Toyota Announces Segway Killer: The Winglet Personal Transporter
Only a year after taking control of Sony's robotics business, Toyota has come up with a vertical, mechanized scooter (or personal transporter, in future-speak) intended to help people move about in public areas.
Called the Winglet because of its fleet nature, it is the first gadget to duplicate the celebrated, and often mocked, navigation system of Dean Kamen's Segway Transporter: self-balancing through gyroscopic sensors detecting the gentle directional tilts of a rider.
However, this personal scooter is probably not up to par to the Segway in speed or ruggedness. The newest Segway model can go up to 12.5 miles per hour (versus the Winglet's 3.7 MPH), and the slightness of the Winglet's frame probably wouldn't survive a Police chase.
According to Toyota, they will begin testing three different models at a few Japanese airports later this year, as well as some popular malls. The feedback received from customers will help determine whether Toyota will mass-market the gadget for sales everywhere else.
Last year, Sony decided to sell off most of its robotics division in order to streamline its overflowing number of product departments (killing off the Aibo dog in the process), and Toyota stepped in to keep pushing the technology.
Check out the Winglet in action after the jump.
Source: Toyota, AP
Take one or two to Burning Man and see if it survives a week.
@Sergiy:
10 seconds of research would have told you that 3.7MPH is approximately average walking speed, and that a Segway is, in fact, quite a bit faster than walking (some models approach the speed of a fast run).
While I agree that the vehicles are unnecessary for the average person (which seems to be the primary Segway marketing segment), they are quite good for people whose jobs require them to be constantly on their feet and in motion.
The future of humankind: lazy fat blobs floating on personal transports with a a blind cover on the face televising in real time the scene directly in front of them, and tube stuck permanently in mouth and veins so no need to chew food either.
Haven't most states and large cities already rushed as social saviors to protect the public from one of these extremely dangerous thing running over and killing a mall full of people? Be sure to check your local cradle to grave public protection laws to see if you can even own one of these without an SRL (Segway Rider's License). Some rogue cops might even claim that it is a skate board and confiscate it, you never to be seen again. Be sure not to ride one in New York City. To be body blocked by a cop while riding a bicycle is bad enough, but on one of these things, it would probably be disastrous.
I, for one, welcome our morbidly obese overlords.
"I never understood the point of the Segway. It's not much faster than walking..."
Segways go like 12mph - way faster than walking.
I hope this thing supports riders over 300 pounds becuase you have to be one slow-walking lazy bastard to use one of these things.
I wish I could buy stock in Toyota... There are enough fools and geeks with disposable income to make it a hit.
Segway needed a killer??
Mail persons, police officers( in crowded festival situationss), mall security, and overworked personal assistants should all get gift wrapped segways for thier next birthdays. This thing should be thrown back in the toy box.
Who in the world would like to be on something this dangerous. Geez!
LOL - fun thang, indeed!
BUT
DO we need yet another good excuse to become even "more" obese and un-active??
I ponder and wonder
Paul
Things we need: Anti-collision devices for cars that absolutely prevent collisions. Solar energy for everything. Freedom. That is all.
Things we don't need: Wheelchairs for the able-bodied.
If God had meant for man to roll,
He would have given us wheels.
Nothing happens without God's consent.
Therefore, we are meant to ROLL!
they should package this thing with a bottle full of those exercise-in-a-pills that have apparently been discovered. i smell a hit!
Sony didn't sell its robotic division to Toyota last year, though there was a media story that turned out to be false. Sony put out an official press release on it, which can be read here:
http://www.pressroom.sony.co.jp/news/kakocmt/cmt2007.html
Basically, they transferred just this project's IP to Toyota, NOT the QRIO and/or AIBO. Some Sony employees who were responsible for the transporter project did go to Toyota temporarily to help transfer know-how. You can maybe tease this out from the Babelfish translation of the Japanese press release:
About the “Toyota and SONY robot section purchase” Our company, has not transferred the research and development result of the robot, organization such as AIBO and QRIO. The research and development result where relates to the trance porter of one person riding which was being advanced at project level was transferred to 2007 3 end of the month to the Toyota Motor Corporation. The staff who does research and development at our company, in the sense that part conveys know-how, fixed period, has proceeded to the Toyota Motor Corporation. The research and development which does at SONY in regard to details it has not published.
ever since I saw the Segway I have been waiting for the gyroscopic technology to be applied to a modified skateboard... that would be cool!!
lean forward to accelerate, lean back regenerative braking = pure awesomeness
wall-e is not so far away with things like this...
