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The world's silliest technology

Every year, billions of dollars get poured into developing new technology.

Much of this technology fails to make it to commercialisation and it's easy to see why.

What I'd like to know is: who ever thought that some of these hi-tech ventures were going to fly in the first place?

Let's take a look at the flying car (yes, again).

I'll use the flying car because, despite numerous attempts to turn this concept into a practical and commercial reality, nobody has succeeded and I strongly doubt that anyone ever will -- at least not in my lifetime.

This week, yet another lame attempt at producing a commercially viable flying car was announced in the form of the Dutch-made PAL-V.

What a joke!

Putting a set of oversized wheels on a pretty conventional autogyro design and calling it a "flying car" is just silly.

Just as sill is the equally ludicrous and impractical Terrafugia flying car which sells for a cool US$279K.

You really have to wonder at the sanity of anyone who would invest the huge sums of money required to design and develop these flying cars. Do they really think that they're going to sell enough to recoup those costs?

Who in their right mind would dare to take one of these vehicles out on the public highway in the full knowledge that even a tiny fender-bender would likely compromise the safety of its aerial capabilities?

What a shame the money that gets poured into these follies isn't spent on something a little more sensible and practical.

Of course no talk of flying cars would be complete without mention of what has become the most hyped bit of vaporware ever to see light -- the Moller SkyCar. This guy has collected an incredible amount of investment capital from gullible wallets.

Why is it so hard to get venture capital for sensible, commercially viable technologies that may not be quite so "OMG!" in nature -- while the mere mention of "flying" and George Jetson-like devices sees the money flow like water?

Oh well -- at least we can rely on the words of PT Barnum to keep us safe.

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