Quantum physics applied to consumer devices? Gee, I don't think so. An incredible effort in environmental control and the development of the observational paradigm is required to even detect the physical signs that hint at the physics of these entities, much less find a practical application for them. Sandia reports being at the one-transistor stage of realization, and even then not all observers agree about what it is that's being observed.
Teleportation and anti-gravity? Uh, not even in the conceptual stages. Science fiction, or perhaps fantasy is more appropriate. Unless you're referring to some rather limited field effects which, again, have no pragmatic application for personal transportation devices, anti-gravity is a bust. Disregarding the power requirements for something of this nature, think of the dangers the technology would entail. Magnetism is not gravity, BTW, so the idea of the way Mag-Levs work having anything at all to do with "anti-gravity" is null and void. Magnetic repulsion for lift / field crawl for propulsion, eh faintly possible, but definitely requiring external power sources, as with Mag-Levs. As for teleportation, the matter of whether you beam "someone" in the form of the energy equivalence of his body (not to mention system state, for you sysadmins out there) or whether you just send the instructions to another device whose job it is to "assemble" his doppelganger in another location, the energy requirements for that transmission are -- significant. I've seen estimates that place the power requirement at a figure which would be a significant percentage of the sum total of energy produced by all human-constructed power plants throughout history. Besides, what do you do with the poor schmuck left behind? This would simply amount to a high energy physics version of cloning, with all of the attendant legal and ethical questions. It's not transportation, it's reproduction.
Flying / hovering? Consider the energy requirements. Though this would be an infinitely less formidable task than teleporting someone or negating the gravitational influnece of our planet, we're still talking about a requirement that's at least an order of magnitude greater than any portable power production device yet devised. It's conceivable that very strong and very light weight materials will be developed that will make production of ultra-light sailplanes with sink rates in "still" air low enought that the average daytime thermal lift coefficients will make sustainable daylight soaring possible, without any need to look for thermals or ridge lift. With the inclusion of light weight solar powered propulsion systems with light weight storage cells we could have relatively low speed general aviation devices coming some day that required no fuel. For general use? Not without VERY reliable automatic controls -- and good weather. (For those of you who fly hang gliders, did you ever try to loft yourself with a wing that was too large and too light for the wind conditions, given your body weight? And we're talking about a device which weighs MUCH less than the hang gliders in current use. It is very embarrassing to wind up hanging in your harness on a wing which has been inverted on the top of the launch hill. Ask me how I know.) Most people are not safe automobile operators. Placing same persons at the controls of aircraft? I hope not in my lifetime.
And as for one particular iteration of this type of personal transport, personal propellors / rotors? This is supposed to replace something dangerous? Can you say Cuisine-Art?
If we assume that the article provided an accurate description of the behaviors of the participants in the meeting, and that we have not been misled as to the basic exclusions as to what this device is, then I agree that this is very likely to be a form of transportation. This thing is an invention, not a major breakthrough in the basic physical sciences but, instead, a breakthrough in a technological application of already known principles. It must have no obvious counterpart in the common experience. Does anyone besides me think that it's probably man-powered? I'm guessing a pantographic device with stilts / legs, or a unicycle (okay, perhaps with outriggers of some kind) with the occupant located in the center of the wheel. If such a device were efficient enough, it could certainly replace most or all other single-occupant vehicles for city use. If it has a practical power source other than human muscle, and sells for $2,000, I'll be really amazed.
- Jim