At 3.7 MPH it does not interest me. The Segway does a bit. I have MS and can stand quite well, but can't walk far (maybe a half block or so). A Segway interests me much more than a totally lazy scooter does.
I'm not old (37) and am not infirm (own my own business and am on my feet all day) but a Segway could be an alternative to the car commute every day. Like you, I thought they were silly for most when they came out, then my disease progressed and it seems to make sense. Don't assume that everyone who looks healthy and well can actually walk that much.
Waste of coal.
As a scrawny nerd who got a Segway for a gift, I have to throw in a couple of thoughts. One, it's never mentioned (although someone did here), that you are *standing*. I use my Segway a) for dorky fun and b)as a photog/film vehicle. After shooting a parade for 3 hours-- even though I covered a ton more ground than my foot-borne brethren-- all I wanted to do was sit the heck down.
The other thing is that regulation of these things is all over the map. I thought Japan didn't allow Segways on the streets? Anyway, I fully support these being street vehicles (bike lane-esque), because even though *I* know what I'm doing, people I'm approaching (and dogs and other animals) do *not* know what I'm going to do.
Gimme that four-wheel ATV/bike thingy that Segway prototyped. That would be hot.
Looks like a very expensive way to guarantee you'll take a header.
The small parallel wheels are far more likely to catch on bumps and such than a Segway Personal Transporter.
I went to Toyota Mega Web on the man made Island of Odaiba here in Tokyo Bay, Japan yesterday and they had a demonstration of this thing. It looks a lot smaller then the Segway and from looking at the people trying it out, it appeared very easy to use. Unfortunately it said max height is 180cm (I'm 188 or 6"2') so I couldn't try it out! You also need to speak Japanese, to get instructions...but that's beside the point.
This new "marvel" has about as much chance of succeeding as the original over-hyped model. Both of these "innovations" fail one crucial test: can you sit down? Seniors, for example, have a hard time standing up on firm ground; what's going to happen when they try standing and staying straight on a wobbly machine? Even a horse (or an ostrich) is better than these things because you can sit down. That's the key, lads, let me sit and you've got a sale; stand and you can wait forever for a sale.
"...intended to help people move about in public areas."
Is it really that hard to do in the first place?
put a chair on it while youre at it.
Here is a shocking idea: try walking!
Segway and this new machine are good examples of why alcohol abuse should be mandatory in America. After all, if you're already fat and stupid, you might as well be drunk too.
nice. another way to stop exercising and get fat.
@Mike - re "why alcohol abuse should be mandatory in America" - just pointing out that Toyota is a Japanese company. Sorry if there is some subtlety to your point that I am missing, if so can you clarify?
Kerter, you took the words right out of my mouth!
These should be mandatory for senior citizens in grocery stores. Well, that's assuming I have a remote control with a "get the f*ck out of my way" button.
I think the people that are buying up most of the Segways are using it for applications where it makes sense (pulling orders from a huge warehouse, for example). I don't think the Toyota model will make much sense unless they can speed it up a bit and add some cargo capacity.
...
We are slowly loosing the ability to use our legs...
Did anyone see Wall-E? When do I get my hover lazy-boy with holographic videophone and streaming porn? and bots to tend to my every need?
Maybe this would be useful is it was designed like those ergo chairs you kneel on and have no back? it correct postures and gets you places.
I'm on my ass all day...being on my feet standing in 1 spot I think is worse than walking around...but I could be wrong.
I feel for women with shoes designed to look good but have no comfort...and they spend all day in them...especially those pointed ones that look like they could be weapons...
"...
We are slowly loosing the ability to use our legs..."
And also apparently LOSING the ability to pass 3rd grade and spell "LOSING."
