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."

Comments

Sidewalk as battleground

[erick99]

I don't know if Segway's lobbyist makes comments about the Segway not being intended as a device for the disabled in order to facilitate his task of getting governments to approve it's use on sidewalks. This is apparently a very controversial issue in many cities. To read about the sidewalk and pedestrian issues as well as Segway attempting to put down pedestrians fears that the sidewalks will be take over by Segway-riding disabled people, read more here:Segway or the Highway.

Re:Sidewalk as battleground

[haystor]

You're thinking too small. If it becomes a device for the disabled, the government will start paying for them.

Negative Opionions

[The Islamic Fundamen]

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.

Not a good idea

[chrispyman]

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? While it's bad, I could see this turning very bad when there's a handicapped rider.

Re:Not a good idea

[WIAKywbfatw]

I immediately thought of this too. Plus, there's the collision factor: an elderly person who isn't too steady and who has slower reaction times than the norm is more likely to hit an obstacle that suddenly appears in his path and/or fall off as a result of the resulting sudden stop.

On top of all that, the Segway requires that the operator be standing whilst in use. The endurance that this requires might not be a problem for the average individual but it becomes a factor for elderly users. Remember, we're talking about who already have mobility issues, so these are legitimate concerns.

Frankly, if it was my relative I'd encourage them to use a powered chair, the kind that are more like one-man golf-carts than the kind that look like wheelchairs. They'd be more comfortable and easier to operate in the long run, capable of carrying things more easily and probably more reliable too.

Re:Not a good idea

[bobdotorg]

My grandma died after complications from a broken hip ~ 3 years hospital stay, infections, never fully recovered..
My grandpa, a few years later, died from complications from a broken hip (slipped on the snow).
I really don't think a Segway is the best answer for old people...

On a daily basis my 93 year old grandmother weaves in and out of heavy traffic on PCH while flipping off SUV cell phoners going 30 in the left lane. She took up motorcycling a few years back after she was in the hospital for a month with a broken femur from falling off a Segway.

So buy 'em Harley, and let them go out in style. And with none of that suffer in fo months in a hospital crap.

Grannie fell over again...

[MadWicKdWire]

Just wait till the Segway runs out of juice while Grannie is going to the Kountry Kitchen. Lassie might have to tell Timmy that Grannie fell over because she forgot to plug it back into the wall.

Ok... they aren't safe operating cars... so how is a Segway any different? I think it would be worse because at least you have a car protecting you when Grannie hits ya.

Have a heart

[unixbugs]

and dont be a dick. Theyre great, and I wish I could afford one ATM. Especially the 4x4 model ;)

This is the price we pay for not commercializing and industrializing the most extreme of urban commuting."The Mobile Sidewalk" has only happened in the most technologically developed parts of the world like JAPAN and, um, Las Vegas.

Long live the Segway, and its Right of Way.

--Period

Maybe not the best solution

[YrWrstNtmr]

Seeing as a Segway can fall over, a person of limited mobility would be better off with a more stable platform. A wide stance 3 wheel (2F/1R) would be a lot more stable, even standing.

And without the fancy gyros needed, it could be built a lot cheaper.

Re:Maybe not the best solution

[madfgurtbn]

A wide stance 3 wheel (2F/1R) would be a lot more stable, even standing.

No way, not standing. Not unless you're talking about a reaalllly wide (and long) stance that would make it unmaneuverable.

Segways don't usually fall unless something goes dramatically wrong. I would argue that many elderly people would be far more likely to fall walking than when cautiously riding a Segway.

Re:Segway LLC will never market it this way. Can't

[Anonymous Coward]

thanks for this explaination, makes more sense now;

I am not old, well, not terminally so, but crippled nonetheless; I walk with crutches, don't have a very good balance, and am quite limited in the distance I can walk confortably; a wheelchair is not really an option; it took me long enough to get rid off the darn thing and it has other limitations (despites ADA and all that, few places are really accessible, and standing up does have a number of advantages such as physiological (digestion, blood circulation, etc. works better), it opens up bunch of places otherwise not accessible, helps in interacting with other people on an eye to eye level, makes a big difference, etc); electric scooters (three/four wheels, grany style) are pretty limited too (not really practical or manoeverable, just saves a bit of effort), and anything marketed as 'mobility' devices costs more than what most people spend on a car.

