Instead of hoverboards and flying cars, real progress should mean solving inequality

Twenty-six years ago, the film Back to the Future II made some incredible predictions about 2015. When its main character, Marty McFly, traveled to this year, he saw a world where hoverboards and flying cars served as main forms of transportation, where people wore self-lacing shoes and the Chicago Cubs won the World Series.

Parts of this vision may soon come true. Lexus claims to have cracked the code to construct hoverboards, Aeromobil hopes to sell its first flying cars in 2017, and Nike says it will produce power laces later in 2015. (As for the Cubs, who haven't been to the World Series in 70 years, maybe not).

The people of 2015—millenials—are famously open-minded and innovative, liberated and entrepreneurial. Some women in this age group are much more likely to go to college than their predecessors, and both women and men of this generation are redefining workplaces with a focus on work-life balance and a  The gender pay gap is not projected to close until 2058.  concern for diversity. Millennial stars like Jennifer Lawrence and Taylor Swift are speaking out against the structural issues that prevent equality.

But in other ways, progress has stalled. Remarkably, while we can make flying cars and self-tying shoes and digital startups, millennials also face gender and racial disparities that are as striking as any increased opportunities.

The racial wealth gap in the United States continues to be large and has grown since the recession. The net worth of white Americans is now 13 times greater than that of black Americans and 10 times greater than that of Latinos. The nation has also made little advancement in closing the wage gap between men and women in recent years. At the rate of change we've seen since 1960, the gender gap is not projected to close until 2058 (pdf, p. xviii).

When it comes to economic security, millennial women fare worse than men their age. Although more women of this generation are getting college degrees than men, these women are more likely than their male counterparts to live in poverty, have lower earnings and savings and face higher student debt burdens (pdf, p. 7).

For many in this group, going to college is not even a possibility. More than three in ten young adults have not advanced beyond high school. About one in five are poor. Among young black, Latino and Native American adults, poverty rates are especially high. And for every racial and ethnic group, women are more likely than men to be poor.

 The dream may be dimming as the opportunity gap continues to grow. Geography matters, too. In Mississippi, about 75% of millennial women do not have a bachelor's degree and 34% live in poverty. In Maryland and Alaska, the best-ranking states on young women's poverty, about one in seven women of this generation are poor.

These data indicate that while for some young adults equality and opportunity are becoming more and more a reality, for others they are barely a dream. And that dream may be dimming as the opportunity gap continues to grow.

Many people have pointed to important economic reforms that can address the widening gap—such as raising the minimum wage, increasing college affordability, investing in public education and fully enforcing equal pay and equal employment opportunity laws.

But in addition to economic policies that help to bridge the inequality gap, we need policies and programs that develop social networks and supports. This may include community-based supports that strengthen social ties by providing space, connections and networking opportunities, as well as support services like child care and transportation that enable young women and men to complete education or job training programs.

One study of a California-based nonprofit organization dedicated to building local supports and social networks for low-income women found that many program participants wanted to attend college but had limited knowledge about how to realize that dream. Only after talking with friends or acquaintances who were enrolled did they overcome the "how to" barrier and enroll, putting themselves on a path to experience the positive financial and other benefits that education brings.

A multifaceted approach that includes building social networks and supports as well as economic reforms can help us get back to a future where all young adults—and not just some—can flourish in a world that offers them improved opportunities and tangible signs of progress.

Read more from Cynthia here. We welcome your comments at ideas@qz.com.

Source: Instead of hoverboards and flying cars, real progress should mean solving inequality

A Step Closer To The Flying Car - Terrafugia TF-X Ready In 2022 With Vertical Take-Off

4 photos

The flying car has been, and it is, one of modern humanity's technological dreams since the early 1900s, when the great visionaries of the automotive world put the first car on wheels. Technological progress is relatively slow, until 2000 at least, and the legal problems that such an invention would have had stopped in the bud the few attempts.

