Misc. Av Contest: The Future is Now

[Locutus of Bored]

I'm sure we've done ones about the future before, so this week's contest is about finding things that exist today that represent the future or look like they're from the future to you. Whether it's a futuristic building, flying car, jetpack, scientific development, etc. it's all good, as long as it already exists or is in development today.

The usual rules apply: 150 x 150 pixel, 140kb size limit, follow the board content rules, and no film/TV/game/etc. images allowed.

The voting thread will go up on Wednesday, May 22nd. Good luck, everyone.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Graphene!

 

[RJDiogenes]

^^ I once dated a girl named Graphene. She was a little square.

Here we go:

This is the incredible Kepler Spacecraft, which suffered a debilitating mechanical setback this week that will likely end its useful lifetime. However, it has already identified hundreds of new planets, some of which are located in the habitable zones of their stars and may host life (or life-bearing moons). There are also still a couple of thousand KOI-- "Kepler Objects of Interest"-- which wait to be confirmed, so even though our little friend will now likely be living in quiet retirement, his contributions will continue to make news-- perhaps even giving us the first truly Earth-like planet in the galaxy.

How's that for the future is now?

 

[auntiehill]

Asimo

 

[Kai "the spy"]

Skybridges between buildings have been around for millennia, but they still look like something right out of a scifi movie. I blame "Metropolis".
This one's located in London:

 

[Kai "the spy"]

I just go ahead and bump this.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Well, I was hoping for more entries to come in, so I was leaving it open until tomorrow instead.

Anyway, here's my entry: an exoskeleton to assist the disabled with mobility.

 

[auntiehill]

^Cool.

Yeah, I'm surprised there aren't more entries. No Google Glass? Tablets? Drones?

 

[RJDiogenes]

Apparently, in the future, Avatar Contests decline in popularity.

 

[JiNX-01]

 

[Gecko of Gorn]

The hoverbike, created by aerospace firm Aerofex, uses two high-powered fans to lift it off of the ground. It picks up on the small balancing movements people make when riding a bike or motorcycle, letting anyone drive it without any special training – provided you already know how to ride a bike or motorcycle.

Early versions of the bike could go as fast as a helicopter, but for safety’s sake the hoverbike is being tested at 30 MPH and 15 feet off of the ground. Aerofex doesn’t anticipate their awesome speederbike-like invention hitting the streets for us regular people anytime soon; instead, they are working on unmanned versions for the military. So while we’re pleased the thing exists, we’re still pretty disappointed we can’t get our hands on one.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

^ That's actually real?! Damn, do I want one!

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Sorry for running so late, guys. The poll is now open. Good luck, everyone.

http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=214513