paragliding is a sport very similar to hang-gliding except the single-wing, used to maintain flight, is soft and is deployed similar to a parachute - in fact there is not much difference in technology between the two activities, primarily just design and usage.

the paraglider pilot sits in a harness suspended below a wing-shaped chute - the fast air pressure entering the vents helps keep the glider aloft. paragliding dates back to world war i when the navy would tow a soldier, attached to a parachute, behind a submarine to see if he could spot enemy ships from a higher vantage point.