Dude, where's my (flying) car?

I've pretty much given up ever having a flying car. While they used to be routinely paraded out as the "Car of the Future!" back in the 50s and 60s, reality has since taken hold. The idea of road-rage at 200 feet and people fly-driving around drunk and/or high and/or while trying to talk on a cell phone while playing Pokerstars.com on the Pocket PC pretty much put a damper on that whole Buck Rogers fantasy. Enough people act like morons enough when they're on the ground. I don't need them over my head, too.

So no flying cars. What then?

Well, those JohnnyCabs from the semi-craptastical Total Recall Ah-nuld movie seemed kinda neat.


When are those things gonna be here?

Turns out they are. Sort of. Introducing SkyWeb Express.


Not yet in production anywhere, but they are looking for some developers. Like the JohnnyCab from the movie, these are small urban computer-driven transports. Unlike the movie, they don't have a creepy ventriloquist dummy-gone-bad-looking driver. The computer would plan the most efficient route to your destination and use proximity-detection to keep other cars a safe distance away.

The cars would be wheelchair- and bike-accessible and hold 3-4 people (or maybe less if you've been saying "Supersize Me!" a little too often lately). Because the loading platforms would be off the main line, supposedly you would never have to wait for a car; they would be waiting for you.
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There are claims of energy and time savings and the like on the website. Other questions concerning power and rider safety are answered in their FAQ.

For the broadbanded, there are little 3-minute video demos done in a nice 1950s retro style (in either Windows Media Player or Real Player)