Revolutionary multi-directional elevator concept (video)

Unsurprisingly, Douglas Adams suggested it first*, but ThyssenKrupp look like bringing it to fruition: elevators (lifts) that move horizontally, as well as vertically. They are able to do this because they are driven electromagnetically. Elimination of heavy cables allows multiple lift-cars to occupy the same lift-shaft at the same time & improves energy-efficiency. Other claimed benefits include less floor space occupied by lift shafts & less waiting time for passengers.

http://www.gizmag.com/thyssenkrupp-magnet-drive-elevator/34976/

Claim of, “world's first cable-free elevator”, in the article linked above ignores hydraulic lifts, such as are used in the Statue of Liberty, which recently had an oil change:

http://machinedesign.com/news/miss-liberty-visitors-get-eco-friendly-lift

_________________
* The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, by Douglas Adams, 1980, chapter 10

“Modern elevators are strange and complex entities. The ancient electric winch and “maximum-capacity-eight-persons" jobs bear as much relation to a Sirius Cybernetics Corporation Happy Vertical People Transporter as a packet of mixed nuts does to the entire west wing of the Sirian State Mental Hospital.
“This is because they operate on the curious principle of “defocused temporal perception.” In other words they have the capacity to see dimly into the immediate future, which enables the elevator to be on the right floor to pick you up even before you knew you wanted it, thus eliminating all the tedious chatting, relaxing and making friends that people were previously forced to do while waiting for elevators.
“Not unnaturally, many elevators imbued with intelligence and precognition became terribly frustrated with the mindless business of going up and down, up and down, experimented briefly with the notion of going sideways, as a sort of existential protest, demanded participation in the decision-making process and finally took to squatting in basements sulking.

More at: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy#Life.2C_the_Universe_and_Everything_.281982.29 / elevator lift design progressed cabins move vertically shaft supported cables inefficient limiting large footprint people passenger ride wait a long time next lift German conglomerate ThyssenKrupp unveiled revolutionary Willy Wonka style elevator concept several cabins move horizontally vertically up and down sideways left right same elevator shaft same time dubbed Multi ThyssenKrupp's elevator concept world's first cable free elevator electromagnetic specialist MagneMotion may have got there first ThyssenKrupp's system doing away with cables implications for the future design of tall buildings propelled magnet based drive technology Shanghai's super-fast Maglev train built Transrapid International joint venture Siemens ThyssenKrupp elevator motor horizontal vertical movement single shaft skyscraper complex system of shafts passengers access elevator every 15 to 30 seconds smaller shafts typical elevators increase building's usable area 25 percent 25% lighter too lightweight materials cabins doors slims slim 50 percent 50% typical elevator's weight mass 300 m 984 ft tall building test system /