You Too Can Bid on 'It' (First-edition Segways being auctioned)

Eired News ^ | Feb 19, 2002 | Michelle Delio

[John Jorsett]

The invention formerly known as "It" wasn't a huge hit when it debuted last December. For many, the year-long hype surrounding It completely overshadowed the reality.

"It," billed as a revolutionary device that would change the world, turned out to be a souped-up scooter.

[John Jorsett]

Here's a link to the actual auctions.

[RAT Patrol]

I want one.

[John Jorsett]

Me too. Unfortunately, they're up to @ $20K, and there's still over a month to go. They're going to be really expensive before it's over.

[billbears]

a $3,000 scooter that supposedly won't fall over and only goes 15-17 MPH? Sorry, just don't see it.

[js1138]

they're up to @ $20K,

Put a chair on these things, plus front and rear safety wheels to prevent tipping on system failure, and you have one great wheelchair. Current scooters are too long and clumsy to go where people want to go.

I have no idea where this technology will lead, but I believe in 20 years they'll be everywhere.

[Wright is right!]

What Kamen has come up with is some real gee-whiz technology still in search of an application. There is probably no place on earth that its present application will yield any kind of mass-market results. This is due to all different kinds of cultural disparities, none of which would find the Segway anything more than a fair-weather novelty.

Amurrican's won't buy it en masse because th' pipple here like CARS.
Europeans won't buy it because they like to walk. And, it's too large to find any acceptance as a shopping aid. Plus, it's inelegant. Now, if Kamen would make th' thing go up and down the stairs of the Paris Metro, he might have something.
Asians won't buy it because it is (a) too slow and (b) too big ...occupying roughly a space the size of the average Japanese 2-BR apartment. Plus, it takes two hands to drive, double the number the cellphone-bound Asians have free.
Scots won't buy it. A breeze under th' kilt is not s' bonny a good thing.
Aussies won't buy it because there's no place to ice a Foster's.
Not even th' Brits will buy it - because you can't get insurance on them. Who else would look at a novelty and think first of "insurance?"

Nice, however, of Kamen to let someone ELSE invest in his little science think tank.

Michael

[RAT Patrol]

No, I want the ORIGINAL one. A collectors item. It isn't about it's function.

[Wm Bach]

IT - The "Ashtar" of wheeled conveyance. I hope they sell it at Brookstone where you can also purchase a bunch of other overpriced and useless stuff.

[John Jorsett]

Kamen's first product based on this technology was a wheelchair. It's in trials right now, I believe. I saw a TV story on it, and it was impressive.

[Cogadh na Sith]

I want two--one to crap on and the other to cover it up with....

[John Jorsett]

I know that one customer already is the federal government. They plan on letting postal delivery workers use it. I think I also heard that the U.S. military is looking into using it. And I can just bet that the Pentagon itself will want them, since I've seen people zipping around that building on little electric scooters already. I've been in that building, and it's immense. I'd have loved to have one of these to get from place to place.

[Jhoffa_]

bump on #10.

[Teacher317]

LOL... you have a very, uhh, colorful personality. I'll buy the first round if you're ever in town. =^)

[Teacher317]

LOL... you have a very, uhh, colorful personality. I'll buy the first round if you're ever in town. =^)

[Cogadh na Sith]

Deal, just don't wheel into the bar on one of these stupid things, or I'll have to act like I don't know you...

[Mr Ducklips]

Not gonna bid. Not gonna do it - wouldn't be prudent...

[geaux]

Put a chair on these things, plus front and rear safety wheels to prevent tipping on system failure, and you have one great wheelchair.

A few weeks ago, I saw a guy who had attached some sort of motor to his Lay-Z-Boy. He was scootin' around in his big, plush, chair with a six-pack in his lap. It was hysterical. There was a write-up about him in the local paper.

[Khepera]

Fun for kids? Maybe but mine cannot afford one.

[zog]

--I'm pretty sure now this is the guy I met several years ago at a medical tradeshow I was working. He had his wheelchair in a little ten foot backwall booth, the cheapest booth you could get at the show, but his device was by far the slickest thing there. I remember thinking this guy was another edison at the time, and told him so. He has the ability to think so far out of the box that the box doesn't exist anymore to him, no pre conceived notions of what is possible or not possible. IF he was to design a car, it would be better than any of the concept cars you see at the shows. He probably has already thought of what he wants to do in that regard.

I also like what he's doing with kids, reinforcing that it's "cool" to be smart and work on new stuff, rather than what schools do , which now is-for all practical purposes- emphasize being a professional sports god as the most important and desirable thing in the world you can become.