There are lots of people with bad hips, ankles and knees who could use one of these. Not all of these folks are old; runners who didn't stop soon enough walk with lots of pain from clicky knees. Old jocks will be a big market.
this is so inappropriate and useless
for the lazy
One non-lazy use for a segway I can think of would be for security guards such as mall cops so they could get to trouble spots quickly, pursue suspects without tiring themselves out, and make the long days bearable.
@ Evil_Pete...
I've seen home-built gyro-stabilized seqway-like vehicles at the burn..
but they had bigger beefier tires, and had EL wire so they looked like seahorses at night.
awesome.
Maybe can put this is Geek gallery for future transportation in geekitstores
"The future of humankind: lazy fat blobs floating on personal transports..."
I WILL KILL PAUL ATREIDES!
Sorry, had to be said. ;)
The real potential for this contraption is robotics and Mobotech thingymajigs that can transport themselves and do many tasks that humans shouldn't
Ass Clown Transportation
Problems: Stairs, mud, gravel, curbs, ice, snow, fences, theft, running into little old ladies with litigious lawyers, construction sites, detours; any number of obstacles that occur everywhere except downtown Osaka in the summertime or shopping malls. I can't wait for the kids to start filming themselves 'accidentally' tipping morons over who have one of these things.
I've been suggesting this to Segway for years now. "Either add a third wheel and get rid of the expensive stabilization gear, or dump the handles and make it just a platform." Dean Kamen is a genius, but he doesn't understand certain aesthetic or kinesiological principles.
The purpose of the segway was to give some relief from the miles of walking in Las Vegas (its the only place I've seen their practical use). Heat rash and and sore feet is what some of us tourists experience there after walking miles through the casinos and malls. I can see the winglets as a means for table servers to navigate smoothly from the bar to your table without spilling your drink.
@Negative Nate: boy, do you live up to your name.
But you are right in that the wheels on that thing look far too small to be used anywhere but on smooth indoor surfaces.
A Segway killer? I think not.
**** *
I like those Li'l Rascal ones better because you can sit and relax.
* ****
I use a Segway at my Job and it is a GREAT tool. This, however.. seems... too small... too petite. I feel like if you hit a dip in the sidewalk you would then proceed to eat the sidewalk. The segway is amazing, but again only for those whose jobs require one to be on their feet a lot. otherwise there is no need for these "things."
Nice explanation of why the Seqway is worthless here:
http://www.futureofless.com/files/future-of-less-intro.pdf
Toyota is a large car manufacturer, therefore no innovation can be expected from them. This thing will remain a prototype and will never be good or cheap enough to reach most of us. Car manufacturers are good at prototypes, not real innovation. I can't think of anything that makes a2008 average car more interesting than most cars made in 1988.
Walking about town is one of the joys of my life. Why would I want one of these again?
Here in Chicago, we have curbs on the streets, people on the sidewalk, dogs and other obstacles. These gizmos do not look like they'd practical, much less useful.
Why not just get a sedan chair and four slaves if you really are intent on never exerting yourself in any way?
Nobody should be allowed to skydive. After all, it wastes lots of fuel just so people can have some fun for a few minutes. It's incredibly dangerous and people sometimes die from it.
Motorcycles are even worse! Sure they save fuel, but so many people get hurt riding them that they just increase the burden on our already-over-taxed medical system. Get'em off our roads now!
While we're at it, nobody should be allowed to drive a car with more than 4 cylinders either. The people who do are just selfish jerks who don't give a damn what they're doing to the environment.
Get the point? People who bad-mouth the Segway because it's wasteful, promotes obesity, doesn't do what THEY would need, etc., are just wasting oxygen complaining about it. It has it's niche where it's useful as a number of people have described. For the rest of us can be an awesome recreational vehicle from time to time. If you've never tried one you don't know what you're missing. Stop acting like you know what's best for everybody on the whole planet Earth.
Nobody should be allowed to skydive. After all, it wastes lots of fuel just so people can have some fun for a few minutes. It's incredibly dangerous and people sometimes die from it.
