IT - Page 3

No, Neruda, new tech is ALWAYS good for the society. The problem is that new high tech is way too expensive for the mass to take advantage of it.

Again, we ALL want to have an Orpheus, Stax or Sony R10, but how many of us can afford them even they've been there for a long time. So even we are all interest in HI-End audio, we have to settle down to the "lower" tech and "cheaper" products. So even we all want an Orhheus, the HD580 is still very popular.


It of course has a profound effect. But the sad truth is that not many products can meet our "interest" or "need." We are all interested in the Orpheus. But they are just way too expensive. To meet our need, Sennheiser produces the cheaper product, "HD580," and that's the effect.

I did have a $1,000 bike over the summer. The result is that it got stolen after 2 months. I locked it with 2 locks, so I still have the front wheel, the seat and a lock.!!!

Actually, how many people will worry about the 5 cents whe then can roll out $3000.

Really, $3000 is not cheap and people are not stupid. I know a student is selling his 1990 Civic for $1500. Go figure.

IMO!!! The 'IT' as its called, is a stupid piece of crap!!! $3000 and a top speed of 14mph?? WHAT FOR?? WHY?? Imagine the accidents people will have with this thing!! How will it react if your going top speed and you have to slam on the breaks??? will it flip, will you flip? This thing is a hazard to life and limb. I'll walk as I have for the past 4 years of college thank you very much... And personally I find standing in place painfull over time... you guys know how it is when you go shopping with your girlfriend and you're just standing there with half the malls T shirts hanging on your body, wondering if its possible to commit ritual suicide with the telekinetic powers you never knew you had... Me personally I start to feel stiff and pained... This machine pains me, it's ludicrous price and negligible benefits pain me. I thought the 21st century was going to be a sci fi novel when i was kid and now this... Maybe old folks will use this at the zoo see they can see over the barracade at the alligator pit... And you know its not that the idea of a personal mini transporter is BAD its just that this one SUCKS. IMO of course.

LOL, ai0tron, there are no breaks.

and it doesn't fall over; the gyroscopes it uses are so advanced that it simply will not fall over (unless you take extreme actions to do so). Kamen also insists that these things are safer than walking; having one bump into you is no worse than another pedestrian bumping into you (although I wouldn't know). btw, I totally lost you after the "I find standing in place painfull" bit...

freethetree, I'll admit err over missing that bit about the electric scooter, but I don't think speed is the issue here. In all fairness, electric scooters are much larger than this (at least the ones I've seen). Adn like I said, you can't use an electric scooter on the sidewalk.
Like I said, I believe this will be for industrial use for quite a while. this technology is still extremely new. Compare it to the first computers: they were painfully large and slow in the beginning, not to mention expensive. but as time went by, the technology was improved vastly and they became cheaper. Same with cars: the first cars were nothing more than toys for the rich (although kamen and I both would hate to see segways become toys for rich kids). Then Ford came out with the Model T and everyone could afford cars. Let's just see where the segway is in a few years...
then consider the cost of gas, oil, tuneups, insurance, and all the other stuff associated with cars. And you're polluting!

Obviously this is not a razor scooter, so don't think that it's trying to fill that niche. This is something totally different.

btw, ai0tron...
so what's your idea of a good personal mini-transporter? I ask because honestly, I can't see them getting much better than this save for the weight and possibly the max distance.

It's totally different, but with no pratical use at this stage.
And for most people, the up front payment is the problem.

Standing still and walking is different. If you walk for 30 mins, you will be fine. But standing there for 30 mins at one spot, then you will feel the pain.

Without a brake, when you are going downhill and if there's an electronic failure, you are asking for trouble.

Machines may not make mistakes, but people do. So I can see some people will fall down 4 sure.

Good try, though. (it simply means not good enough)

It feels like Neruda and I are the only ones who "get" this thing I think it's brilliant, and unless lawyers and the auto industry stop it, it will really redefine short-distance transportation over the next ten years.

That's where I disagree. First, realize that it's mainly for cities and urban areas. Once you accept that, then just think about it -- right now in the U.S. half of all car trips involved distances of a few miles or less, and only one person. Personally, I *hate* taking my car on short trips -- it's a pain in the butt -- but sometimes I have no choice. Consider if people used something like the Segway for these trips: less traffic, less pollution, cheaper, safer, less need for huge parking lots, etc., etc., etc. It can hold a grown man plus 80 pounds of cargo on the unit itself (via a basket or cargo bins over the wheels). Or you can get a small trailer (like the ones people use to drive their kids around behind their bikes) that holds 300 pounds. So you've got a way to get around that is safe, good for the environment, fun (hey, these things look *way* more fun than a car for going to the grocery store ), and -- in the long run -- cheaper than a car.

