The fall semester is in full swing and students are busy running from class to club meetings. While most students get around on campus by foot, some students have been taken advantage of new technology and have switched to riding around.

One new device that is being used on campus is called the NexBoard. NexBoard is a two wheeled, self-balancing scooter.

According to Ridenex.com, “whether you’re a student at a college campus or a business person on the move NexBoard is light, portable, and easy to use.” But does this vehicle live up to the hype?

The NexBoards, also known as hoverboards, have gained a lot of popularity through word of mouth and videos of celebrities on them. Stars like Justin Bieber, Chris Brown and Jimmy Fallon have all been shown riding around on the boards in viral videos.

According to Ridenex.com, the board is an “environmentally friendly way to get around and it is going to get you to where you need to be on time, every time.”

It seems like the board is relatively easy to ride and, from all descriptions, won’t harm the environment as opposed to a vehicle that may use gasoline. On top of that, it makes getting to class much faster.

“I thin they’re fun to ride,” sophomore Daniel DeNiro. “It makes getting to class quicker.”

It is easy to see why the boards are so popular, but with any new technology, there are risks. Right now there is only a small number of students using the NexBoard.

One question we must ask is what happens if more students start to get a hold of the boards?

Because of their newness, there are no rules of the road to guide riders, so being careful when riding them is a must. A few questions come into play such as the potential for run-ins with other NexBoard riders and pedestrians. As these become more popular, will we need special rules to handle the NexBoard traffic? And who will be there to keep the riders in check if they find themselves not paying attention while riding around the campus?

It’s also hard to say where the NexBoards should and shouldn’t be used. Already people have begun wheeling around the building hallways and places of living.

“They pose a danger to both pedestrians and drivers,” senior Eugene Picone said. “People who think that these are mere toys should return them.”

Another fear presented is whether or not it will take away from students’ physical activity. While Iona’s campus is on the smaller side, the additional walking is a great way to get in exercise between activities, especially if you don’t normally have time to work out.

While other modes of transportation like skateboarding and biking require the users to do all of the work, the boards allow for the user to stand there while it does all of the work.

So are hover boards a great tool, a potential danger to those around them or just a fad? With a limited amount of riders, it’s hard to say at this point. In the meantime, NexBoard users at Iona should make sure to ride while respecting others spaces.

For pedestrians who encounter the hover boards, try and be patient. While students of Iona are moving the world, remember they might be using a NexBoard to help them do so.