How long has the world awaited a hoverboard? You can dial it back to 1989, when actor Michael J. Fox's character first hopped on a floating skateboard in Back to the Future Part II.

For inventive entrepreneurs, the more pertinent question is: What would be the consumer demand for such a toy-meets-transport device? Finally, ambitious readers, you have earthbound answers to this elevated query.

Image: http://www.inc.com