Motorcycles are even worse! Sure they save fuel, but so many people get hurt riding them that they just increase the burden on our already-over-taxed medical system. Get'em off our roads now!
While we're at it, nobody should be allowed to drive a car with more than 4 cylinders either. The people who do are just selfish jerks who don't give a damn what they're doing to the environment.
Get the point? People who bad-mouth the Segway because it's wasteful, promotes obesity, doesn't do what THEY would need, etc., are just wasting oxygen complaining about it. It has it's niche where it's useful as a number of people have described. For the rest of us can be an awesome recreational vehicle from time to time. If you've never tried one you don't know what you're missing. Stop acting like you know what's best for everybody on the whole planet Earth.
So for all of you who are being down on a new geek toy like this are missing the bigger picture. It's stuff like this that will eventually bring more mobility to the handicapped and old folks, or people who just can't quite walk right. if you added a simple support system in the style of those butt up, knees on pads chairs to one of these, people that are condemned to a wheelchair could actually be able to look at others eye to eye rather than constantly being looked down on. Not to mention it'd be much smaller than a wheelchair. So i'm all for it. Including human-like walking robots, and that donkey looking robot that walks on it's own over uneven ground.
anyway yeah. point being, this gives hope to a lot of people that someday they'll be able to feel a little more normal again. and see the world at the same height that everyone else does.
seen wall-e? that is exactly where humankind is heading if we proceed with such unnecessary gadgets like these. i see the point of old and handicapped people, for them it might be useful technology. but for every other already overweight blob out there it is just not going to work.
This will be noted as the exact point in time that Toyota, (a great company), began sinking under the weight of it's massive bureaucracy and started it's inevitable descent into mediocrity. Go Honda!
>>The future of humankind: lazy fat blobs floating on personal transports with a a blind cover on the face televising in real time the scene directly in front of them, and tube stuck permanently in mouth and veins so no need to chew food either.>>
And what of it?!
This would be great for Dr Farnsworth
Obligatory:
Look mom, no hands!
Put the two wheels in line and you get for free the balance that the Segway achieves with thousands of dollars worth of computers and gyroscopes.
Austin, Texas has several Segway Tours available: http://www.glidingrevolution.com/segwaytours.html
Modern sidewalks have wheelchair ramps, these tours cover a lot of territory. This is a perfect use for them.
I see them all over town.
"Toyota Announces Segway Killer"
"...this personal scooter is probably not up to par to the Segway in speed or ruggedness. The newest Segway model can go up to 12.5 miles per hour (versus the Winglet's 3.7 MPH), and the slightness of the Winglet's frame probably wouldn't survive a Police chase."
Right... because we all know that the slower, more fragile vehicle ALWAYS outsells the faster, more solid, more useful version. Who wrote the headline for this article, and had they actually read the article first? I thought this was going to be about some sort of actual USEFUL device.
There's a personal transport system that's faster than a segway, you get to sit down but get plenty of exercise AND it's fossil fuel free: it's called a B.I.K.E.
"awesome recreational vehicle"
yeah right... use your body & brain instead. (let's solve some real problems)
runbikerswimmer: precisely!
I guess the folks at Toyota didn't see the movie WALL-E.
Very cool -- definitely a Segway killer. They are perfect for people who have to walk all day or the elderly. They should definitely have these in homes for assisted living.
I am surprised at the "FIRE BAD" attitude of people who are clearly sitting in front of a computer at this very moment. Technology and innovation don't have to have a purpose. Accidents and useless experiments have made many useful advances. Ever heard of antibiotics? Personal home computers started in "geek" clubs that were about as respected as D&D game groups at the time. Toyota may be a massive corporation, but the people in the R&D labs do no less valid work than any garage inventor. This thing may be unsellable but you never know where the underlying tech or ideas may lead.
The headline is out-of-sync with the article: I see no compelling evidence to demonstrate that the Winglet is a "Segway Killer". An *alternative* is more plausible, but less sensationalist.
