One of the latest crazes in the transportation world is the Segway. You may have seen this nifty device around shopping malls, campuses or souped-up models driven by urban police forces. The first Segway was named Ginger, for Ginger Rodgers, and was the brain child of inventor Dean Kamen. Kamen’s HT (human transport) was conceived in 1995 and hit the shelves for the public in 2002. The standard HT can support 250 lbs, move at 12.5 miles per hour and has a range of 17 miles between charges, of its NiCad or NiMH rechargeable battery. Kamen thought that this device might be a great way to conserve fossil fuels and congestion in urban areas, which I agree with, however, with an average cost of $5,000.00 I don’t think people will be rushing to buy them. As with all new innovations time and competition will eventually make this a more reasonably priced mode of transportation; until then we will just have to live with the traffic.
These things look pretty cool, i want one. They are quick too. i would have to be running at a sprint to keep up with some of the segways. I think this is a great invention for people who have to be on thier feet all day. On the other hand people who use them to go 10 feet just because they are lazy need to go for a jog.
ReplyDeleteI think the segway's are cool! A little expensive but cool. I know when you go to the Bahamas for example, you can rent one to see the island which can be better then driving. Have you even seen how those bahemian people drive WOW!!! They drive crazy. What I think is funny is the mall cops at the Oxford Valley Mall use segways to get around....which i'm not sure why?
ReplyDeletePersonaly I'm not a big fan of the Segway's. I think it's yet another technology contributing to laziness, and in turn obesity problems. Only way I could see myself buying one is if I was somehow injuried and incapable of walking. As far as police using them, I think the advantage goes to the criminal on foot. I can't see it being very easy to jump a fence on a Segway, and if they're max speed is 12 MPH, well that just isn't going to cut it.
ReplyDeletehaha these things are really weird. if people want to concerve fuels why dont they just put the security or police on bikes, it's better for them anyway.
ReplyDeleteThe Segway appears to be a suitable means of transportation. However, its cost is prohibitive to most people. The people will see it as nothing more than a novelty. It does have potential in allowing for bigger stores without the prohibitive amount of time to walk through it. This will never replace any real method of transportation. Traveling at car speeds of fifty miles per hour would be considered unsafe. The lack of walking would also lead to more obesity and the need for these Segways to support more weight. Then there is the matter of cost. Families that like to stay together, for example, a mother with two small children, they would need additional Segways to keep up. At least they would not complain as much that they are tired.
ReplyDeleteWhen I look at the Segway, I think nothing but laziness about our society. Many inventions have great causes and help our society in many ways but I feel that the segway does nothing for our society but encourage us to be lazier than we already are. Our country is already having a problem with obesity and this does nothing but help the cause.
ReplyDeleteThis is a marvel but useless. This item reminds me of Mall Cops & george W. fall off & busting his rear end... too funny
ReplyDeleteI definitely want one, and am impressed at how they work. However, $5,000 for a segway is just too much, and I find their form factor to be a bit large still. Some day I do see them coming down in size and price to become much more reasonable.
ReplyDeleteMy mom actually has a Segway because of her MS. She cannot really use it anymore, but it was great for a while and I know a lot of other people with disabilities use it as well. It is great for people who have trouble walking, but still have the ability to stand. Emotionally, it is a lot better than being confined to a wheelchair. Though I don't think it is the world changing invention Kamen made it out to be, it does have its uses, and he has created some pretty ingenious mobility devises. Check out iBOT if you haven't heard of it.
ReplyDeleteHulk Hogan had one of these! I also remember seeing something about mailmen receiving them to help with their daily walk and when I was in Disney there were employees who were riding them things around everywhere. Although these are a very creative invention, I don't think that they are very cost effective and therefore they won't become as popular as they could be if they were cheaper.
ReplyDeleteI often see tourists riding these around the Art Museum while I'm cycling.
ReplyDeleteI've ridden on one once and it was quite fun!
I remember the big hype, speculation, and build up in 2001 before it was actually unveiled. A bit underwhelming, to say the least. It's unfortunate that these will never become ubiquitous as Kamen had hoped as it would be a huge undertaking, on a city planning level, to make ALL pathways suitable for Segways.
This is Ian from the Badministrators, btw.
The Segway, although it is neat, is not for me. Sure, people who cannot walk can use this to get around. When i see mall security guards riding these things i want to tell them to stop being lazy and walk around a little bit. But, some things are better left unsaid i guess.
ReplyDeleteThe Segway was more of less doomed from its announcement in 2001. While an intriguing device, it never quite was able to live up to the hype, especially with the high price, and its undeniable "geek" factor. Honestly, I've always wanted one, but I could never drop $5000 on one of them. Though, it is kind of fun to point out security guards or policemen who are using them when out in public.
ReplyDeleteWhile the device never caught on with consumers, the Segway has faired better with bigger customers like select US cities and amusement parks. Nevertheless, the Segway might be meeting its end soon. in a recent CNN article, its creator Dean Kamen spoke candidly about the state of the Segway and when to decide to throw in the towel.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/worklife/01/12/entrepreneur.psychology/index.html?eref=rss_latest
Very sheek. It's no hover board though. Soemtmes technology takes a wrong turn.
ReplyDeleteSegways are great, it would be fun to do a city tour on a segway. A fast fun way to see something new. I do agree with Anderw that it would be lazy for someone to use it all the time and it would be good with someone with a disablity. I think it is a great thing for security officers in malls and in cities so they can move fast from one point to another instead of working.
ReplyDeletesegeways are crazy. I think the first time i saw one was foreverago in the agent cody banks movie haha. Then i saw them again when franklin mills mall security used them, although i dont know if they still use them there they do use them at oxforvalley mall now. Its pretty crazy. They used them in the paul blark mall cop movie too. I think they are really weird lookign and pretty lazy.
ReplyDeleteNot to be mean but I go to ov mall often and um... them security guards that ride them are not under 250 lbs! maybe if you are over that you should do yourself a favor and walk! sorry.. was that that mean?
ReplyDeleteI remember when these electric scooters came out. That is what they were called, so i guess "Segway" was the the created name. Well back in 2001 or 2002 these inventions became the latest craze on many morning talk shows such as "the view" and "Regis and Kelly", Now security in malls have claimed these inventions as their stereotype making everybody aware of the cool technologies that have spawned out shopping malls!
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