But 2009 brought to the forefront a company that promised to produce a series flying car. Obviously there is no clear deadline for the launch, but the Americans from Terrafugia, a company formed by engineers and scientists gathered around the Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), presented the Transition concept, as a variant closer in terms of technology of what could become a flying car.

Currently, there are only two companies seriously involved with launching a flying car - Aeromobil and Terrafugia.This car could transport passengers to their destination via air when this is reasonably possible. The Transition concept made en ough waves in the press, especially because the technology boom started to become a serious one, thanks to the explosion of the Internet and personal gadgets.

Well, Terrafugia continues to research and develop the idea of flying car, and in 2015 their new product has a different name: TF-X. The new concept is an evolved one and company representatives say it is very close to a possible series production, if this will be legalized in the near future.

But powertrain solutions and performance of the new Terrafugia TF-X are the ones that impress: the flying car has a hybrid propulsion system, which spins the wheels on the asphalt and the rotors with which it flies when airborn. The air autonomy of the Terrafugia TF-X is 800 kilometers (500 miles) and takeoff is done vertically (like helicopters do today), which means that TF-X does not need a runway.

Although Terrafugia has not provided data about the maximum air speed, it is likely that we are talking about figures better than those of the Transition, the first concept of the company, which announced three years ago a speed of 160 kilometers per hour – 100 mph (it had been rumored to be at about 322 km/h – 200 mph).

If the first thing you think when you hear of such a car is linked in any way to how it can be piloted when in the air, everything is solved simply by the producing company: Terrafugia TF-X has fully autonomous flight, which means that it avoids the p roblems of potential traffic, recognizes areas where the weather is not favorable for flight, knows restricted air zones and it does an automatic landing instead of the driver-pilot. If unforeseen circumstances arise that could endanger the lives of passengers, the Terrafugia TF-X also has a complete parachute system which solves the problem of forced landing without damage.Most likely future owners of these cars will not need a pilot's license, which is necessary for the flying car from Aeromobil.

Even if Terrafugia claims that the TF-X's design it is ready for production, the actual development of the car will take at least eight years, which means that flying cars could be seen on the roads and possibly in the air no earlier than 2022.

There is no official price, but first information from the company revolves around a sum that rivals that of a luxury car, so around or above 300,000 euros.

Source: A Step Closer To The Flying Car - Terrafugia TF-X Ready In 2022 With Vertical Take-Off

Voting rights for felons, hybrid flying cars & unlimited parental leave (E076)

In this episode of Watching the Hawks, Tyrel Ventura and Sean Stone discuss a new report by Syracuse University showing that white collar criminal prosecutions are at a 20-year low. Tyrel and Sean go on to talk about California's decision to restore voting rights for low level felons. Tyrel highlights a new hybrid flying car. WTH is joined by Tabetha Wallace from Hiroshima, Japan to talk about the Hiroshima anniversary ceremony. WTH wraps up the show with an interview with Boom Bust host, Erin Ade, to talk about Netflix's decision to offer unlimited parental leave.

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Source: Voting rights for felons, hybrid flying cars & unlimited parental leave (E076)

No flying cars, but Lexus unveils the hoverboard

MARTY McFly would be impressed. It's 2015 and the hoverboard has arrived just like the Back to the Future sequel predicted.

But, it was Lexus, not Mattel, that unveiled this incredible technology that uses magnets and liquid nitrogen.

Lexus said the hoverboard was the product of an 18-month collaboration between scientists from IFW Dresden and magnetic levitation technology firm evico GmbH.

"The Lexus hoverboard technology features two "cryostats" - reservoirs in which superconducting material is kept at minus 197 degrees through immersion in liquid nitrogen," Lexus said in a statement.

"The board is then placed above a track that contains permanent magnets."

Evico CEO Oliver de Hass said the technology enabled the hoverboard rider to carry out a variety of tricks.

"The magnetic field from the track is effectively 'frozen' into the superconductors in the board, maintaining the distance between the board and the track - essentially keeping the board hovering," he said.

"This force is strong enough to allow the rider to stand and even jump on the board."

