[spycatcher]

I still don't see how all the power comes from a fairly small battery. Seems the friction would be the same as a bike -- so would a bike go the same length of time with a battery and no pedaling? Will another model have a bike seat with pedaling optional (high tech unicycle/bicycle)?

[Steven W.]

But will it transform lives, cities and even thinking, as first hyped in the media?

obviously NO

[Voltage]

It doesn't matter how clever the design is, you can't violate physical principles.

For example the claim that you can't fall of because it balances itself. That balancing system consumes energy, which must come from the battery. And it will consume a lot, as the torque the rider will apply to the axle will be huge. A bicycle will be much more efficient as concerns balance, simply due to the large angular momentum possible with a large bicycle wheel. Additionally the small, and wide wheels used by 'it' require more energy to travel over an imperfect surface. For this reason a bicycle with a large, high pressure, narrow wheel requires less energy, as any bicyclist knows.

Notice also the low clearance of the 'it'. This means that a relatively small object will 'derail' it.

In addition to be inefficient, it will also be dangerous.

A battery powered bicycle would be a much better idea...and its been done, and found wanting.

This product will be purchased by a few dreamers, the rest of us will save our money.

[hgro]

An expensive toy that will be stolen at every opportunity.

[Brett66]

"I've seen it, and it is… more important than pantyhose and it's more important than the Internet," said Metcalf

This guy is an engineer for crying out loud, why would make a stupid statement like this? Kamen must've paid him money to hype this toy.

[Doctor Don]

Does it come with an umbrella? In the winter I'll take a dogsled anytime! Is this a high tech age or not?

[Brett66]

I still don't see how all the power comes from a fairly small battery.

It must be using the newer battery technology. Maybe lithium ion? Of course these batteries have a limited recharge capacity and will have to be replaced after a while. It will be very expensive to replace these batteries. I wonder if he figured that as part of the lifetime cost of this machine?

[woofie]

It might make a good lawnmower

[Mr. K]

I disagree with the negative comments here- this is HUGE. Self balancing aside, this has to have a VERY SMALL and VERY POWERFUL engine to be moving these people around with such ease.

I am saying that the tiny power supply in this thing is the biggest deal here. The fact that it is inside a self-balancing machine is also pretty amazing.

[lelio]

Would Newman from Seinfeld use one?

[MediaMole]

Its high price will severely cut down on its potential success. At $750 - $1200 it would be a great alternative to a bicycle.

Kamen is too used to selling medical devices where price is no object. Three grand will buy a nice used motorcycle.

[FReepaholic]

>>...I've seen it, and it is… more important than pantyhose and it's more important than the Internet," said Metcalf ...<<

Sorry Bob, it ain't more important than the Internet.

[Traction]

Now let's see them get around the various stupid laws that governed powered vehicles. You would be required to have a motorcycle license in California to ride it on a public street, wear a safety helmet, must be registered (because it is motorized), must be 18 or older and have insurance (18 and under require parental supervision) and the list goes on. The moped industry was destroyed by these laws and I don't see how this device can circumvent them.

[Harrison Bergeron]

I'm holding out for one of these.

[freekitty]

What if you can't balance?

[FReepaholic]

I can see how these could be useful for workers at the large theme parks such as Disney and Universal. Nice and quiet and small.

[L_Von_Mises]

This sounds like excessive hype to me. I can see some practical uses for it such as making it easier to get around in very large places such as automotive assembly plants. Other than that I see it as a very expensive toy. He thinks this will replace the car in urban areas. Not likely IMO. I would see them as more of a nuisance on sidewalks and suicide enablers in traffic. I am sure that there are quite a few people that have the money and have to have the latest fad purchasing one but I just don't see this as an important invention.

How much does it weigh? Could it be carried easily up a flight or two of stairs? Can it hop a curb? How durable is it - if it hits a DC pothole are you out $3,000? Is it harder on the body to stand in one place or walk freely about? I have worked trade shows where I had to stand in one place for a long time and I would much rather have been walking around. Of course, I can see postal workers thinking this is a great idea, anything that appears less like work suits them fine.

[MissAmericanPie]

This has got to be the height of laziness.

[Flint]

Better find out how much the damn thing weighs. When the battery goes dead you have to throw it over your sholder and walk back home!

[DouglasKC]

se·gue
intr.v. se·gued, se·gue·ing, se·gues
1. Music. To make a transition directly from one section or theme to another.
2. To move smoothly and unhesitatingly from one state, condition, situation, or element to another: “Daylight segued into dusk” (Susan Dworski).

The real question should be: What is this going to segue into?

[P-Marlowe]

It looks like a walker for yuppies. This piece of crap is nothing but a Pet Rock on wheels. A media driven fad. PT Barnum was wrong. A sucker is not born every minute. There's several born every second.