Wow! If you think this is a Segway Killer vote here:http://www.ratemyideas.com/story.php?title=Toyota_Winglet_The_Segway_Killer
Jesus... the comments here are so bad, and the quality of the article is even worse.... wtf... you guys haven't even seen, nor tested a segway and if then it was the old models.
Get a grip and do your research before writing crap like that, that refers to comments as well.
Take a tour with the latest model... then shut up forever.
Segways can go 25 mph... and guys please stop posting if you don't know jack. Pleeeease... it just hurts reading all the bs...
Judging from the location of the handle, a better name might have been "The Crotchlet".
I've seen cops use Segways in airports, and one advantage is that it does put their heads about a foot higher, giving them a better overview of the crowd.
I recently saw the Swiss police are using segways patrolling public parks in Geneva. Looked pretty cool!
It's astonishing how profoundly ignorant most of the commenters are with respect to the Segway and it's varied applications.
Go TRY one before commenting!
I suspect that the same people turning their noses up at this technology would feel real kinship with the luddites who were determined to keep people (esp. women) off bicycles back in the 1880's.
"Things we need: Anti-collision devices for cars that absolutely prevent collisions. Solar energy for everything. Freedom. That is all."
x2
Too many Ass Clowns riding on 2 wheels already. We don't need more Ass Clowns riding in the same places reserved for walking.
These things would be great for indoor use at big malls, at parks or even on sidewalks in the city. Most of the places that have banned the Segway have done so because they go too fast and are too bulky (which many fear could lead to possible injury to people on foot). These are small, light, very portable and move at the speed of an average walk. This means that they could be used even where Segways have been banned. I, myself, use a power wheelchair because I am paralyzed but you would not believe how many times I have been with perfectly able-bodied people and had to stop and wait for them to rest. It doesn't take a ton of walking before I hear things like, "Oh, my feet are killing me," or "let's sit here. I need to give my legs a rest," or "Walking on this hard ground is making my back hurt." The list goes on. Something like this could make long outings much more enjoyable for people.
-Lest Segway be relegated to the dust heap of total tech scorn-some municipalities put them to use profitably for parking meter collections, water meter reading and the like, things a person could do walking but less efficiently.
-A water meter reader on a Segway I spoke with in Seattle said the number of properties he can serve per shift has increased about three times over that possible on foot. This type of use is where Segway sales numbers will shine.
I see a rural early adopter on a nearby island frequently buzzing into town along a two-lane highway shoulder to pick up groceries & supplies, but such users likely don't represent a big chunk of Segway sales.
Has anyone thought about making these upright seats? Kinda a lean in but straped in thing for wheelchair bound people? I don't know about you, but I like looking people in the eye, not the belt buckle. If I was able to be in a more upright wheelchair,(if I had to) I would prefer it!
I would like to propose a law that would make it illegal for an appliance to "Kill" another appliance.
It's always somewhat disheartening to read those knee-jerk reactions to the Segway, from people who have never ridden it, are probably mostly fat slob drivers themselves, and don't recognize the Segway for what it really is.
For the elderly or the disabled, the Segway is indeed an alternative to walking. For the rest of us,
I've had the chance to ride one, years ago, for a few (winter) months.
I've clocked about 1000 kilometers commuting on the thing, suffered two (silly) falls, and have nothing but praise for the machine (... and that was just it's first installment).
And before you call me a fat lazy slob, know this: I used it to cover about three miles each way, every working day. I wouldn't have walked that distance, and public transportation was inconvenient on that route. I always felt it safer (and much less sweaty) than biking.
To me, and for my particular circumstances, the Segway was never an alternative to walking, but to driving my diesel-guzzling, CO2/particles spewing sedan. And I lost ten pounds while I used it (probably because the drive-thru at McDs wouldn't serve me...)
To the Toyota marketing team I have just one word to say to you about the Winglet. Hooters!
The cops here in Seattle use Segways to do some foot patrols, especially on Capitol Hill. They can weave in and out of dense crowds about as well as a pedestrian (certainly much better than a bike), "sprint" faster than you can, carry two suitcases worth of gear on wheel-mounted panniers, and do it for hours at a stretch. They also have improved visibility.
The cops I've talked to unanimously agree that they are a great upgrade from standard foot patrols.
