Best and Worst Gadgets of the Future: Survey Ranks Flying Car as Best, Volvo Lounge Console as Worst
In one recent survey, tech fans voted for what they thought were the best and the worst among the hoard of futuristic gadgets out there.
The survey was conducted by GI Gadgets, a social media platform for tech enthusiasts, and the survey results were first reported by CNet. A total of 821,200 tech fans participated in the survey, and GI Gadgets claims to have examined 200 million points of interactive social data, including more than 100 million likes and shares.
Topping the list for the best gadgets of the future is Terrafugia's Flying Car TF-X, with 200,000 likes and 1.7 million shares. Survey respondents believe this is going to be their car of the future.
Following close behind is Magic Leap, with 200,000 likes and 800,000 shares. Magic Leap is the creator of a biomimetic technology it calls "Digital Lightfield." The company received $827 million new equity funding from Google, according to documents filed in Delaware.
Top 3 is Inboard Electric Skateboard, which is a "lightweight transportation technology" that makes use of in-wheel direct drive.
Top 4 is the IC-R helmet, which includes HUD navigation, interior notification lighting, and a rear camera with a 210-degree view, among other features.
Top 5 is MIT's Fluid Interfaces Reality Editor, which is a tool that makes use of augmented reality to connect and control all smart devices.
On the other end of the spectrum, tech fans also voted for the worst gadgets of the future. These gadgets, although innovative and use leading technologies, were perceived to be "useless" or "maybe hijacked" by survey participants.
Topping this list is Volvo XC90 Console Concept, a lounge console, which one voter called a "stupid idea."
Another gadget that was deemed not-so-good is Skybuds, a set of wireless earbuds. Survey respondents are concerned these earbuds could get easily lost.
The Starship Delivery Robot, meanwhile, can be easily stolen, according to GI Gadget's surveyed tech fans.
The Phone Drone Ethos, which aims to help users take pictures from a higher distance, has been deemed to have an "unsafe design," according to the survey. Users also question the possibility of the gadget to crash and what happens to their smartphone then.
Rounding up the worst gadgets of the future is Windspeed Skydeck, which allows plane passengers to view the aircraft's outside environment. It has been deemed to be "dangerous" and "ill-conceived."
Companies mentioned in the survey, like Terrafugia and Volvo, have not issued any comments regarding the results as of this writing.