HUVr Hoverboards Look Great, But Are They Real? [Video]
HUVr hoverboards were introduced in a video, which includes Tony Hawk, Moby, Terrell Owens, and Christopher Lloyd, who played Dr, Emmet Brown in Back to the Future. Although the HUVr video appears to be legitimate, it is obviously an elaborate hoax.
The hoverboard was originally introduced In the 1989 film Back to the Future II. During the film, Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, travels to the year 2015. In an attempt to escape a gang of bullies, Marty commandeers a child’s skateboard, only to realize the board has no wheels.
Marty soon realizes that the board hovers above the ground, on what appears to be a cushion of air. Although he prefers traditional skateboards, he quickly adapts to the futuristic device. Marty skillful “skated” through the town square, evading the bullies and saving the day.
Although the futuristic boards are an interesting concept, they simply do not exist. The release of Back to the Future II, sparked ongoing rumors and conspiracy theories about real hoverboards. The rumors were eventually addressed by Snopes.com, which is famous for dispelling urban legends.
In the article, it is revealed that director Robert Zemeckis helped fuel the rumors. During an interview, Zemeckis admitted that he made numerous statements, which suggest hoverboards are in fact real:
“Hoverboards have been around for years, but parents’ groups worry that kids will get hurt, so they’ve pressured the toy companies not to put them on the market… We got our hands on some.”
Zemeckis’ commentary, along with several faked hoverboard scenes, were featured in the Back to the Future DVD collection. Although the material was presented in jest, it simply increased demand for the non-existent product.
As the hoverboard used in the film had a Mattel label. A spokesman for the toy company eventually clarified that the device “was made specifically for the movie.”
Twenty-five years later, the company HUVr Corp. claims to have built a fully functional hoverboard, which is perfect for personal use. Although their video and website appear legitimate, the technology simply does not exist.
In 2011, Researchers at France’s Université Paris Diderot introduced a levitation device, which is powered by a liquid nitrogen superconductor. Although the device is shaped like a skateboard, and does indeed hover, it has numerous limitations.
The device can only be used over a track, which includes a magnetic field. Although the board hovers and travels along the track, its mobility is limited. As reported by Popular Mechanics, an increase in mobility would “require a breakthrough in superconductivity.”
Although HUVr Corp.’s hoverboard is obviously a hoax, the video has people talking. As numerous celebrities were included in the promo, some fans have speculated about another Back to the Future sequel. The company has announced the “destination time” for their product as December 2014.