Like Neruda said, remember when computers first came out. They'll get cheaper fast. As it is, living in most big cities, a $3,000 new Segway is more convenient and cheaper than a $12,000 new Civic.

The Segway is designed with redundancy in *every* system. If one piece of electronics fails, the 2nd takes over. If there is ever a catastrophic failure, it gradually slows you down until you stop. If the demos and literature are to be believed, it's the safest mode of transportation on the planet

Heck, most people fall down *walking* Sure there will be accidents, but there are accidents with bikes, scooters, cars, even walking. My guess is that there will be fewer accidents with the Segway than with bikes or scooters. The biggest danger isn't the Segway -- it's cars hitting people on Segways. This also happens to be the biggest risk for scooters, bikes, and walking.

This machine does the balancing for you. The amazing thing is that it's basically like an extension of your body. Kamen likes to think that it reads your mind; really it reads subtle changes in your weight balance that detirmin which direction you choose to go. it's basically impossible to fall down, unless you jump off or something. I agree that mechanical faliurs could be a problem, but no more than with anything else out there. And like MacDEF said, there are a lot of backups (five gyroscopes, two motors, and two "sisterboards" which do the computing). There are plenty of backups. You know, to be honest, I'm not sure if some of you have done a whole lot of research about this machine...

*whew* Thanks MacDEF! I needed backup!

What makes all this better than a $200 bike?

A bike makes you sweat. If you're going to work in a wool suit -- or even business casual -- that wouldn't be ideal.

Some people would rather not exercise, and would rather just get where they're going leisurely.

You don't have to balance the Segway, and it requires very little coordination. Did anyone see the footage of how a mailman could use one? Did you see how he was still able to handle the mail while he was still standing on the Segway? Did you see Diane Sawyer hop on one for the first time and very comfortably cruise around on Good Morning America? This isn't anything like a motorized scooter, as far as I'm concerned. I can't imagine Diane Sawyer getting on a motorized Razor or Xootr and cruising as comfortably and carefree as she did on the Segway. And I can't see a mailman delivering mail on a conventional motorized scooter either.

Additionally, I carry backpacks to work that usually weigh at least 25 pounds, and sometimes up to 40 pounds, and riding a bike with that heavy a load on my back makes for a really brutal pedaling downstroke when I'm pedaling standing up.

Will the Segway take off? No idea. There's a lot to overcome. Do I see great potential in such vehicles? Absolutely -- whether or not that potential is fully realized, or realized at all.

I really think such a self-balancing, energy-efficient vehicle is indeed quite revolutionary.

Well, after the obvious disappointment that this thing wasn't going to be a hover scooter or something, I'm really impressed

Personally, I think it will live up to the hype. It's an amazing invention, and will probably become more popular than any mode of short distance transportation. Although it may make us even lazier since we won't have to walk

As far as safety, did you see the video? They hadn't even seen one of these things, then all of a sudden they're riding it around, not fallin' off and killing themselves. Give someone who has never seen a bike or a scooter, tell them to go out and ride it around, and see what happens. I remember the first time I tried to ride a bike, and had seen one before! Some people naturally have bad balance, and well, this thing makes up for that, something a bike or scooter can't do.

I'll be buying one if I end up living in a big city, it'll be the best way to get around. Plus I'm sure chicks will dig it... "Hey baby, wanna ride my Segway?"

Personally I agree that the segway is a very important invention, but I think its importance lies more in what it means for future devices. The advanced gyroscopic technology will have enormous impact on the aviation, robotics, and countless other industries. I do think that this thing will find a niche, but it will not be for a little bit. I can see a sort of "yellow bike" like program eventually, where there will be public segways in the center of town that people can just grab and take to wherever they are going, and leave them there. Of course, this will take a long time, as you need some deterrent against people just stealing them. But if the program can work with bikes, there is no reason that it cannot work with segways. Also, although bikes are faster and cheaper (unless you start adding XTR, titanium or carbon fiber to every component) and so on, the segway sort of has an advantage in being more maneuverable in tight.

ok guys.
Let the consumers decide the future of Segway.

There's no doubt it's a very advance product, but it just DOESN'T fit my needs.

but you haven't even used one before! maybe if it's as fun as it looks you'll make it fit your needs.

I think you should both be hanged for promoting witchcraft. Personally, I still think that 'horseless carriage' invention is a bit dodgy

Going to my grave believing the earth is flat, I remain...
cajunchrist
P.S. Uploading text on a telegraph wire is a bitch.

witchcraft...I believe it was Arthur C. Clark who said, "any sufficiently advanced technology is indestinguishable from magic."

Yeah, yeah, I stole that from the time magazine article. sue me.