The glorified segway at USD

DIEGO LUNA | BUSINESS EDITOR | THE USD VISTA | @diegotothemoon

The term ‘hoverboard’ has been widely used all throughout social media and especially at the University of San Diego. It’s being used to describe a self-balancing segway-like scooter. Actually, that’s exactly what it is. It’s definitely not the hoverboard we all saw with grandeur in the second part of the “Back to the Future” trilogy.

The name hoverboard is deceptive; this board rolls, and does not hover by any means. However, I will admit that its fancy design, bright LED lights, and wireless music capabilities make it alluring.

When I first saw it, I was confused, I had no idea that the board relied on leverage and balance. In fact, I thought it was some kind of jedi mind trick.

These boards are currently being sold at Brookstone and other small mall outlets with prices ranging from $300 to $2,000. Rappers and athletes first started using them and they very quickly became a trend that has drastically become a part of the mainstream.

These boards have become a commonly-used means of transportation at USD and may quickly replace the traditional skateboard and longboards.

Personally, I don’t think they’re worth the hype. They’re basically glorified segways that are used to move from one place to another without having to walk.

The issue is not that this board makes us lazier than we already are. My main concern is that people keep referring to it as a hoverboard. It is not a hoverboard!

There is no correct term for this electric skateboards. Manufacturers refer to them as a two-wheeled electric scooters. Companies have given them some creative names such as Huvrboard, PhunkeeDuck, IOBoard, among others.

A hoverboard is a board that hovers off the ground.

The automobile maker Lexus is just a few kicks away from making this dream a reality. The board can placed above a track containing permanent magnets and can used like a traditional skateboard.

This SLIDE hoverboard has no wheels, looks like snowboard, but it actually hovers off the ground. Unfortunately, the SLIDE hoverboard can only used on these select magnetized skate parks.

I’ll be the first to admit that I am excited for this technology to be available on the market. Better yet, I’ll be more excited when people stop using the term hoverboard to describe that self balancing segway-like scooter. But until then, I don’t mind people using it to ride up a hill; actually, I might ask you to give me a ride.