First, Mr. Niven, I owe you a heartfelt thanks for the many years of wonderful reading you've provided. As a long time fan, I've seen the style and subject matter of your work evolve over the years. I've appreciated some of the changes, been disappointed by others, but in the end my eyes still light up whenever I see your name on a new publication. So, thanks.
My question(s)...
How have you seen yourself grow as an author through the years and what have been the major influences that brought about these changes?
Oh, and I have to ask... first, the Ringworld, then the Smoke Ring, what's the next "Big Thing" you think you'll write about?
Thanks!
Re:This is the sneaker of small vehicals...chill.
on
This is IT?
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· Score: 1
> Considering that these things are capable of moving with no human balance
I'll believe that when I see it. This thing is only sensing the angle of the base, which is *not* indicative of the center of gravity. I notice in the videos that they don't show anyone bending over to pick something up (e.g. the poor pedestrian they just knocked on their keister.)
> takes up practically zero space while being driven
Just like an electric scooter.
> can go very very slow (hold still at zero mph),
Just like an electric scooter.
> and go in doors safely (unlike bikes, skooters, skates, skateboards, etc.),
How is this *any* safer indoors than an electric scooter? The wheel base is *wider* than a scooter so the odds of hooking a wheel on a door jam/table leg/persons foot are actually greater!
> and use practically nothing for energy.... I think that's a fairly big innovation.
This get's at best the same mileage as an electric scooter, and gets worse mileage.
> And hell, I'm going to go out on a limb and say this innovation is probably about as big an innovation as the sneaker.
Phooey! "Innovation" implies solving something in a new and better way. They've got the new part, but I refuse to believe it's better.
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First, Mr. Niven, I owe you a heartfelt thanks for the many years of wonderful reading you've provided. As a long time fan, I've seen the style and subject matter of your work evolve over the years. I've appreciated some of the changes, been disappointed by others, but in the end my eyes still light up whenever I see your name on a new publication. So, thanks. My question(s) ...
How have you seen yourself grow as an author through the years and what have been the major influences that brought about these changes?
Oh, and I have to ask ... first, the Ringworld, then the Smoke Ring, what's the next "Big Thing" you think you'll write about?
Thanks!
> Considering that these things are capable of moving with no human balance
I'll believe that when I see it. This thing is only sensing the angle of the base, which is *not* indicative of the center of gravity. I notice in the videos that they don't show anyone bending over to pick something up (e.g. the poor pedestrian they just knocked on their keister.)
> takes up practically zero space while being driven
Just like an electric scooter.
> can go very very slow (hold still at zero mph),
Just like an electric scooter.
> and go in doors safely (unlike bikes, skooters, skates, skateboards, etc.),
How is this *any* safer indoors than an electric scooter? The wheel base is *wider* than a scooter so the odds of hooking a wheel on a door jam/table leg/persons foot are actually greater!
> and use practically nothing for energy.... I think that's a fairly big innovation.
This get's at best the same mileage as an electric scooter, and gets worse mileage.
> And hell, I'm going to go out on a limb and say this innovation is probably about as big an innovation as the sneaker.
Phooey! "Innovation" implies solving something in a new and better way. They've got the new part, but I refuse to believe it's better.
- rwk