The lucky pro skateboarder chosen to test the hoverboard, Ross McGouran, showcased the technology in a film by award-winning director Henry-Alex Rubin.

"I've spent 20 years skateboarding, but without friction it feels like I've had to learn a whole new skill, particularly in the stance and balance in order to ride the hoverboard," Mr McGouran said.

"It's a whole new experience."

It may look like a regular skate park on the surface, but, up to 200 metres of magnetic track lies under the Lexus 'hoverpark'.

Source: No flying cars, but Lexus unveils the hoverboard

The autonomous flying car is set to become reality... in ten years

Hang on a minute, these are just computer renderings...

True but they're computer renderings of the future - a future where we all drive around in cars that can take to the skies at the press of a button. Exciting eh?

Eh, we've been talking about flying cars for ages. Is this for real?

Terrafugia actually already has a track record for creating flying cars. You can head to its website and purchase The Transition - a car that's road legal in the USA and can fly in and out of over 5,000 public airports - right now. It's not quite as smart as the TF-X, but it exists and it works.

What's different about this swanky TF-X model?

It's an upcoming vehicle that uses two high-powered electric motors and a 296bhp petrol engine, which not only propels the four-seater family cruiser along the road but also powers turbines that allow for vertical take-off and landing. Owners with the correct qualifications can fly it pretty much anywhere they want, or noobs can punch a destination into the on-board computer and let the car do all the hard work.

So you don't have to know how to fly?

Not at all. Its maker claims that it can fly itself around 500-miles on a full charge, with the petrol tanks full to the brim. That's because the TF-X navigates to a catalogue of pre-set destinations using the latest computer technology. Of course, the owner can take over at any time should things start to go a bit wrong.

Is it safe?

Who knows, it's all a bit of a concept for the time being but Terrafugia - pronounced ter-ra-FOO-gee-ah, which means 'escape the earth' in Latin - claims the TF-X will be capable of automatically avoiding other air traffic, bad weather, and restricted and tower-controlled airspace.

Plus, there's a full-vehicle back-up parachute system should the worst happen.

What is it like on the road?

Likely quite large and cumbersome thanks to it packing a foldable set of wings and propellers, but it is guaranteed to fit inside a standard American garage. On the road, it uses power from an electric motor and large battery packs, while the petrol motor kicks in for added boost during take-off and landing.

It won't bother any Lamborghinis but it can fly, what more could you want? 

When can I buy one?

You can buy The Transition now for around $600,000 but it doesn't look anywhere near as cool as the TF-X and it isn't capable of the auto landing and take-off stuff. Development of the TF-X is due to last 8-12 years, which gives you plenty of time to start saving.

This article originally appeared at Stuff.tv

Source: The autonomous flying car is set to become reality... in ten years

94-year-old Racine building a flying car

Racine -

For decades, people have been imagining a future world where we'd all have access to flying cars. Well there's a 94-year old inventor in Racine who's been working on the concept for a while now we got a look at the progress he's making.

A flying car? It's not something you typically hear of, but Russell Solheim says building one of these has been his lifelong dream.

"Well this is a helicopter right now but when I build the surround around it, it'll be a flying car," said Solheim. 

That's right-a fully functioning helicopter and car, all in one. 

"This will go at most 80 miles an hour in the air. On the ground it would be a normal car," said Solheim. 

 Solheim, a former mechanical engineer has been perfecting  this particular model for a long time 

"I got my patent in 2003," he said. But he's been thinking up the concept since 1995. 

For years, people have been trying to build a flying car, some with success but Solheim's is the first of its kind.

"There was one at the airshow last week. An excellent one. Beautiful car. But it requires a runway," said Solheim. 

 Solheim has patented retractable rotary blades that extend out 16 feet when the motor is started, as you see in this model version. Springs pull them back in after flight. 

"You can come home and put it right in your garage. You save the cost of paying for a hangar," he said. 

The base, a Wilson helicopter, is nearly complete, while Solheim tweaks his plans for the car.

