'IT' Revealed. Self-Balancing People Mover (My title: Electric Scooter with gyros)

Drudge ^ | 12-02-01 | Drudge

[Kay]

Velcro was a basic, common sense advancement. I'd love to own his cash rewards. Many folks here seem quite put out by this Segway. I'm curious what makes you so contentious about it.

"Get a grip"? That's my father's lingo.

[Kay]

You ride a Harley? All that power and speed. If so, no wonder you wouldn't have time for a mere scooter.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

"Hey, it's still better than the airlines."

[VaBthang4]

Without a doubt it will make the cover of one of those magazines on the airlines that sell nice little gadgets i.e. change sorters, bike racks, tie racks and money clips.

Wait a minute....nevermind the airlines got rid of periodicals.

[VaBthang4]

He'll get paid, no doubt...but this is no revolutionary civilization impacting invention like it was hyped.

Only a Liberal could've been thinking that.

A glorified alternative to the ten speed maybe, but not to the good old conservative oil needing automobile.

Needless to say.....Coming to an olympic event near you.

[HiTech RedNeck]

If one of these beasts can be made for a few hundred bucks, and doesn't involve a long wait to re-energize, I'd say we're beginning to talk practical rather than Yuppie Toy. I could see an internal combustion engine powered version costing that little in mass production, like the little gas powered scooters we know today. Maybe it could work off of bottled propane, for the ecologically minded. But not electric, at least not with current battery technology.

[Toidylop]

My take on this invention of the century. Have you heard of the,

YUGO!!!

[Long Cut]

Having viewed the Segue now, I think it lacks something someone of Kamen's intellect could almost be forgiven for forgetting: the unquantifiable concept of COOL. I simply do not see any way a person (besides a cute female) could look like anything other than a geek on one. Coolness should never be neglected in things like this; in America, vehicles are almost a type of clothing. Razor scooters were cool because one could do tricks on them. The Seg-Gay (and it WILL be called thus, bet on it) seems designed so that trick riding, or any unsafe activities, are impossible.
PCs got huge because of their multitude of uses and options, ditto the automobile. Motorcycles have cool in spades. So do skateboards and rollerblades (my loathing for them notwithstanding). Did you see the folks demonstrating the Segue today on CNN? Khakis, blue button shirts, and vests, good little high-techers. They were perfect if that's the target audience, but it'll cost a lot of potential buyers, IMHO.

[The Cajun]

I think I could make that sucker cool, lets see......... get rid of that stupid electric motor and put a big two stroke twin V with chrome exhaust......and add a place for a chick to ride in back and .......

[Long Cut]

Yeah, sounds good. But why not just buy the whole Harley instead? Seriously, picture a Segue (with rider) next to a Hog or a sweet Musclecar. Quick, which looks cooler? Hint: the hot chicks are in/on the coolest vehicles.

[Revelation 911]

When monkeys fly out of my butt.

bad visual dude

[Koblenz]

Is it possible that Segway has an enclosed Canopy replete with climate controls since it can balance itself?

Don't count on climate control. That would likely require significant power, something the batteries couldn't supply. Also, anything beyond a little light would not be possible due to the battery drain. A bicycle size light is about as best as you can expect.

[lewislynn]

Guess this shmo Kamen hasn't thought out what would happen to somebody riding the 'segway' (sic) at International Falls with 4" of snow and ice on the ground @ 10 below with 40mph wind gusts.

Yea, like those idiots at Harley Davidson, Honda, Yamaha, etc.

[screed]

The only thing I want to know about this thing is what kind of damage can it do to the undercarriage of my SUV?

[Rockyrich]

Yeh, that's it. Wonder what they cost?

[Post Toasties]

But you forgot that no motorcycle manufacturer has been crazy enough to claim that their product would replace the automobile, hence my post.