@fatcat: ...and I bet they have a gps with the local donut stores as points of interest...
I'd take one. Sometimes I like to be lazy and not walk everywhere I need to go. Also, I might take one of these (maybe one that goes a bit faster) out instead driving to go distances farther than I'd ever go out walking.
@ RoverDaddy: I'm with you. Don't worry about the rest of the world, guys. Try taking care of yourself for a while before you pretend to know what's best for everyone else. You nasty f*cks.
lazy? fat? are you all living in a cave? look around! this is a vast improvement over what we're doing now. this is intended to assist those living in an urban environment where people are already walking a great deal. there are times when even the most fit of us are too tired, or going to far, to make walking feasible. speed is not the only concern in transport. if you don't get it, you're part of the problem.
I'd like to echo some of the recent comments about how close minded and ignorant many of the early comments were. I thought Wired was a magazine for technophiles, not luddites! Who knows exactly what the future holds? While the Segway only has niche applications so far, it and the Winglet could be steps in the development of personal transportation to take the place of the automobile.
There is no "jump". Why do so many bloggers think they have a "jump"? It ust sounds pretentious.
I just attended a BIG air show in Oshkosh. I did lots of walking, I mean LOTS OF WALKING. I took along my SegWay X2 and put 70 miles on it at the same air show.
I suspect I walked as much as I did this time as I did the two other times I attended the same air show but this time I saw more since some of the walking was done by the SegWay…….
After watching some of the other YouTube videos of the Winglet, it seems like the small one with out the handlebars manuvers better and goes faster that 3mph. I dunno, thats just me.
Ahh... A Typical Toyota-RippOff.
Automatic doughnut server is a nice touch, though.
Check this natural girl:
http://www.bangbull.com/details/30287-BE4/Sexy_babe_under_water.html
Nothin' holding back the Segway but exorbitant price and the fact you look like a doofus on it.
"Solar energy for everything."
When everyone starts using it, they start to tax it.
This cracks me up on several levels. First, was the Segway ever enough of a trend to be killed? Second, at a mere 3.7 mph (about the speed of a brisk walk), the only thing this is likely to kill is your fitness level.
Just in time for the Arrested Development movie....COME ON!!!!
This is the beginning of Terminator 3 AND Matrix: take the right pill for chrissakes!
You can take my running shoes when you pry them from my cold, dead feet.
For the life of me I can't see how this contraption is better than a bicycle!!!
They still haven't addressed the fundamental issue that Segway overlooked: Do I look a tw*t riding this?
Answer...yes.
if you've ever been in a warehouse and seen people use fuel burning hi-lo's to go from one end to the other to get a small pkg or some paperwork then you've seen the need for a segway!
Does Wired keep covering the Segway because it thinks it was a profoundly clever, revolutionary and misunderstood innovation...or to give us all a good laugh every now and again?
why don't they just use roller skates?
The Winglet is probably a cool device for pristine indoor environments - the wheels are too small and the speed too slow to make it much use outside.
The 2nd Generation Segways have a top speed of 12.5 mph, about a 5 minute mile - which on the i2 you can do for 20 plus miles and about 15 on the x2 (large low psi wheels).
The Segway takes about 1 kwh to fully charge, so if you have 10¢/kwh electricity you can go about 200 miles to the dollar - or - with $4 per gallon gas, about 800 miles for the cost of a gallon. If you commute to work on one, practical if you have a 5 mile commute, you can plug it in at the office and have your transport paid for at the office.
The Segway was certainly guilty of being overhyped. That said, it's a hell of a lot saner device to build a community around than a SUV...
Wow, who would have thought that Wired readers are such unimaginative Luddites! The amazingly negative comments posted here are surprising considering that Wired magazine itself is all about new ideas, technologies, and culture often without a practical immediate use or in conflict with the current norms. I think these personal transporters are cool. If these things get people out of their cars, that's a good thing. Perhaps we'll see seniors using these to keep up with their grandkids on vacation. Or we can imagine them on large campus settings for people who need to get back and forth (they currently use electric golf carts). Variations of these can be used to carry groceries home behind you when you walk home from the store. When you use a vehicle (even a bicycle), you inherently separate yourself from people walking around you. These devices would allow people to have transport assistance yet still enable social interaction. Come on folks, use your imagination!
