What is all the hype about this new gadget, widely referred to as the "hoverboard"? You know, that new thing you see people zooming in and out the sidewalks with? Call it what you want, "the electric skateboard," "the hands-free segway," "the levitating board," but hoverboards are taking over.
WHAT ARE THOSE!?
The hoverboard: a phenomenal invention that has taken the world by storm over the past few months. It has evolved from a foreign gadget that people only saw on the internet, to a more common mode of transportation. However is this "toy" really here to stay? Or is it just a temporary fad?
Well, if you speak with Wiz Khalifa, you may become convinced and purchase one.
After being handcuffed at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for riding one, Khalifa firmly stated, "I stand for our generation and our generation is gonna be riding hoverboards so if you don’t like it eat a D***!”
Ranging from about $300 to $1000, there are nearly 10 popular brands/models on the market. With new companies like Lexus and Hendo creating new, and more innovative versions of the hoverboard, it is becoming apparent more people are interested in futuristic transportation.
But, are they actually useful?
As I was walking through Manhattan earlier this month, I noticed several people using hoverboards to bypass traffic.
I must admit, this device appears really practical. A man passed by me with one, and within two minutes I had completely lost track of where he was. With a max speed of up to 22 mph, these boards can probably cut the time you spend walking around the city or campus nearly in half.
Also, Jesus may have been the only one to have walked on water, but with this new invention, the human population is able to hover over it. Lexus' version of the hoverboard, SLIDE, has the ability to hover over water.
"Humans won't need to walk anymore," Proud owner, Gaetan Khawly stated, "I initially bought one because I thought it would be good to have one when going to the airport, and then I realized I loved it a lot." In addition to faster transport, Gaetan has become widely recognized among his friends and on campus because of his board. "I make so many friends when I'm on my board. People get so surprised, and sometimes they don't know what it is...they ask a lot of questions."
After trying one myself, it was clear that these devices take some time to get used to. It only took some serious balance strength, five crashes into the wall, and a few hands to hold on to, before I kind of got the hang of it.
What happens when they are not cool anymore?
Will 2015 be the year every child in America asks for a hoverboard for Christmas, but by next year it will be somewhere in the corner collecting dust? Are these boards simply going to fade out like every other toy craze (The Ribstik, Tomogatchi, Razor Scooters, The Wii, and more)?
It is difficult to tell now, but hoverboards have Hollywood on its side. Celebrities like Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Nicky Jam, and Austin Mahone own hoverboards, and are publicly endorsing them. In turn, this Hollywood effect could make hoverboards appear more cool for potential buyers longer.
(pictured below Jamie Fox and Wiz Khalifa flaunting their boards)
For now, these boards are here to stay. Step counts may decline and special lanes on roads may appear. Whether or not they will replace walking, is quite unlikely. Hoverboards represent the future and how far technology has evolved during the 2000s.
