Segway Inventor To Build Powerful Wheelchair With Toyota (bloomberg.com) 40
Toyota is working with Segway PT inventor Dean Kamen on advanced wheelchairs for the aged and disabled. Slashdot reader necro81 writes:
Most people don't know that the two-wheeled balancing technology was first developed by Kamen's company in the early 2000s for the iBot -- an advanced wheelchair that could climb stairs and curbs, had four-wheel drive, and could balance on its rear wheels... it was also a commercial flop: the iBot was discontinued in 2009 after selling hundreds of units (many still in operation a decade later). Today, however, Toyota announced a partnership with Dean Kamen to upgrade the iBot and bring it back to market.
I wonder if they'll be used in more than just the obvious ways. 15 years after the introduction of the first Segways, Steve Wozniak is participating in the Segway polo world championships (which are named the "Woz Cup" in his honor). And the Australian army once even had a fleet of Segways which they dressed up like enemy soldiers to practice field maneuvers.
I wonder if they'll be used in more than just the obvious ways. 15 years after the introduction of the first Segways, Steve Wozniak is participating in the Segway polo world championships (which are named the "Woz Cup" in his honor). And the Australian army once even had a fleet of Segways which they dressed up like enemy soldiers to practice field maneuvers.
owners dying does that (Score:1)
Now just strap a mower deck on there... (Score:1)
EditorDavid (Score:1)
I don't know who you are, EditorDavid, but the little idiosyncratic items you tend to leave at the end of your entries are, well...tasty.
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That's a waste. I'll just do it right here on my desk.
Slashdot can't die (Score:1)
If there's anybody looking (Score:2)
Strewth, had they run out of bloomin' Abbos?
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Interesting technology... meh... (Score:3)
The only time I see a two-wheel Segway these days is a rent-a-cop cruising around a tech campus. Meh... Now the three-wheel Segway is much cooler (see link below). I'm always tempted to jump on one to take out for a test drive. Lights flashing, of course. :)
http://www.gizmag.com/segway-launches-three-wheeled-se-3-patroller/32167/ [gizmag.com]
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Now the paul blarts will get even lazier and fattier, just sitting in their segways.
Neither the two-wheeled nor three-wheeled Segways have seats, and sitting on the step well isn't a comfortable position.
Also, getting lazier and fattier is the purpose of any technological development. Otherwise, we would still be hunting our food and be hunted as food.
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A segway with a seat.
Re-read my original comment. I didn't mention a Segway with a seat.
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The Segway is an overpriced novelty. Technology just for the sake of technology. The iBot had potential, but was overpriced. Now that it has been reclassified by the FDA, perhaps it will make economic sense and help some handicapped people.
I wonder how much the original FDA certification added to the cost of an iBot. And how much the reclassification will save. At some point, this is really just a fancy mobility scooter. And FDA certification doesn't seem to impose too much on their cost and safety [imgur.com].
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I wonder how much the original FDA certification added to the cost of an iBot.
American consumers will probably pay for the privilege as manufacturers claim a higher price to recoup the cost of R&D. Meanwhile, due to price controls to contain rising medical costs, it'll be a lot cheaper in other countries.
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It wasn't like DEKA and Johnson & Johnson were making a killing on the original iBot. The market price (north of $20k in 2005) reflected the fact that, compared to other powered wheelchairs, it was really expensive to develop and build. J&J lost tens of millions on the iBot program.
Another difficulty the original iBot faced was that, although it provided exceptional mobility and independence for its users, Medicare reimbursed it at the same rate as an
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That is the real catch with the mobility for the disabled program, generating sufficient sales. So a new look at it from the perspective of mobility of the lazy and joy riders. Creating a mobility vehicle for the lazy and joy riders but that can be adapted for use by the disabled at low cost. Increasing sales potential to reduce per unit cost. In work environment making people more productive, than they could otherwise be whilst one foot ie postman, stock pickers and stackers, security. Used indoors and o
The Segway, LOL (Score:2)
Ah yes, the Segway. It was supposed to "revolutionize the world", and was a huge flop that practically no one wanted. Seeing a Segway in the wild is akin to spotting a unicorn galloping down the street.
I can count on one hand the number of Segways I've seen in actual use, mostly cops patrolling aimlessly inside of airports and shopping malls. They're not much use in the real world where just rolling over a stick or rock throws you off and makes you a candidate for a head injury.
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"Seeing a Segway in the wild is akin to spotting a unicorn galloping down the street." ---- This right here
I live in an area where Bentley's and Ferrari's are quite common but have only see 1 Segway in public this decade.
I live in an area where Bentleys and Ferraris are not uncommon [wikipedia.org] - heck, I even saw a McLaren on the road a few days ago, and I've seen probably about 5-7 Segways over the past decade. Unicorns [wikipedia.org], these days, on the other hand....
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Ah yes, the Segway. It was supposed to "revolutionize the world", and was a huge flop that practically no one wanted.
Segway obviously over-engineered their product. If they have dropped the handle, it would have been revolutionary. Hoverboards are replacing skateboards for youngsters. I've seen more of those than Segways in public.
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Hoverboards also cost like $300
https://www.google.com/search?... [google.com]
Segways cost near $2000
https://www.google.com/search?... [google.com]
If they cost the same, they would be the same thing, but Segways are much safer, and can deal with the occasional rock without throwing the rider off. The Segway enabled the Hoverboards, but they are not nearly the same thing. It is like comparing rollerblades to a bike, they serve different purposes and uses.
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Seeing a Segway in the wild is akin to spotting a unicorn galloping down the street.
I've seen a few on bike paths--one reason that you don't see them all that much is that most cities banned them from sidewalks and the like.
I got a chance to play with one, once, and I was really impressed. They are very cool. I considered buying one for my Dad, who had emphysema, as a way for him to get around outdoors in the country. Unfortunately, it was a bit out of my price range.
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Unfortunately, it was a bit out of my price range.
Yep. For the price of a Segway I could probably hire someone to push me across the entire United States in a wheelchair. :)
They're cool, but coolness wasn't enough to make them practical. You couldn't really commute to work on one in most places, nor could you go grocery shopping with one. I'm not sure what you can do with one, frankly, other than Mall Patrol.
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... and how many unicorns have you seen lately?
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... and how many unicorns have you seen lately?
Almost as many as the number of Segways I've seen.
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Apparently unicorns are more common than I was led to believe.
Video of new prototype (Score:4, Informative)
Not rick-rolling - it actually does have Dean Kamen sitting in the new chair.
That was an odd sentiment (Score:2)
I wonder if they'll be used in more than just the obvious ways.
Yes, because it would be such a pity if they were "just" used to help people who can't walk to get around. ;)
Most people don't know (Score:1)