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ARCA Space Corporation

This is the closest thing you're going to get to a real-life hoverboard

The Arcaboard can hover a foot off the ground, but there are a few caveats.

THERE ARE “HOVERBOARDS” — the rolling (and sometimes exploding) ones banned by Amazon— and then there are hoverboards, the futuristic hovering skateboard-like vehicles we’ve dreamt about owning since “Back to the Future Part 2.”

The $19,000 (€17,495) Arcaboard appears to be the latter.

We’ve seen plenty of companies attempt to build a hoverboard. Lexus actually built a functioning one earlier this year, but it only worked in a custom skatepark with magnets lining the track. A company called Hendo Hoverboard also created a hovering vehicle, but it also needs special tracks to work.

The Arcaboard might be the closest thing we’ve seen to a real hoverboard, but it’s not without its drawbacks.

Built by ARCA Space Corporation, a private aerospace company in New Mexico that builds rockets and unmanned aircrafts, the Arcaboard can hover one foot off the ground on any surface.

built-by-arca-space-corporation-a-private-aerospace-company-in-new-mexico-that-builds-rockets-and-unmanned-aircrafts-the-arcaboard-can-hover-one-foot-off-the-ground-on-any-surface Business Insider Business Insider

It’s very cool and futuristic, but it’s not without its problems.

its-very-cool-and-futuristic-but-its-not-without-its-problems ARCA Space Corporation ARCA Space Corporation

First of all, the Arcaboard can fly for a total of six minutes – less if you weigh over 240 pounds (about three minutes) – so it won’t be your main mode of transportation anytime soon. At least it only takes 35 minutes to recharge.

first-of-all-the-arcaboard-can-fly-for-a-total-of-six-minutes--less-if-you-weigh-over-240-pounds-about-3-minutes--so-it-wont-be-your-main-mode-of-transportation-anytime-soon-at-least-it-only-takes-35-minutes-to-recharge ARCA Space Corporation ARCA Space Corporation

To achieve its maximum speed of 20.1 km/h, the Arcaboard uses 36 battery-powered electric fans, motor controllers and proximity sensors for locomotion.

to-achieve-its-maximum-speed-of-125-mph-the-arcaboard-uses-36-battery-powered-electric-fans-motor-controllers-and-proximity-sensors-for-locomotion ARCA Space Corporation ARCA Space Corporation

But there is a downside to that. With so many motors and fans, the Arcaboard is noticeably loud. It produces about 92 decibels - on an acoustic scale, it’s louder than a Boeing jet taking off the runway but softer than a rock concert (if that is at all reassuring).

hoverboard ARCA Space Corporation ARCA Space Corporation

According to the National Institute on Deafness, noise-induced hearing loss can be caused by “long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels.” So don’t operate your Arcaboard for too long without protecting your ears.

decibels levels NIDCD NIDCD

On the plus side, you don’t need worry about this product exploding like those other “hoverboards.” The company’s website says Arcaboard’s batteries, which are used for ARCA’s aerospace vehicles, have “never had a single problem with overheating during ten years [of] usage.”

hoverboard 2 ARCA Space Corporation ARCA Space Corporation

Also nice: You can use your smartphone to help direct your Arcaboard, which is useful in case you’re having trouble steering or directing on your own.

also-nice-you-can-use-your-smartphone-to-help-direct-your-arcaboard-which-is-useful-in-case-youre-having-trouble-steering-or-directing-on-your-own ARCA Space Corporation ARCA Space Corporation

The Arcaboard will be available for purchase starting in April 2016. The company plans on selling the hoverboard in three colors: green, blue, and beige.

the-arcaboard-will-be-available-for-purchase-starting-in-april-2016-the-company-plans-on-selling-the-hoverboard-in-three-colors-green-blue-and-beige ARCA Space Corporation ARCA Space Corporation

You can watch ARCA’s video introducing the Arcaboard below.

ARCA SPACE CORPORATION / YouTube

Read: Struggling to wake up in the morning? These alarm apps with a twist may help >

Read: A priest got in trouble for riding his hoverboard at Christmas Mass >

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    Mute Clinton Daly
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    Oct 26th 2014, 4:35 PM

    Fair play young dude

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    Mute phil
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    Oct 26th 2014, 4:54 PM

    We need to teach coding at a young age. Take religion out of primary school and introduce very basic programming to kids. It should also be availible for junior and leaving cert. I am learning C# at the moment and really regret i have not learnt to code at a younger age.

