Post: #76

(07-27-2015 09:17 PM)eljeffster Wrote:  

(07-02-2015 01:42 PM)Bad Hussar Wrote:  2) New style airships that offer similar types of journeys to cruise ships, but in the air. Full cabins and viewing decks with the ability to travel or a few days without "landing". There have been proposals for these in the recent past, but they have all come to naught. Apparently airships could be a cost effective way to move freight as well.

We shall call it the Hindenburg!

http://www.airship-association.org/cms/node/18

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/product...rship.html

http://www.howstuffworks.com/cargolifter.htm

http://www.varialift.com/

Post: #77

(06-29-2015 09:14 PM)The Father Wrote:  

(06-29-2015 01:22 AM)LeBeau Wrote:  Mass commercial use of hoverboards and flying cars are the obvious ones, but I'm also surprised at just how little the oceans have been explored, or developed.

For example, we're just now starting to see small underwater hotels, and there isn't a submarine tourism industry to much extent compared to cruises and yachts.

This reminds me of a commercial that aired at the turn of the century. I think the actor was Avery Brooks. The commercial started out "It's the year 2000, and where are the flying cars? I was promised flying cars. I don't SEE any flying cars? Why?"

I believe it was a commercial for Enron :/

Around the turn of the century IBM had great visionary commercials:

Flying Cars:




Shoplifter:





It is funny that wireless voice activated was treated in the same futuristic way:

Post: #78

(07-27-2015 10:06 PM)LINUX Wrote:  A high speed rail system in the USA.

Especially in the Northeast. Something better than Amtrak. It's just a shame that, for various reasons, the ultimate cost/km of building this in the US wuld be prohibitive. As a result any high speed line would need tax $'s not just to be built, but to be operated as well. Think how much Amtrak costs the taxpayer. And they use previously capitalised infrastructure...

Along the same lines:

DIRECT high speed trains from JFK, EWR and LGA to midtown Manhattan. Not the piecemeal situations that you have now at JFK and EWR, where you have to take a fairly long feeder train, and then a slow regular train into the city.

I hear that La Guardia is to get a direct subway line, which is great, but not good enough for business travelers. And New York is the centre of business travel...

Post: #79

(07-27-2015 10:14 PM)Deepdiver Wrote:  

(07-27-2015 09:17 PM)eljeffster Wrote:  

(07-02-2015 01:42 PM)Bad Hussar Wrote:  2) New style airships that offer similar types of journeys to cruise ships, but in the air. Full cabins and viewing decks with the ability to travel or a few days without "landing". There have been proposals for these in the recent past, but they have all come to naught. Apparently airships could be a cost effective way to move freight as well.

We shall call it the Hindenburg!

http://www.airship-association.org/cms/node/18

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/product...rship.html

http://www.howstuffworks.com/cargolifter.htm

http://www.varialift.com/

Love the Lockheed Martin airship. I wonder if it could be more cost effective than regular airfreight for standard cargo.

Edit: Airships to resupply Oil Rigs at sea. Considering how much helicopter lifts to them cost...

Post: #80

(07-28-2015 11:33 AM)Bad Hussar Wrote:  [quote='LINUX' pid='1074298' dateline='1438052812']
Along the same lines:

DIRECT high speed trains from JFK, EWR and LGA to midtown Manhattan. Not the piecemeal situations that you have now at JFK and EWR, where you have to take a fairly long feeder train, and then a slow regular train into the city.

High speed? How about just regular subway service. In 2015 it's mind boggling that a city the size of NYC never managed to run its subway to the, is the taxi union really that strong? Last I checked airports with metro service still had taxis lined up outside. The JFK Airtrain was one of the biggest debacles I have ever seen, hundred of confused tourist trying to figure out how to buy another ticket to ride another train. Any reasonable city would have just extended the line straight to the airport, or built the line to airport 50 years ago.

Post: #81

(07-27-2015 10:14 PM)Deepdiver Wrote:  

(07-27-2015 09:17 PM)eljeffster Wrote:  

(07-02-2015 01:42 PM)Bad Hussar Wrote:  2) New style airships that offer similar types of journeys to cruise ships, but in the air. Full cabins and viewing decks with the ability to travel or a few days without "landing". There have been proposals for these in the recent past, but they have all come to naught. Apparently airships could be a cost effective way to move freight as well.

We shall call it the Hindenburg!

http://www.airship-association.org/cms/node/18

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/product...rship.html

http://www.howstuffworks.com/cargolifter.htm

http://www.varialift.com/

Those were some cool links, the Cargolifter one seems to be complicated enough to unload that its claims that it is good to reach hard to get to areas somewhat dubious. If the areas are hard to reach will they have the ability to unload?

I saw a brief mention on the varialift that they claim they can go a long time without helium loss.

My continuing issue is that helium is a rare element and there are already claims that we are running out without the ability to acquire a long term continuous supply.

http://theweek.com/articles/477108/world-running-helium

So, cool airships but the fuel issue I think is a problem.

Post: #82

I just want my fucking Hoverboard!!!!

Post: #83

Motorcycle suits that foam up like in the 'Demolition Man' cars
Underwater breathing apparatus
Male birth control pills or stickers

Post: #84

(07-28-2015 03:09 PM)Cyclone419 Wrote:  I just want my fucking Hoverboard!!!!

They invented a limited one already