8 TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY PREVIEW
2014
VIRGIN GALACTIC
Sir Richard Branson’s dream of making money in space is nearing reality. A test flight was completed in April, and it was announced in November that television network NBC has agreed to televise the first ever public flight. from New Mexico “sometime in 2014”.
FAST DELIVERIES
Amazon and eBay will be stepping up their efforts to deliver goods on the same day they’re bought. Eventually, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos envisions unmanned drones bringing products to our doors within half-an-hour.
UNDERGROUND HOTEL
In an abandoned quarry 30 miles outside Shanghai, an extraordinary hotel is taking shape. At a cost of £345 million, the InterContinental Hotels Group is building a five-star resort that will boast 17 storeys below ground level, two of which will be underwater.
FORMULA E RACING
This new championship promises cars like those driven in F1, but with electric motors instead. The event will take place on exciting street circuits at night. The pit stops will be different too: with the batteries running out of juice after 20 minutes, drivers won’t just change their tires, they’ll jump into new cars. Starts in September in Beijing, then Rio, Berlin and Los Angeles & others, before the final event in London on June 27. 2015.