"Where is the engine of the car going to be?" asked our reporter. 

"I haven't decided yet," said Solheim. 

Solheim says the flying car is about two years from completion but he's already planning for the idea to take off.

"In the future if these are successful, the city would have to have cement take off places here and there, instead of driving all the way to the airport," he said. 

Solheim's next move is getting the plane off the ground. He hopes to have it hovering at least a foot off the ground in the next few weeks. 

And though this plane has yet to take flight, Solheim says he's got high hopes that it will happen in the next two years.  

Source: 94-year-old Racine building a flying car

Terrafugia takes flying cars to new heights

Humans were dreaming about flight long before a couple of bicycle mechanic brothers made it a reality in 1903.

Now an American company hopes to take flight to the next dimension by putting it on roadways.

Terrafugia's TF-X will let you pull out of your standard garage, find an open clearing, push a button and ascend above all your worries and traffic into the sky.

The Woburn, Mass.-based company with MIT-trained aerospace engineers has two models in development, the Transition fixed-wing plane and the TF-X plug-in hybrid.

The "first practical flying car," according to Terrafugia, the street-legal Transition has wings that fold like a goose's to fit in a typical single-car garage, allowing the vehicle to be driven down the road into and out of airports. It runs on unleaded automotive gasoline, and Terrafugia says the conversion is "comparable to putting down the top on your convertible." It has a steering wheel, brake and gas pedals, a stick and rudder pedals for flight, and has been tested on the road and sky as recently as fall 2012. It's expected to cost $279,000.

The Transition appears to have paved the runway for the development of the TF-X.

The TF-X is the stuff of sci-fi dreams, with wings that fold into the side and underbody when on the street, then open like gull wings tipped with twin rotors that launch it vertically into the sky. Pull out of your garage, find a clear level space 100 feet in diameter, push a button and the computer-controlled craft will take off.

Terrafugia estimates it takes about five hours to figure out how to safely operate the TF-X, which comes with automatic and manual modes. Prior to departure, the driver-pilot-operator enters a landing zone into navigation that we hope is much more advanced than current nav systems, then adds a few backup points just in case. If there's not enough energy to land at the first, then the system will use the next nearest point, as long as there is a 30-minute reserve of energy. If the forecast is inhospitable or the energy-distance equation is off, the computer won't let you depart. The driver-pilot can override a landing, and the computer will redirect to the nearest airport for a horizontal, or normal, airplane landing. Then there's a full-vehicle parachute system if all else fails. Operation of the door-to-door TF-X sounds like a breeze.

It seats four and can be recharged from EV charging stations (and we expect a 240-volt home electricity charger). With a 500-mile range, it has double the range of even the best plug-in cars. That should ground range anxiety.

The stated mission of Terrafugia is to be the vanguard of the flying car industry, but it has some company.

A gallery in Popular Mechanics shows that flying cars have been in development for decades, for better or worse.

Last October we reported on AeroMobil, a Slovakian startup company that had been air testing its 3.0 prototype and seemed to be poised to be the first to reach market. But it crashed during testing May 8. The pilot, Stefan Klein, co-founder and inventor of AeroMobil, was able to eject himself to parachute safely from a height of about 900 feet as the flying car went into a tailspin before crashing, the U.K.'s Independent reported. The money lost on the prototype alone, not to mention the legal issues, surely set the company back.

Terrafugia, led by CEO and co-founder Carl Dietrich, has been prototype testing since 2007. The company was a subcontractor for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop concepts for a semi-autonomous, dual-mode vehicle for the U.S. military. Yet the TF-X has civilian ambitions.

"Designed to be the flying car for all of us," the TF-X could be "on-par with very high-end luxury cars of today," Terrafugia predicts. Pricing of the TF-X will not be known until much nearer delivery; development is estimated at eight to 12 years. The company is open to investors, and reservations for the Transition start with a $10,000 refundable deposit.

rduffer@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @DufferRobert

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Source: Terrafugia takes flying cars to new heights