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Welcome to the email newsletter for gizmag Emerging Technology
Magazine. These are the headlines for February the 21st, 2007.
The Skimmer ? ground effect recreational
toy
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Recreational vehicles will come in many different forms in the future
as a raft of developing enabling technologies spawn new categories of
technologically-enhanced ground, water and aircraft ? not only are
these traditional categories splintering, but there are new variations
of toys for big boys, some of which will develop their own categories ?
craft like the part boat, part sled, part ground-effect Tupelov aerosan, the Bionic Dolphin and Sea-Breacher, the SeaPhantom, a host of
recreational submarines such as Deep Flight, the amphibious Quadski and the list just goes on and on of new RVs
that break out their own category. One emerging area of enormous promise
is that of powered ground-effect RVs ? we've already seen human-bearing
inflatable towable water kites such as the Kite Tube and the Manta Ray and the now dormant Sharkski but with light weight,
high power and computer-aided design, the concept of an affordable
powered ground-effect vehicle for under US$50,000 is within reach. The
Skimmer is a small jet-ski like ground-effect airplane that starts in
the water and can be flown over sea, rivers and lakes, steered
partially by handlebars and partially by moving one's body weight,
similar to the way a motorcycle is ridden. With a maximum speed of 100
km/h and maximum flying height is 1.5 metres, the Skimmer offers
maximum excitement and minimal fuss, because no flight papers are
necessary. Dutch product designer Roel Verhagen Kaptein originally
conceived the Skimmer concept as an entrant in the 2005 Braun Prize.
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