Slashdot Mirror


A Killer App For Segway

cameronk writes "The NYT reports that Segway is developing a growing popularity with people who are mobility-impaired. My 94 year-old grandfather is too proud to use a wheelchair, yet too fragile to walk. The Segway seems like an ideal way for him to maneuver about."

21 of 277 comments (clear)

  1. Segway: Unsafe at Any Speed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
    1. Re:Segway: Unsafe at Any Speed by xs650 · · Score: 5, Funny

      A 94 year old is almost as likely to fall off his Segway as Bush. The difference is that Bush is physically fit (although not fiscally or mentally fit). A fall from higher than normal standing height could be real serious for a 94 year old. A Segway for gramps is real bad idea, for him and for other people on the sidewalk.

      When I die, I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather did, not terrified like his passengers did.

  2. low-tech solution by menscher · · Score: 4, Funny

    What about using a cane? Worked for my grandfater....

  3. remember back when... by spacerodent · · Score: 3, Funny

    I would love to have seen the look on the faces of the people who orignally claimed segway was everything from cold fusion to Ai when they saw the stupid scooter.

    1. Re:remember back when... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Yeah. They took something that is actually rather cool and, with one perfect dry heave of hype and cynicism, turned it into a giant steaming pile of rhinoceros shit.

      Probably set all inventors back five years just from discouragement. But hey, it's almost time for holiday shopping, so nobody really cares.

  4. Perhaps "killer" isn't the word by yerdaddie · · Score: 3, Funny

    If you're talking about 94-year old folks, I'm not sure if you want to bill something as the "killer app."

  5. forgot this demo by tcd004 · · Score: 2, Funny
  6. Segway or Out-of-My-Way by lakiolen · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just wait untill there are gangs of partially disabled senior citizens roving around in packs forcing everyone else off the sidewalk, not caring who or what they run into and/or over. And then there's the Segway Centar which can only lead to who knows what kind of shenanigans.

    --


    What are you expecting to find here?
  7. Re:Sidewalk as battleground by Necrobruiser · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...Segway for the Highway Now THAT would be something to see.

    Not for his 94 year-old grandfather. Then it would be a Segway doing 45 mph in the hammer lane with it's left turn signal on for miles.

    --
    "I planned within my means and got a fixed rate mortgage, so where's MY bailout?" -cafepress
  8. If I had the cash.... by DLR · · Score: 2, Funny
    ...I'd love to take a Segway, 1 or 2 deep cycle marine batteries, a mini-ITX system and Voila! instant robot*, just add appendages.

    *(with 2 years of software development time, not for use around the frail or infirm, your electric bill may show unexpected increases, void where prohibited, your milage may vary, not responsible for reactions of household pets, not responsible if you install optional Death Ray appendage)

    --
    "Like fire and fusion, government is a dangerous servant and a terrible master."~RAH
  9. Re:Not a good idea by mm0mm · · Score: 3, Funny
    Wasn't there a case awhile back were a Segway, if low on battery power, would cause the rider to fall flat on their face?

    Solution: Airbag-featured Segway

  10. Re:Sidewalk as battleground by AndroidCat · · Score: 5, Funny

    Segway for the Highway would definitely be a killer app, for sure.

    --
    One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  11. Re:Negative Opionions by node+3 · · Score: 1, Funny

    My family was going to buy one for my elderly/ill grandfather, but we feared he wouldnt use it because it would make him look crippled/impaired in some way.

    Isn't that like missing an arm, but not wanting a prosthetic arm because it makes one look like they are missing an arm?

  12. Sounds great till he falls and breaks his hip. by photon317 · · Score: 2, Funny


    What a great idea for a fragile old man who has trouble walking - stick him standing up on a gyro-balanced thing that walks faster than we ever could and hope he doesn't manage to fall off.

    --
    11*43+456^2
  13. Hope your grandfather has better balance than Bush by markomarko · · Score: 2, Funny

    Anyone remember the story of his Segway crash? Take a look at http://www.google.com/search?q=Bush+segway&ie=UTF- 8&oe=UTF-8 to jog your memory.

    So, I wouldn't call it a wheelchair replacement. Despite the machine's clinical look, a walker still might be a better choice.

  14. Re:Negative Opionions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Well, if you main concern is what other's are thinking of your "disability" then you have bigger problems to worry about.

    Shit, if I was ever in that situation I would just tell the Doctor to give me a prosthetic without the fake skin. Just a Terminator-like endoskeleton to scare the shit out of people. "Whose disabled now muthafucka". :)

  15. Grandma got run over by her Segway! by yellowsubmarine · · Score: 1, Funny

    Grandma got runned over by a reindeer, riding home on Christmas eve.. Oh wait, that's not right. Grandma got run over on her Segway, riding home .. uh wait.. that's still not right Grandma got run over by Segway, riding it one home after having one too many Peppermint Schnopps! Damm! Segway really screws up this song!

  16. Re:this is different from motorcycles how? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    You don't get laughed at on a bike.

    <Troll>Unless it's a kwaker.. </Troll>

  17. Re:Not a good idea by seven+of+five · · Score: 2, Funny
    my 93 year old grandmother weaves in and out of heavy traffic on PCH
    is this a highway or a drug?
  18. Stupidity galore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    What numbnuts come up with these ideas I have to ask?? The Segway's 2 wheel setup is a pure gimmick, nothing more, and a dangerous one at that. If there's a need for small motorised vehicles that let the controller stand upright in the elderly and disabled communities, make one that has 3 wheels for crying out loud. Putting physically unfit people on a inherently unstable vehicle is pure idiocy.

    Or did microsoft patent the tripod recently?

  19. Re:Not a good idea by seven+of+five · · Score: 2, Funny
    (And to the other poster, the PCH is the Pacific Coast Highway.)
    In Chicago we have LSD, which is conveniently both.