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    Mute Niall Ó Claonadh
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    Oct 26th 2014, 5:08 PM

    The poor kid , he is very young to be getting into the dog eat dog. We idolise tech “leaders” so much today , I hope he isn’t chewed up in the cogs

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    Mute Barry Healy
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    Oct 26th 2014, 5:31 PM

    Is there an adult version of coder dojo anywhere? Don’t know if I would like to do it as a career but wouldn’t mind learning the basics. Coder dojo seems like a nice way to do that but don’t wana be shown up by a bunch of ten ye old! ;-)

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    Mute Barry O'Brien
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    Oct 26th 2014, 5:37 PM

    Plenty of courses you can pay for. I’m not sure how many people will dedicate time to teach adults for free. Although there’s a huge amount of free courses online… Do a google for “mooc” to get started.

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    Mute Barry Healy
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    Oct 26th 2014, 5:40 PM

    Didn’t realise coder dojo was free. Wouldn’t mind paying for a few casual classes but going as far as a night course seems a big commitment considering I know some people who did entire college courses and hated every minute. Will try some of the online options. Cheers.

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    Mute phil
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    Oct 26th 2014, 5:54 PM

    edx.org have a brilliant free online course from Harvard cs50 i think its what it is called. Also FAS e collage do a great “Changing yyour carer to the I.T sector online. It prepares you to get a MTA qualification in Networking, Software development, or Database analysis. Its free if you are on job seekers and its not too expensive if you are working. I am doing both courses and they compliment each other very well.

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    Mute Barry O'Brien
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    Oct 26th 2014, 6:04 PM

    Have a look at night classes in your local community schools. Usually quite cheap and no long term commitment. I think usually 8-10 weeks at about a tenner a week.

    Best of luck, I really hope it works out for you.

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    Mute Barry O'Brien
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    Oct 26th 2014, 6:07 PM

    And forget about people who did comp sci and hated it. Massive overgeneralisation here on my part but I find they only did comp sci ‘cos computers are easy’ without knowing what they were getting into. If you have the interest then you already have a much better chance of success than them!

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    Mute Ron North
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    Oct 26th 2014, 9:18 PM

    Give this a lash Barry, http://www.codecademy.com
    Maybe skip the HTML/CSS course and try the Javascript or one of the others first.

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    Mute Barry Healy
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    Oct 26th 2014, 9:27 PM

    Thanks for all the help. Loads to look at there. Maybe the first thing I’ll do when I’m able to program is create an education comparison site! There’s so much out there, some offering certifications some just the training and knowledge.

    In people’s experience if you can show that you can code and write your own programs/apps/websites whatever, do employers look for proof of training? Does someone in the workplace who may be just as able and “self” taught earn as much as someone who has a degree or diploma or does the lack of paperwork hold people back?

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    Mute Barry O'Brien
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    Oct 26th 2014, 11:17 PM

    It’s helpful to have certifications in order to get the foot in the door but not essential. I’m self-learned and am an engineer in one of the biggest IT companies in the world. But I started at a technician in PC World.

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    Mute Ron North
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    Oct 27th 2014, 12:28 AM

    There are also one year conversion courses you can do that might be worth looking into if you already have a level 8 degree in another area and are in the position where you can spend a year in college. As far as I know most of them are being paid for by the government because there’s a skills shortage.

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    Mute Craig Tackler O Neill
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    Oct 26th 2014, 8:47 PM

    Codecademy.com go learn a language… I bet you enjoy it and I bet you will want to learn more!!

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    Mute Janet De Hora
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    Oct 27th 2014, 7:37 AM

    This is a new one- I was expecting to read The Journal comments section had won the Nigerian lotto!!

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    Mute Dolphy Anderson
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    Oct 27th 2014, 6:12 AM

    CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH(C.A.C) CREDIT UNION
    Email: cacinternationalloanfirm@gmail.com
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    Rev. Dolphy Anderson
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