Segway (Ginger or simply "it")

[randychase]

What a cool thing! My only wonder is if it will be the "homerun" killer device that Dean Kamen thinks it may be. Will people adopt it and give up cars in cities? Maybe in some crowded overseas city, but in the USA? I have my doubts.

Cars give more protection for people. A feeling of insulation from others and the environment. Wrong or right, people like being cocooned in their heated leather seats with the stereo and cup holders. Specially if the weather is not perfect.

Worried about your personal safety? A car gives on the feeling of protection and the ability to escape. It's all about perception, not reality.

These are the reasons that public transportation is a far distant second to personal cars now.

On the positive side, I see great things for this in many applications. Cargo moving. Mail people. Airports, large malls, and maybe even entertainment parks. Medically disabled people, those with Parkinsons for example.

I see there will probably be a lot of debate about regulations, safety, etc.

FWIW, I think Dean is a very cool person, with what has to be oe the coolest jobs and homes I have ever seen.

[petehouwen]

Sure, it's cool. But there's a big difference in the success of a 'cool' product and a 'revolutionary' product. Malls aren't really that hard to walk, maybe even easier waliking and carrying packages. Airports - same thing, and they are getting moving sidewalks. Mass transit? Sure, it would be 'cool' to scoot 4 blocks, but I think most people would still just walk. It won't do a thing for suburban mass transit, where we really need it. 3 miles to the train would still be done in a car. It might be a sellable product, but it will never match the hype.

Want a revolutionary idea to fix mass transit, suburban sprawl, greenhouse effect, pollution in general, and the collapse of our cities? How about gasoline at $3.50/gallon. People will start living closer to work and commerce. Put the extra $2.50/gallon of tax money into rebuilding the inner city infrastructure. Keep avgas prices the same to bail out the airlines. Less cars will be built, but more trains and planes will be needed. Not to mention the massive rebuilding effort in the cities.

And what do I care - I bike to work! :)

[ratkiller]

Originally posted by randychase
What a cool thing! My only wonder is if it will be the "homerun" killer device that Dean Kamen thinks it may be. Will people adopt it and give up cars in cities? Maybe in some crowded overseas city, but in the USA? I have my doubts.

Cars give more protection for people. A feeling of insulation from others and the environment. Wrong or right, people like being cocooned in their heated leather seats with the stereo and cup holders. Specially if the weather is not perfect.

Worried about your personal safety? A car gives on the feeling of protection and the ability to escape. It's all about perception, not reality.

These are the reasons that public transportation is a far distant second to personal cars now.

On the positive side, I see great things for this in many applications. Cargo moving. Mail people. Airports, large malls, and maybe even entertainment parks. Medically disabled people, those with Parkinsons for example.

I see there will probably be a lot of debate about regulations, safety, etc.

FWIW, I think Dean is a very cool person, with what has to be oe the coolest jobs and homes I have ever seen.

What cha talking about? uh uh

[petehouwen]

Just my typically long winded way of saying - no homerun. Maybe stretched to a double.