The Segway

[John Picard]

The 21st Century is this psychological time in which people believe(d) that humanity would be "far advanced" in many ways. This was all based on the rapid development of technology after World War II, whereas before technology would occur in spurts.

That being said, there's nothing revolutionary, magical, or even amazing about the Segway. It's just another example of some idiot coming along with snake oil and trying to pass it along as a miracle cure for all that ails. Although it has practical purposes, it has done nothing to revolutionize travel. Probably the only thing that has ever revolutionized travel was the invention of the wheel, which was some 4,000 years ago.

 

[All Seeing Eye]

I'd sooner just stick to a bicycle or scooter.

 

[Roger Wilco]

Probably the only thing that has ever revolutionized travel was the invention of the wheel, which was some 4,000 years ago.

Sailing ship? Steam engine? Combustion engine? Jet airplanes?

 

[John Picard]

Probably the only thing that has ever revolutionized travel was the invention of the wheel, which was some 4,000 years ago.

Sailing ship? Steam engine? Combustion engine? Jet airplanes?

You make some valid points, but the way I see it, the sail and steam power didn't really revolutionize travel but made it quicker and more efficient.

As for the jet plane, all I can say is airport delays, security checkpoints, and flying coach

 

[Trekker4747]

Probably the only thing that has ever revolutionized travel was the invention of the wheel, which was some 4,000 years ago.

Sailing ship? Steam engine? Combustion engine? Jet airplanes?

All would be worthless without the wheel.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The 21st Century is this psychological time in which people believe(d) that humanity would be "far advanced" in many ways. This was all based on the rapid development of technology after World War II, whereas before technology would occur in spurts.

Yep. As anyone who's read The Gernsback Continuum will attest.

 

[TorontoTrekker]

A good friend of mine went to DragonCon one year, and his costume was his company's Segway and a "Geek." t-shirt. Very appropriate.

I wish I'd seen that, but there are so many people at D*C...

But the Segway was a hassle every time he ran into a flight of stairs, which happens a LOT at DragonCon.

Well, if the Daleks could find a way around that, why can't your friend? "E-LE-VATE!"

How did he deal with all the carpeting?

Speaking of Dragon*Con, the Atlanta police use them, too. That's the only place I've ever seen them in use.

 

[Sakrysta]

^I don't remember the carpets being a problem. There was handicap access available at all the hotels, but it was much less convenient than the regular routes. We would go up the long flight of stairs, and he would go around the corner, up the ramp, and meet us. This was 2004 by the way - The Year of the Browncoat.

 

[TorontoTrekker]

This was 2004 by the way - The Year of the Browncoat.

Ah. My first Dragon*Con wasn't until 2005. (There were still a lot of Browncoats there, and probably even more last year, when both Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk were guests.)

 

[Small White Car]

Ahhhh, yes. The unique balancing technology.

Wait, did you actually think that he was serious?

Because usually when he puts out a dumb idea, I tend to think he's joking about it.

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

The segway only serves to make people look like dorks. It coordinates well with energy domes and pocket protectors.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

Was the Segway just a big bag of fail?

The Segway didn't catch on, in and of itself, but it was a proof of concept for an innovative balancing technology that has proven very useful in other applications - most especially in wheelchairs and human leg/lower body prosthetic devices.

Ahhhh, yes. The unique balancing technology.

Segway is probably overpriced, but all the redundancy is necessary because if the machine fails, the company gets sued for millions of dollars every time someone hits their head. It has to be fool proof.

With a bicycle, if you fall off, it's you that failed, not the bicycle. If the handlebars come loose while you are riding, then you have a reason to sue. Segway has to spend money on redundant circuit boards to make sure that doesn't happen.

So the example in the article would be a nightmare for any company that tried to produce and sell it. It could probably be cleaned up and have some additional safety features for still less cost than Segway, but not near the stated price for building the thing.

The problem with Segway is that it is a solution for a problem that doesn't exist. Is it faster than walking, maybe barely but it is still tiring to stand for an hour and it can't go over curbs or up stairs or a pothole.

It's like inventing a unicycle that has a gyro and can stay upright by itself. It's got a temporary coolness factor, but it doesn't do anything that we need done that we don't have now, and it doesn't do it cheaper or easier or faster.

 

[Roger Wilco]

It's like inventing a unicycle that has a gyro and can stay upright by itself.

That's a phantastic idea! That would be way cooler than a Segway.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

It's like inventing a unicycle that has a gyro and can stay upright by itself.

That's a phantastic idea! That would be way cooler than a Segway.

Yeah, but you have to throw in a basket for groceries and a child seat in the rear.

 

[Roger Wilco]

Hm, maybe you could mount a whole car (a small one like a Smart) on such a Segway-unicycle. Imagine seeing something like drive ahead of you in traffic.

 

[Trekker4747]

Ahhhh, yes. The unique balancing technology.

Wait, did you actually think that he was serious?

Because usually when he puts out a dumb idea, I tend to think he's joking about it.

I'm sure he was "joking" but the point he makes is uneffected. All of the Segway's fancy balancing technology would be rendered useless and un-needed by adding a simple third wheel to the front of the thing which wouldn't effect it's small footprint at all.