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A Scooter With Everything (For Certain Values of Everything)

Posted by timothy on from the next-year-these-will-be-everywhere dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The folks over at Thought Lab have produced an extremely high-density mobile computing platform in a scooter and have been kind enough to teach us all how to make our own! The end result was a rolling system capable of long-distance war driving, GPS navigation, Skype calls on the road, serving as an Internet hot spot or a low-power pir8 radio station, as well as recording your favorite TV program so you don't miss Lost because you are lost. If that's not over the top enough, you can actually drive your scooter to, say, the Grand Canyon, plug in your electric guitar and perform live over the Web at a whim!"

17 of 74 comments (clear)

  1. Water Proof? by Dancindan84 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If that's not over the top enough, you can actually drive your scooter to, say, the Grand Canyon... Just hope it doesn't rain on the way there.
    --
    "Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde
  2. It's like that guy with the bike by Animats · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There was some guy who had a bicycle with all sorts of electronics on it about twenty years ago. He had an Internet connection using VHF amateur radio. He kept adding on more stuff, and ended up with a trailer on the bike and pedaling in low gear all the time.

    Today, it's kind of silly. Devices in the iPhone size class can do almost everything, so building all this gear into a vehicle is kind of pointless.

    1. Re:It's like that guy with the bike by somersault · · Score: 3, Funny

      Today, it's kind of silly. Devices in the iPhone size class can do almost everything, so building all this gear into a vehicle is kind of pointless. Time to start turning your iPhone into a scooter then? Or how about a surfboard made entirely of iPhones..
      --
      which is totally what she said
    2. Re:It's like that guy with the bike by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      > Today, it's kind of silly.

      Plus it's a scooter.

    3. Re:It's like that guy with the bike by timothy · · Score: 5, Informative

      You're thinking of Steve Roberts, and you're right -- even if it didn't look quite as (intentionally) goofy, he was way ahead on this stuff.

      http://microship.com/flotilla/skr.html

      timothy

      --
      jrnl: http://tinyurl.com/c2l8yr / foes: http://tinyurl.com/ckjno5
    4. Re:It's like that guy with the bike by PopeRatzo · · Score: 2, Insightful

      so building all this gear into a vehicle is kind of pointless.
      It might be, for those of you who have lives.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    5. Re:It's like that guy with the bike by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      They haven't quite figured out how to put WiFi in a fat chick yet. Just you wait.

  3. Re:wattache? by somersault · · Score: 2, Funny

    I noticed that too. I'm thinking a wattache must be some kind of electronic personal assistant.

    --
    which is totally what she said
  4. The Horror by explosivejared · · Score: 5, Funny

    Here we have the USB Camera pointing out of the front of the scooter where the horn normally would be.

    I suppose this is so you can capture the final expressions of horror from your victims as you crush them under the weight of your super-accessorized, all-powerful scooter from hell.

    In all seriousness, this is a pretty neat build. Convergence to the point of absurdity is always fun.

    --
    I got a catholic block.
  5. pir8? by randyest · · Score: 4, Funny

    Really, "pir8" -- not "pirate?" Wow, /. is so 1337 (rolleyes).

    --
    everything in moderation
    1. Re:pir8? by rasman1978 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      No need 2 get so ir8 about it.

      --
      MHNATY.
  6. Am I allowed.. by wattrlz · · Score: 4, Funny

    To imagine a beowolf cluster of these?

    1. Re:Am I allowed.. by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 4, Funny

      To imagine a beowolf cluster of these?

      Only iif you think of a name for your scooter gang first. May I suggest "Hell's Tech Support"?

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
  7. Re:This is great but... by TobinLathrop · · Score: 2

    Yeah first thing I thought was how well will it hold up when the bike is dumped.

    Also how distracting and interfering with your field of vision is that big ass screen? Distraction is a lethal thing on 2 wheels.

  8. Re:But will it... by timbck2 · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...blend?

    --
    Absurdity: A statement or belief manifestly inconsistent with one's own opinion. -- Ambrose Bierce
  9. What happens.. by kirbysuperstar · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ..if it starts raining? That screen would get pretty messed up.

  10. Re:What is the gas mileage? by adaviel · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Who needs a serial interface ? Newer GPS come with Bluetooth. Or just use something like the Nokia N810. I mounted one on my motorcycle, with a 12V adaptor to let me run the backlight full-time. Primarily for the GPS, but war-driving would be easy. Or playing MP3s via B/T headphones, or getting email via GPRS in my cellphone. Slip it in your pocket when it rains, or you grab a coffee. 2.7 litres/100km, BTW.