No Time for Small Talk in Record-Breaking Mitsubishi Elevators

Mitsubishi intends to enter the book of world records, but the means it chose isn't some new PC device or another, but a new generation of elevators that will narrowly exceed the current 55 feet per second.

Mitsubishi is going to be the company that designs the elevator system for the as-yet-unfinished Shanghai Tower, pictured above.

They will travel at 59 feet per second, which means that even gong from the bottom to the 119th floor won't net enough time for smalltalk that may have otherwise led to new acquaintances.

Then again, people needn't become too excited, (or concerned) yet, since it will take years, until 2014 or so, for the elevators to be put into use.

To make sure people's insides don't twist and turn, or spill, because of the speed, Mitsubishi will make liberal use of pneumatic controls, vibration-dampening roof covers and various other things.