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History of Dean Kamen's Segway
- pinewurst 5y agoThe Steve Kemper book referenced in this article is excellent and well worth reading. I bought my copy (which I still own) when it came out and was delighted at its depth - not the ignorant fluff such books often are.
- ggm 5y agoThe hype was insane. Less hyperbolic language would have helped. Guffaws of laughter when "ginger" was finally outed. Nothing remotely like the revolution in personal transport promised. Reminded me at the time, of the Clive Sinclair repeated sin of over-promise and under-deliver, empitomised by the Sinclair electric "car" Now, consider the impact of the 2 wheel scooter instead. Under promised, over delivered (volume, freely available, now seen in many cities) I've ridden Segway, and they're fun and clever. I see them all the time doing conducted tours around Brisbane riverfront. I see them all the time doing follow-the-play from the touchline on football coverage. They're a niche vehicle, locked up in IPR. A really revolutionary transport modality needs to be unfettered by patent law to become ubiquitous. Watt's patents for the modern steam engine held back production for years (some might argue they encouraged attempts to get around the patent and so made for more diverse discoveries in steam)