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Growing up, this sort of thing was speculated about with almost the same level of "sci fi" around it as things like stopping aging, instant cures for new diseas

Growing up, this sort of thing was speculated about with almost the same level of "sci fi" around it as things like stopping aging, instant cures for new diseases, and video phones. Just another example of how I slowly ended up living in the future without fully realizing it. Now, where's my flying car and Rosie, my robot maid?

wizzwizz4 5y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autogyro https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autogyro is your flying car. Your “robot maid” lives on your smartphone, probably called Alexa or Siri or Mycroft.
felipemnoa 5y ago
Not a flying car but close enough: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/move-electric/meet-jetson-one-single-seater-evtol-flying-car https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/move-electric/meet-jetson...
beaconstudios 5y ago
Flying cars, despite being a symbol of a scifi future, are actually a pretty bad idea. Driving on wheels is much more energy efficient than flying, and without the risk of acting like a kinetic weapon if the battery cuts out. I'm all for innovation, but I do think it's easy to get the wrong end of the stick with scifi and focus on the aesthetic over the social conditions.
- ineedasername 5y ago
  Yes, small aircraft already account for most of the unscheduled rapid disassembly of planes each year. I don't think that masses of flying cars would improve on that. I don't really see a straight path to improving upon cars for arbitrary point-to-point transportation.
pharke 5y ago
Futurists and sci-fi authors always focus on the destination, we're the ones that get to experience the journey.
T-A 5y ago
https://www.dw.com/en/slovakia-certifies-flying-car-as-airworthy/a-60551312 https://www.dw.com/en/slovakia-certifies-flying-car-as-airwo... https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/19/22791267/alphabet-google-everyday-robot-project-cleaning-office-prototype https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/19/22791267/alphabet-google...

wizzwizz4 5y ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autogyro https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autogyro is your flying car. Your “robot maid” lives on your smartphone, probably called Alexa or Siri or Mycroft.

felipemnoa 5y ago

Not a flying car but close enough: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/move-electric/meet-jetson-one-single-seater-evtol-flying-car https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/move-electric/meet-jetson...

beaconstudios 5y ago

Flying cars, despite being a symbol of a scifi future, are actually a pretty bad idea. Driving on wheels is much more energy efficient than flying, and without the risk of acting like a kinetic weapon if the battery cuts out. I'm all for innovation, but I do think it's easy to get the wrong end of the stick with scifi and focus on the aesthetic over the social conditions.

ineedasername 5y ago
Yes, small aircraft already account for most of the unscheduled rapid disassembly of planes each year. I don't think that masses of flying cars would improve on that. I don't really see a straight path to improving upon cars for arbitrary point-to-point transportation.

pharke 5y ago

Futurists and sci-fi authors always focus on the destination, we're the ones that get to experience the journey.

T-A 5y ago

https://www.dw.com/en/slovakia-certifies-flying-car-as-airworthy/a-60551312 https://www.dw.com/en/slovakia-certifies-flying-car-as-airwo... https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/19/22791267/alphabet-google-everyday-robot-project-cleaning-office-prototype https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/19/22791267/alphabet-google...