I did get a chance of trying one of these Segways (I just sent them my email and they told me when the next demo was taking place nearby) and was impressed; the Segway guy doing the demo did show me how to get on the thing safely (you know, when/how do you drop the crutches :-) and it took me no time to be quite mobile and reasonably proficient with the thing, including going backward, tight corners, etc. quite a bit of fun actually, not to mention going forward standing up at speed I haven't experienced since last time I was able to run; Balance was not an issue somewhat surprisingly, and I felt quite safe on the thing. Range is a tad limited, but still a lot more than what I can confortably walk, so this would not really be an issue;

The thing though is that 5 grand (at the time) was a bit steep so I passed on the idea;

Anyway, the Segway could never be marketted as a device 'for the disable'; to do so, they'd have to make it a lot heavier, and bulkier, limit the range further, add a lot of chrome, look at wheelchairs and crutches, chrome everywhere, that's what the likes of them like I tell you, gimps gear has to be heavy and shiny, replace the batteries with the electric wheelchair kind (that leak acid, don't last long and cost a lot more), modify the look so that no 'normal' person would ever want to be seen even dead riding one (though some on this forum might argue that this is already the case:) and of course double/triple the price; nothing short of that could possibly satisfy the FDA.

Saw this last summer

[shut_up_man]

I saw an old guy cruising around a big park in Vancouver on a Segway. He was having a pretty good time, since he could move through the crowd much easier than if he was in a wheelchair. He even had a yappy dog in the front bucket of the Segway, that was also having a ball. I can see how it would work for older people, particularly as motorized wheelchairs cost thousands of bucks anyway.

This Comes As No Surprise ...

[Socket Scientist]

In my town of 6,000 there is exactly one Segway. It's owned by a 90-year old. He uses it to travel from his home to the centre of town (about a three-mile trip each way) every day.

For the record he's thin as a rail and still has reasonable mobility, although he could never walk this distance daily. The Segway's replacing a car in this case ... and affording the old sport a far more sociable experience than a car ever could.

I think it's safe to say that most folks in my town would be very puzzled by the anti-Segway sentiments on Slashdot.

Niche crazy!

[dj245]

So the person is disabled enough to warrant some kind of mechanical mobility aid, yet they can stand for lengthy periods at a time, while maintaining balance on a moving two-wheeled vehicle. Sure the segway will try to keep you upright, but if you are subjected to significant forces and are disabled to boot you'll fall off. Sounds like a niche within a niche.

Sometimes 2 wheels are better. But for disabled people I would go with 3 or more.

What about "weight impaired" ?

[Anonymous Coward]

"I see fat people."

"Where?"

"All around."

And, more and more of the people using scooters appear to be simply "weight impaired." Maybe Segway can come up with Super-Duty, Ford-Truck-Tough units for people that 'don't want no stinkin' exercise.'

Yes, yes, a few of them are legitimately impaired.

Yes, yes, according to ME.

As a disabled person myself

[pair-a-noyd]

(recovering from spinal fusion surgery) I would love to have one of these. Walking is painful and difficult and I can only walk short distances before I have to stop and let the pain subside. I really could use assistance getting around.
I can't walk my dog, shop, or much of anything else without a *lot* of pain.
But, I despise those little electric carts. It's personally humiliating and embarrassing to me to have to use them.
But I can't walk around super wally world, no way. One of these, if I could afford one, would be much better.

My only real fear would be taking a spill and blowing out my $100,000 titanium hardware store.

And I would be concerned about older folks, like those in their 70's and up dumping out and breaking some bones. These things COULD be dangerous. Just ask DuMbya.....

Really good for only moderately handicapped people

[LauraScudder]

My friend's Dad had a bad case of polio as a kid and has a rough limp because of it. He doesn't need a cane or anything, but there is no such thing as a walk for leisure/scenery etc. Then they bought a couple of Segways so that he could go with wife or one of the kids on rides around the neighborhood and through local parks. Of course, his kids also like taking them off-roading in said locales, but for the first time in fifty-odd years he can go out for a spin around the park without a painful limp. Good thing they aren't illegal on his sidewalks.

60+ MPH Segway

[Presence1]

Without a suspension, the first bump would make that ride would be WAY more intresting than I'd like (can you say 'launch'?)...

Seriously, a 60+ MPH Segway could be very interesting if it had a suspension including tires with sidewall flex, and a somewhat wider track. The gyro/balance system is supposed to take care of the need for a wheelbase, and I expect it could be tuned to be quick and dynamic enough to handle higher speeds (if it isn't already). Add some automated lateral leaning control to the longitudnal leaning control and suspension, and they'd really have something.