Science and technology at work

[slang]

I was just looking at Amazon.com for a book and found an ad that was interesting. The ad shows that little personal vehicle that was first released to the public last year. At that time they were calling it "it". Now it has been officially named the<a href="http://www.segway.com"> Segway.</a> It is a very small platform with some high tech features that allows people to ride it for short distances instead of walking, biking or driving.

The general public may not be very excited about the price at this time, but I see a great deal of potential for it. As the price falls, more advances in the battery recharge life and overall speed should increase as it gains popularity. The effective environment is limited at this time, I agree. For short trips around town though, this hits the mark. Would I pay $5000 for a glorified skateboard to take short trips when I don't need to carry anything? No, but I would pay $1500 or $2000. Especially when you don't need gas, insurance, and registration fees to use it. It wouldnt be my first choice in winter or rain either, but I think many people would use them as the conditions allow. Liberal city dwellers should also find this a bargain considering the outrageous parking fees and threat of vandalism associated with parking a car.

The more I see of this Segway, the more fascinated I am by it. The design and operation are very simple, yet it uses computer systems to function. The wheels, chassis, batteries and the motors are all made from cutting edge manufacturing processes and materials to create a very compact and practical transporter. I want one. I dont give a damn if it's not sexy.

Would you buy and use one if they cost $2000. What do you see as the Segway's pros and cons?

[Skunks]

Originally posted by slang
What do you see as the Segway's pros and cons?

Parking. Bikes are convenient in that every town I live in on a regular basis has a crapload of things I can chain mine to. Walking is equally simple, as I don't need anything to secure my shoes with. However, leaving a fairly conspicuous $5k--or, for that matter, $2k--mobile object just sitting around seems unwise, at best. Where the hell do you put it when you go inside a store, or do whatever you went downtown to do? Drive it inside?

--Sk

[Griff]

Shockingly dangerous though. Not really.

[jaguar]

Can't even put a wheellock on it.

Anyone else think the segways are the msot stupid idea for a long time? I mean christ as a society we dont' get anywhere near enough exersize as it is and now we want a device so we don't have to - god forbid - walk anywhere?

Kidna sad really. Nice piece of engineering but seriously....

[juju]

I'm against exercise for it's own sake. If we can save a little walking, then why not? It's not like exercise is noble or something. Of course, the Segway is way too expensive for practical use. But if it was like $50, then hey, why not?

[jaguar]

Well i guess in america you're paying for your own healthcare but...

[slang]

Originally posted by Skunks
Where the hell do you put it when you go inside a store, or do whatever you went downtown to do? Drive it inside?

--Sk

If I own a store, this is a no brainer.

Which would you rather dedicate your space for , Mr. store owner? Automobile parking which costs you floor space by taking up so much square footage that could be used to display your goods? Or a "mini" parking lot that is inside and part of the building, just for Segway vehicles? Even if I had to pay an attendant, I'd rather the use the space from the auto parking lot for making me money. Would people start using the Segways overnight? Very unlikely. Would it be beneficial to me if they did?. Yes, yes, yes! So as a store owner, I would make changes that would encourage people to drive them to my store.

Trust me, some company will create some special security system the second there are enough numbers to make that company money. Whether the system is developed for the user or the retailer makes little difference, if the demand is there, someone will tap it.

[slang]

Originally posted by juju
I'm against exercise for it's own sake. If we can save a little walking, then why not? It's not like exercise is noble or something. Of course, the Segway is way too expensive for practical use. But if it was like $50, then hey, why not?

I think that Americans generally dont get enough excercise. Walking is a great way to get excercise without injuring yourself. As the government keeps hinting at taking an active part in controlling the fat that the citizens are taking on, I like the idea of taking control of that myself. Walking a few times a week can make a noticeable difference.

The Segway is too expensive, even at $2000. For the right person though, like me, I'd buy one in a heartbeat at 2k. There are many down sides to using this, but there are also benefits. I think the city people as well as the bumpkins like me will find them appealing at 2k. There has to be security set up for parking them, but I think they will catch on. In my estimation, they wont break 5%-10% of the number of the cars, but they will catch on. Once the Segways are used by people from every demographic, this will also inspire more r & d for other electric vehicles.

The automobile wasn't accepted overnight. I dont think these and similar type vehicles will be either.

[slang]

Originally posted by Griff
Shockingly dangerous though. Not really.

It seems likely to me that once there are more of these in use the fucking government will stick it's ugly useless head in and make the Segways "perfectly safe", which is what they try to do with everything in this country. In doing so they'll take the appeal away for me. I ride a motorcycle and I shoot guns. I'm farmiliar with risk the associated by using products unwisely. I can handle it, I dont need a helmet or a spine guard or any of that other crap.

Live a little, take some risks, feel the excitment of doing something that may hurt you with all the safeties off!

Eventually we'll see this progress into a cabinet level agency monitoring and regulating the Segways, for "the good of the children" and Poindexter will have a telescreen built into every unit.

[Undertoad]

It might be fairly trivial to build security into a Segway. Picture: the device doesn't operate unless in contact with an ez-pass style transponder that one might wear as an anklet or attached to a shoe.

Maybe it would generate a loud alarm if moved more than a yard without the transponder. The thing's pretty heavy IIRC, so snatching one without riding it would be complicated.

Also trivial might be some kind of On-Star style anti-theft part that would report the unit's location back every once in a while. They're already prototyping stuff like this for child safety, in a bracelet-sized unit.

Solve those problems and you can park it wherever you can lean it against a wall, and it has a "follow" mode to roll it without you on it, so I think you could get it up stairs if you had to.

[Cam]

How about just a laser cut key or a key with a computer chip in it. Like UT said there heavy so unless you can get it running it's going to be tough to move.