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, Mon, 3 Dec 2001 15:34:25
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I think that it is actually quite revolutionary. Admittedly, the price point will have to drop quite a bit to make it a consumer item, but the company's strategy for going after govt and large corporation use makes a lot of sense to me. First of all, if they are successful in having mail carriers use them on sidewalks and can get some real world experience having these devices mixed in with foot trafic, they will have cleared the biggest hurdle of all,having them not get classified as motor vehicles. If they cannot do that, they are doomed. Having to register,operate, and insure like a motor vehicle will absolutely kill the idea.
Second, the first thing that Segway must do is show gains in productivity with this device. A large corporation with a big warehouse could justify trying this to see if fewer people could pick the same number of orders in a day as did prior to using the device. Chances are good this will work,if they can have a small tow behind trailer to carry the things that are picked.
From a technology standpoint, and as far as creative thinking is concerned, this is a terrific example of thinking "out of the box",which is one of the more overused cliche's out there, but really,who else had thought of this application for technology?
Dean Kamen is really a brilliant guy, and has some pretty serious money from a fairly conservative investment banking world backing this idea.
Also, instead of thinking about the possibility of individuals having to buy and own a device like this, consider the possibility of having them available, like rental cars,in areas of high traffic and congestion,to rent and use on a short term basis,so that you are only buying the use of it when you need it,rather than shelling out the cash to own your own scooter. I can see enormous possibilities for this, in the same way that several cities have programs where individuals can now own a piece of a time share car,that they can reserve in a city(Boston and San Francisco already have this),and just use it on reservaton, then leave it for the next owner/renter on the schedule. All of these scenarios need refinement, and a break from our traditional way of thinking about transportation, but all offer a break from the cycle of overpolluting cars in congested areas.
Again, not for everyone, but I think this idea will succeed.
posted by 24.128.2...
, Tue, 4 Dec 2001 16:48:10, Mon, 3 Dec 2001 15:34:25
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