Is IT A Giant Leap For Mankind, or A Scooter?

[Luke's Angel]

The seat is an excellent idea.

To sd412,

I'm having trouble with the whole idea of shifting ones weight while sitting though. On the scooter one is standing so it seems more natural to shift ones weight while standing. Sitting on my but and trying to shift my weight in a car might not be as easy. I was thinking of two ways of steering; one was that the driver would sit and use his arms to steer by pressing against some type of sensors or control devices. Two was to have the driver atually stand in a vehicle just like on the scooter. Of course number two would require significantly increasing the height of most vehicles. Perhaps a semi-sitting or leaning position would be better?

To Scylis,

Yes you are right. I'd rather walk then use a scooter. It's my understanding that the scooter is set for walking speed anyway and frankly I could use the excercise.

I'm not much of a scooter person. I think the amazing part of this new scooter is the control mechanism and the fact that you apparently can steer just by leaning and it doesn't tip over at all.

 

[Luke's Angel]

Okay had some time to think about it.

Actually now that I've had some time to think about the input controls in the seat idea it sounds much more doable then my standing up in a redesigned car.

I'm just not sure of how much I would like the idea of constantly having to shift my body while sitting down. But perhaps some type of leaning forward position would be more natural. Like riding a motorcycle but in a car and wish some kind restraint system to provide some sort of seatbelt.

 

[Spinaroonie]

Re: The seat is an excellent idea.

To sd412,

I'm having trouble with the whole idea of shifting ones weight while sitting though. On the scooter one is standing so it seems more natural to shift ones weight while standing. Sitting on my but and trying to shift my weight in a car might not be as easy. I was thinking of two ways of steering; one was that the driver would sit and use his arms to steer by pressing against some type of sensors or control devices. Two was to have the driver atually stand in a vehicle just like on the scooter. Of course number two would reguire significantly increasing the height of most vehicles. Perhaps a semi-sitting or leaning position would be better?

No, trust me, I'm wanting to become an engineer, so I need to pretend to know this

No, the human body makes thousands of weight adjustments, leans, tilts, position changes a day. Many of them incredibly slight. The chair would have to be resistant enough that you didn't fall on your ass when you got in it, but sensitive enough to feel your movements. Perhaps some sort of locking mechinims for when the engine is off. There's a lot to do with it. People smarter than I'll ever be are probaly working on it... well not now, but when they get up and go to work. The tilt switches on the thing check it's balance over 100 times a second. Add even more switches for the car. The guy's no slouch, there's a reason why he got so much hype (Which, actually, I'd heard nothing about until 24 hours ago when I was watching CNN. Then I woke up and everybody was talking about.) YOu won't actually have to forcefully move yourself, when you think something and concentrate your body does all kinds of wacky things, they'll learn to read them.

 

[Lost Cause]

A very innovative idea. Having been on two wheelers most of my life, I like anything that doesn't take up alot of space. Maybe in the near future, we can have climate controlled transport tubes for these things to be all weather. Looks like about twenty can park in a standard parking space for a car. The technology is cool, could lead to intuitive controls for all forms of transportation.

Of course, I will still ride my Harley. At 35-40 mpg, occupies eight inches wide of road, and ten motorcycles can park in a standard parking space. Potato,Potato,Potato!

 

[Luke's Angel]

Yes but people tend to do a lot of moving around in cars.

I think for a sitting arrangement one has to limit the amount of information the computer can act on. Otherwise every time one wants to scatch one's ass one sends ones car careening off in a direction that it might be bad to go in.

 

[Cheyenne]

I saw it on TV the other night and thought it was a cool idea, too. I immediately thought of places like Disney World, where you do a lot of walking in one day that is unusual and tough for most people. I'd rent it for a day at a place like that! On the other hand, my second thought was that it really isn't practical for the people who could use it the most. Elderly or handicapped people need to be able to SIT. It isn't just the mobility problem for them, they can't stand for great lengths of time, either.
They still need the sit-down scooters.

 

[plasticman33]

Who'd pay $3,000 bucks for that foolish thing?

 

[Scabbers]

No worries, mate

Who'd pay $3,000 bucks for that foolish thing?

They find plenty--maybe not as many as say a year ago, but I can see the techno-wonks queueing up for the dole on them!

 

[Guest]

This thing goes 17MPH, can you imagine a city full of people capable of walking 17MPH? WHAMMMMM!!!!

Walking will be the new hazard if this thing becomes popular.

 

[Styphon]

Although Laurel posted that it will run "all day" it actually only has a range of about 17 miles before needing another hour of recharge - still, it's not bad for travel range, is it?

That said, it reminds me too much of the ill-fated Sinclair C5 runabout, that was supposed to revolutionise things a good few years ago. I reckon it'll bomb...

For a start, the "home" version will weigh 60lbs, so I don't think anyone will be picking it up with one hand and walking through the office to their desk after arriving at work

These wouldn't be allowed by law on the pavement in the UK (sidewalk, to Americans) and I wouldn't fancy using one on the road, especially in rush hour traffic!!

Expect to see them on sale as curiosities, for next to nothing, in a couple of years time.


Styphon

 

[Guest]

Styphon, ditto.

This thing will have to become a lot lighter (like a bicycle).

Less complicated and more failsafe (like a bicycle).

More adaptable to auto traffic (like a bicycle).

Have a seat (like a bicycle).

Become much much cheaper (like a bicycle).

Become less dorkish and more attractive (like a mountain bike).

Makes me want to go hop on my Stumpjumper and go for a spin.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

No matter how good you make a motorcyle, no matter how excellent the engine, tires or struts, no matter how skilled the rider, a motorcyle will never be safer than a car because a car has four wheels. I don't see how this two wheeled stand-up go-kart is going to revolutionize or change anything.

I mean, I like walking.

 

[Guest]

I'm the voice of doom.....

As a mom, I see it as an accident waiting to happen.

 

[Styphon]

Styphon, ditto.

This thing will have to become... (like a bicycle).

I agree about the bicycle - as you point out, a bicycle is light, easy to park, environmentally clean AND a damn' sight cheaper than "IT" is! Spare parts are cheap, too, which I doubt they will be for "IT." The bike is healthier, too, what with the exercise

One gadget I saw in the UK a couple of years back was a small box, with a small wheel that would lower onto the back wheel at the press of a button. It was essentially a small electric motor (easily recharged by mains for a few pence) that powered the back wheel, helping the rider go uphill, or just to help out if tired. When not used, it could even be recharged by normal pedalling, too, a bit like a dynamo. Even this inexpensive gadget bombed out, and it cost a great deal less that a couple of thousand pounds/dollars!

Clive Sinclair must be laughing wryly...




Styphon

 

[chanaud]

Re: i saw this on TV

great idea but the lawyer in me saw the immediate legal ramifications.........

collisons,
falls,
injuries and
deaths


and no safety devices..........
a major flaw.......

and many lawsuits ahead.........

btw....I want one too..

no more walking woo hoo....
as if americans arent already out of shape enough.
another reason to NOT WALK>

haha

You forgot the lawsuit by Stephen King. Wasn't he the original creator of "IT"?