This Just In: Fast Company endorses neo-luddism.

NASA has announced the selection of Café Foundation to host the Personal Air Vehicle challenge, a contest to see who can design an affordable flying car for the common man. The contest was blogged on the Fast Company site, where Michael Prospero titled his rant "The flying car -- Give it up already!"

I had one reaction. WHAT? Did this really come out of Fast Company? The company that turned me on to great design, cutting edge innovation and the death of the devils advocate has snubbed innovation and is playing devils advocate.

The flying car is pretty far out, but not unrealistic. Look at the work on the M400 by Moller International. Here is a real candidate that is well on it's way to being a player in the Personal Air Vehicle space. According to Moller, FAA certification is expected by December 2008. Even if that is too early, it is not unreasonable to assume that it could happen withing the next 5 years. Now that is within reach.

As computing power increases over the next few years, safety concerns will wane away. The real Achilles heel is going to be the federal infrastructure, as in, real substantive changes to the FAA. You thought the DMV was bad. But public demand will drive this into check. Maybe 2020 is not realistic, but 2030 could be doable, unless of course, we just abandon the entire pursuit.

So, why on earth is Fast Company blogger Michael Prospero so down on this concept? My guess is that this attitude would have insisted on more efficient candle wax rather than investment in the light bulb. What a mess the light bulb was, you would have to wire every home, generate the power and think about safety. I, for one, am glad that people are thinking about the PAV. This is a truly disruptive technology that will create a new landscape for how people connect with one another.