Come on, somebody invent long life motorized in-line skates already. That is something I would buy, not these fad toys.
Make it cheap and I'll buy it!, fre@kn' segway is waaaay too expensive
The reason there are so many negative comments regarding this story is that Wired readers know bullshit when they see it. Want to commute without polluting? Get your fat ass a bicycle!
The Segway didn't need killing, it was the victim of overhyping and an immediate marketing suicide. I will say local law enforcement and guides in Long Beach's downtown use them. They slapped billboards on the front to offset costs. Although isn't it unethical to advertise bail bonds on a cops Segway? Anyhow, the future will never be as lame as the aging want it to be or as cool as the young want it to be so this I am afraid is your happy medium. Those of us who grew up in the 80's still want our hovercars and hoverboards... but this is all we get. Damn the man that invented the wheel it is the crack of inventions, we can't get off the damn things.
I pass walkers and bicycle riders in my neighborhood each morning I jog, but I rarely pass anybody walking or riding a bike to work on my 6.2 mile commute to work each day on my Segway. I am passed my hundreds of people each week going the same distance sitting in a car which seems a lot lazier than riding a Segway. I was surprised of all the negative comments from Wired readers thinking they would be more technology minded folks. As I do demonstrations for schools on the Segway I tell them I don't know what it will look like but they will probably be driving something that uses this technology whether they are standing or sitting. Nobody has really mentioned the fact you think forward you go forward and you think stop you stop. It really is good technology and the Winglet looks like it is using it well too. I can't imagine what you would have said about Ford and other auto inventors when walking was a way of getting from place to place.
It would be mre comfortable to walk than try to balance yourself on that short version. Looks counter-prodcutive
Unbelievable kinky look and nice body
http://www.bangbull.com/details/44462-BE4/Bianca_looking.html
dum ass jap's you dont need that just walk you lazy poops
@Kevin.....Exactly on the not everyone who looks healthy can get around with no problems. I suffer from moderate peripheral neuropathy in my feet and after 30 mins or so of walking, my feet are screaming if I don't take something. I wouldn't own this though. I'd go for a full fledged Segway
dudes :\ i have a segway and im not fat.
YOU HAVE IT FOR FUN and enjoyment, and for not getting sweaty if you're going somewhere.
and when you get off your segway.
you do REAL excercise like RUNNING or going to the GYM or playing SPORTS.
and if you have the time to spare, you can use a segway instead of a car.
if it rains use UMBRELLA or RAINCOAT.
btw YOU WILL SAVE MONEY ON GAS. eventually. but may loose it on time.
but instead you spend the time LOOKING AT THE WORLD AROUND YOU and ENJOYING IT.
All of you are nuts.!!!!
Be grateful to these inventors,discoverors. They are the FAVORITE CHILDREN OF THE GRAND ARCHITECT OF THE UNIVERSE>!!!!!GTod save them for their constant positive attitude. I hope you got it!!!!!!!
I'm all for it! I was hoping someone would invent something like this. I have COPD. I can walk but not far because I can't breathe well. This would be nice to have at the airport, the mall, theme park or anywhere requiring a lot of walking. Unlike the Segway it appears to be easy to carry and more affordable than the Segway.
hey,
for everyone talking about the technology being useless and that if it had a seat for the handicapped Take a look at the I-Bot here at http://www.ibotnow.com/ hhhhmmmm invented by Dean Kamen also and that's where the technology for the Segway actually started.
Now toyota must just build their own version of the C-LEG and market it at a much cheaper price!
It will be an instant winner!
3.7 MPH? Isn't that slower than walking?
I never understood the point of the Segway. It's not much faster than walking, and has no weather protection, so it's not a car/bus replacement. Do the able-bodied need a motorized alternative to walking? And if it's targeted at the old and infirm, it shouldn't require you to stand.
Is this entire vehicle category good for anything other than photo ops?