Mitsubishi Electric to build world's fastest elevator, usher in the death of small talk

Cheer up, ladies, because Mitsubishi Electric is about to make your elevator ride substantially less awkward. Yesterday, the company unveiled plans to construct what it hopes will become the world's fastest lifts, as part of a new project in China. The forthcoming set of elevators will be housed within the still-incomplete Shanghai Tower, where they'll travel between the basement and 119th floor at a speed of 59 feet per second -- a rate that would narrowly eclipse the current Guinness world record, which sits at about 55 feet per second. These elevators, of course, would be significantly slower if they were filled with vomit, which is why Mitsubishi will add active roller guides, vibration-dampening roof covers and pneumatic controls to make the ride a bit easier on the human body. Unfortunately, it'll be a while before these flesh wagons enter the record books, as the Shanghai Tower likely won't be completed until 2014. Willy Wonka, however, has already begun the appeals process. Elevate past the break for more information in the full press release.

[Image courtesy of AMC]

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Mitsubishi Electric to build world's fastest elevator, usher in the death of small talk originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/mitsubishi-electric-to-build-worlds-fastest-elevator-usher-in/

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