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Tomorrow's Cities: What It Feels Like to Fly a Jetpack

posted by Fnord666 on Thursday January 12 2017, @08:07AM   Printer-friendly
from the the-future-is-complete dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

Over the next four weeks, BBC News will be offering a snapshot of the day in the life of a city - looking at how technology is transforming our urban landscapes, now and in the future.

Their first snapshot? What it will be like to commute by jetpack.

We start as urban dwellers around the world begin the day - with the morning commute. In the future, that may mean hailing a jetpack.

"Jetpacks will be part of future cities," Peter Coker, vice-president of innovation at KuangChi Science, Martin Aircraft Company's major Chinese shareholder.

"I see it as being the Uber of the sky."

Martin Aircraft Company, based in New Zealand, already has a working prototype that can fly at 2,800ft (850m) at 45km/h (27mph) for 28 minutes.

And Mr Coker says commuters will be able to hail an unmanned jetpack via a smartphone app.

Futurism is always fun. How would you prefer to get to work, by jetpack, Hyperloop, or VR?

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  • (Score: 3, Funny) by Uncle_Al on Thursday January 12 2017, @03:08PM

    by Uncle_Al (1108) on Thursday January 12 2017, @03:08PM (#452947)

    I prefer the notion of commuting by trebuchet

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  • (Score: 2) by jimshatt on Thursday January 12 2017, @03:42PM

    by jimshatt (978) on Thursday January 12 2017, @03:42PM (#452959) Journal
    Or maybe flying slaves: http://www.theonion.com/blogpost/i-thought-wed-have-flying-slaves-by-now-27000 [theonion.com]

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 12 2017, @05:09PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 12 2017, @05:09PM (#452980)

    "You're fired!" ... *Kaffflloooong!*

    • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday January 12 2017, @06:08PM

      by bob_super (1357) on Thursday January 12 2017, @06:08PM (#452997)

      No no no no, you've got it wrong:
      Management commutes by trebuchet.
      Peons commute by slingshot.
      Layoffs are conducted by cannon. It's like ex-presidents getting a last ride home on Marine One, but more thrilling.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 12 2017, @05:57PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 12 2017, @05:57PM (#452992)

    Everyone in the future will be commuting via pneumatic tube.