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I never understood what problem the Segway was supposed to solve. Same with Glass.

by sajid 14y ago

petercooper 14y ago
Maybe it's confirmation bias but most "big bang" inventions or services seem like this to me. It's the relative slow burners that build up over time that seem to get huge in their fields (e.g. the iPod, Skype, Facebook, Pinterest, even HN.) A big launch almost seems to be a curse. The iPad is probably the main counter example I can think of in recent years.
- hboon 14y ago
  Interesting you mentioned it. I posted this article after reading http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Science+and+Tech/Story/A1Story20130415-415969.html http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Science+and+Tech/Sto... and recalled this lesson about going big. I wonder with the iPhone and iPad, if a smaller and quieter launch would have caused more problems. Would they have been able to survive Antennagate [1], for example? [1] http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-57406331-17/iphone-4-antennagate-site-goes-live-lets-you-collect-$15/ http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-57406331-17/iphone-4-anten... PS: Singapore is nothing like what they mentioned in the article, even 10 years ago.
derekp7 14y ago
Can't you see it -- these two technologies are complimentary! Glass will be used to dispatch Mall Security on their Segways, along with giving them real-time updates on how long a group of teenagers were occupying a table at the food court.
Spooky23 14y ago
The thing that was really ballsy and bizarre about Segway is that they sort of expected society to reorganize around their cool new invention. I'm a perfect candidate for a Segway -- I live in a small city, with most of my key destinations 30-60 minutes by foot from my house. The problem is, Segways were like $6k each, so I'm going to have to drop $12k for my wife and I to go to work, still need a car, and not be able to legally operate on the sidewalk. ...Or, I could drop $800 on bikes.
- voidlogic 14y ago
  Not to mention the bikes will help you live longer.
InclinedPlane 14y ago
Segway was based on cutting edge technology and it worked really well. Indeed, it was impressive in its capabilities. But mostly out of novelty. In terms of basic capabilities it was a stinker. Compare it to a moped: much slower, much shorter range, can't carry a passenger, can't carry cargo, can't travel on roadways, much more expensive. Compare it to a bicycle: slower, much shorter range, can't carry cargo, can't travel on roadways, very much more expensive, can't be used for exercise, going up hills is easier. Compare it to a car: enormously slower, vastly shorter range, can't carry cargo, can't travel on roadways, exposed to the elements, potentially comparable cost. Compare it to walking: saves some time and effort especially on hills, less convenient, borderline rude to use near other pedestrians, avoids extremely low impact exercise, still exposed to the elements, very high cost. And there you have it. For the vast majority of situations using a Segway is actually a huge downgrade from an equivalent expenditure. For the cost of a Segway you could buy a used car, or a moped, or an extremely nice bicycle. Meanwhile, if you have a commute that you would be willing to use a Segway for it would generally be absolutely superior to simply walk or bike and get some exercise in the process.
- davidroberts 14y ago
  You forgot the fact that riding one makes you look like a total geek, and not in a good way. Al Yankovic's song "White and Nerdy" captures the image perfectly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9qYF9DZPdw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9qYF9DZPdw
  - sopooneo 14y ago
    Yes. The thing was quickly adapted as a set-piece to communicate a certain flavor of nerdery and laziness in comedies. In addition to the music video you mention, there is also "Paul Blart Mall Cop" and GOB from "Arrested Development"
- glenra 14y ago
  Though there are a few uses where it's the best tool for the job. For instance, taking a "Segway Tour" of an unfamiliar city such as Austin. It's like a walking tour in that you can experience the local geography of the place and see everything close up but everyone can cover more ground more quickly and nobody has to fall behind or slow up the group because they're a slow walker. Plus, it's just fun to ride.
arthurrr 14y ago
They're really good for delivering pizza in an urban area.

I never understood what problem the Segway was supposed to solve. Same with Glass.

by sajid 14y ago

I never understood what problem the Segway was supposed to solve. Same with Glass.

Maybe it's confirmation bias but most "big bang" inventions or services seem like this to me. It's the relative slow burners that build up over time that seem to get huge in their fields (e.g. the iPod, Skype, Facebook, Pinterest, even HN.) A big launch almost seems to be a curse. The iPad is probably the main counter example I can think of in recent years.

hboon 14y ago
Interesting you mentioned it. I posted this article after reading http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Science+and+Tech/Story/A1Story20130415-415969.html http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Science+and+Tech/Sto... and recalled this lesson about going big. I wonder with the iPhone and iPad, if a smaller and quieter launch would have caused more problems. Would they have been able to survive Antennagate [1], for example? [1] http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-57406331-17/iphone-4-antennagate-site-goes-live-lets-you-collect-$15/ http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-57406331-17/iphone-4-anten... PS: Singapore is nothing like what they mentioned in the article, even 10 years ago.

derekp7 14y ago

Can't you see it -- these two technologies are complimentary! Glass will be used to dispatch Mall Security on their Segways, along with giving them real-time updates on how long a group of teenagers were occupying a table at the food court.

Spooky23 14y ago

The thing that was really ballsy and bizarre about Segway is that they sort of expected society to reorganize around their cool new invention. I'm a perfect candidate for a Segway -- I live in a small city, with most of my key destinations 30-60 minutes by foot from my house. The problem is, Segways were like $6k each, so I'm going to have to drop $12k for my wife and I to go to work, still need a car, and not be able to legally operate on the sidewalk. ...Or, I could drop $800 on bikes.

voidlogic 14y ago
Not to mention the bikes will help you live longer.

InclinedPlane 14y ago

Segway was based on cutting edge technology and it worked really well. Indeed, it was impressive in its capabilities. But mostly out of novelty. In terms of basic capabilities it was a stinker. Compare it to a moped: much slower, much shorter range, can't carry a passenger, can't carry cargo, can't travel on roadways, much more expensive. Compare it to a bicycle: slower, much shorter range, can't carry cargo, can't travel on roadways, very much more expensive, can't be used for exercise, going up hills is easier. Compare it to a car: enormously slower, vastly shorter range, can't carry cargo, can't travel on roadways, exposed to the elements, potentially comparable cost. Compare it to walking: saves some time and effort especially on hills, less convenient, borderline rude to use near other pedestrians, avoids extremely low impact exercise, still exposed to the elements, very high cost. And there you have it. For the vast majority of situations using a Segway is actually a huge downgrade from an equivalent expenditure. For the cost of a Segway you could buy a used car, or a moped, or an extremely nice bicycle. Meanwhile, if you have a commute that you would be willing to use a Segway for it would generally be absolutely superior to simply walk or bike and get some exercise in the process.

davidroberts 14y ago
You forgot the fact that riding one makes you look like a total geek, and not in a good way. Al Yankovic's song "White and Nerdy" captures the image perfectly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9qYF9DZPdw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9qYF9DZPdw
- sopooneo 14y ago
  Yes. The thing was quickly adapted as a set-piece to communicate a certain flavor of nerdery and laziness in comedies. In addition to the music video you mention, there is also "Paul Blart Mall Cop" and GOB from "Arrested Development"
glenra 14y ago
Though there are a few uses where it's the best tool for the job. For instance, taking a "Segway Tour" of an unfamiliar city such as Austin. It's like a walking tour in that you can experience the local geography of the place and see everything close up but everyone can cover more ground more quickly and nobody has to fall behind or slow up the group because they're a slow walker. Plus, it's just fun to ride.

arthurrr 14y ago

They're really good for delivering pizza in an urban area.