'IT' Revealed. Self-Balancing People Mover (My title: Electric Scooter with gyros)

Drudge ^ | 12-02-01 | Drudge

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

My prediction is that there is actually going to be thousands of unattended uses for these things once the technogy is exploited.

If people would think of all the uses we make of computers these days, and try to think of the ones which were predicted in 1980, maybe they would catch on.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

. But if bicycles already exist, and are more efficient than walking, why doesn't the Postal Service use them?

Answer, it does use them to limited extent, but on roads, cars and trucks have a larger capacity. This thing is a substitute for legs, not for cars.

[Timm]

The wheelchairs and assist devices are not mass market devices; motorcycles and mopeds are not high tech (they are at the same tech level as cars), and neither are bicycles; optical telescopes and binoculars were high tech at the time of Isaac Newton, not not; guns are 600 years old, and overregulated.

I think that you and some of the others on this thread have been confused about what this things function is -- it is NOT a car substitute, what it is is a LEG substitute, or leg assist device.

Lucius, if we're going to use "high tech" as a predictor of price drops, it's only fair to use the phrase to mean something other than "consumer electronics". Each of the devices I mentioned above is now high tech either because of the integration of electronic and materials technology (motorcycles, mopeds, telescopes, wheelchairs), or because of high tech materials and high tech production methods (guns, bicycles).

But whatever you want to use "high tech" to mean, the fact is that the scooters aren't just electronic or computing devices. They're also mechanical transportation devices, and the prices on such things just can't be expected to fall as drastically as with electronics in the foreseeable future.

Maybe I'm confused about the point of the device. If I am, the inventor appears to be too, though! He's the one talking about car prohibition to make room for these things.

Nonetheless, it's one thing to change the world, it's another to introduce a profitable item. As you suggest, there may be enough of a niche for these scooters to make some money. I don't know about that; I'm confident we won't see our city centers filled with these things in the future.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Why this guy wearing a helmet if the gadget "can't fall"?

1) This thing is still being tested.
2) Many places have regulations requiring people to wear a helmet if not travelling by leg power.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Do you own stock in IT, or are you normally defensive?

No, but I hate a lynching!

[Mad Dawgg]

Is it possible that Segway has an enclosed Canopy replete with climate controls since it can balance itself?

[LouD]

I could see these becoming popular among urban residents, where a car is more hassle and expense than it's worth.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Maybe I'm confused about the point of the device. If I am, the inventor appears to be too, though! He's the one talking about car prohibition to make room for these things.

I do not think that someone hyping something is always totally frank about what he intends. I suspect that he knew that calling it a leg substitute or leg assist device would be a hard concept for a lot of people. And he wanted to spice it up a bit for the enviro-wackos too.

[freebilly]

I think most folks would like this item to be unveiled prior to the inventor telling us it's going to revolutionize the world.

If it's the breatest thing since sliced bread, it'll sell itself without the inventor's hype.

I've been in sales most of my life, and my BS detectors have kicked in on this thing.

And my BS detectors have been wrong before. Hope they're wrong again.

[Mad Dawgg]

Freebilly After reading the Description provided on the Drudge Page I wondered too about the BS factor but when I got to the Uniball section with the X and Y axis description it got me to consider the Item in a new light!

If you could change directions without turning the vehicle (Not a scooter but imagine a cargo mover) the technology may have much broader uses!

Maybe this scooter is juyst the enry level ap;ication to get his New Tech introduced!

[Tony in Hawaii]

Look up the difference between "SAE Gross" and "SAE Net".

[the bottle let me down]

I could see these becoming popular among urban residents, where a car is more hassle and expense than it's worth.

Possibly, but that depends on many factors which are out of the inventor's control. (1) These things will need infrastructure, like bike racks, for people who take them to a restaurant, etc. (2) Will stores allow these things inside? (3) Most importantly, as the Time article mentions, will these things be allowed on sidewalks, or will they have to share a street with cars? I'm guessing that they move too fast for the side walk, and will be foreced into the street. This will make users very uncomfortable and limit numbers of people who use them.

In short, fascinating technology, but many obstacles to long term success.

[freebilly]

Could be. Funny, you just mentioned the term "cargo mover". Last March my wife's uncle told me he was working on a concept for a cargo mover that he couldn't discuss. I think it's time for me to call him.

[GOPmember]

Are you referring to this?

[HiTech RedNeck]

This thing is a substitute for legs, not for cars.

Then it ought to have a seat????

[Kay]

Lucius,

I'm surprised at the overwhelming number of responses that are negative about a new invention. Think I'll save this thread for a long time as a reminder and repost it at a later date.

Personally, I think it is fascinating and would love to own one. Funny, doctors didn't believe in the germ theory when it was first discovered. Would imagine that the auto industry would have a similar response but maybe they will see some value and embrace it.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Then it ought to have a seat????

Perhaps I should have been a little lengthier, it is a substitute for legs that can stand up, but can barely walk.

[nicollo]

From the Nothing New Under the Sun category:

From July 5, 1908, The New York Times:

New Gyroscope Car To Be Seen Here
Novelly Constructed Automobile
Will Shortly Appear in
New York Market.
Flywheel On New Principle
Supposed to Produce Steadier Running
and to Permit of High Speed
Without Danger of Overturning

I ain't kidding. Look it up. (btw. just below that article is, "Warning of Speed Traps")