportation is a transforming hoverboard.
The 1996 Flash Gordon cartoon series featured many characters using hoverboards. Most of the associated action figures featured hoverboards as accesories.
In Transformers: The Movie Daniel rides a hoverboard before hitting a rock and being caught by Hot Rod.
Near the end of the first part of the 2nd season finale of the 2003-2005 Cartoon Network series Duck Dodgers, our hero, Duck Dodgers uses a hoverboard to quickly traverse a junk yard to get to his ship. In the episode, "Of Course You Know This Means War and Peace Part 1", Duck Dodgers must get to his ship before it is destroyed, with out which, he will not be able to save both Earth and Mars from treachery.
In the animated series ThunderCats, WilyKit and WilyKat frequently traveled by hoverboard.
In an episode of Jimmy Newtron, when the space aliens come to Retroville, a boy is given a hoverboard as a present from the aliens.
[edit] Books
In the Uglies trilogy by Scott Westerfeld, hoverboards are featured prominently.
[edit] Real world
Several companies have drawn on currently available hovercraft technology to create Hoverboard-like products. Future Horizons produces an air-powered 5 ft long 2 ft wide board-shaped "Hoverboard". Alternatively, the Airboard is a disc shaped hovercraft a bit over 6 ft in diameter, but does not resemble the Hoverboard depicted in Back to the Future.
Rumors circulated in 2001 that inventor Dean Kamen's new invention, codenamed Ginger, was a transportation device resembling the Hoverboard. In reality Ginger was the Segway Human Transporter, a self-balancing dual electric servo, stand-up scooter.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Future Horizons Air powered miniature hovercraft
- Space Magnetics Experiments with gravity repelling technology and magnetic shielding
- Jason Bradbury DIY Hoverboard: Walk-through
- Hoverboard Museum Examples of Hoverboards designed for There
