Ginger, It, What-have-you
 

Well, all reports point to Dean Kamen introducing his sweet new scooter-type device today. There are stories at time.com and elsewhere. Tune into ABC this morning to see a demo. It's easy to say "uh, scooters are dumb, this thing is stupid," but I would kind of like to be exited about it, and hope it's as cool as the first-hand reports indicate.

http://a740.g.akamai.net/f/740/606/1...ginger1202.jpg

How long before we start seeing Xtreme riding styles and walking on the sidewalk becomes hazardous? I notice the fellow in the picture doesn't seem to be wearing any protecive gear--helmet, elbow/knee pads, etc.

That would maybe be because you can't fall on it :)

Re: Ginger, It, What-have-you
 

Looks 'Futuristic' in a 1920's sort of way. I wonder what the 'Mary-ann' model will look like. I bet I like that one better.

sa

Wouldn't have belived that until I saw some of the demo videos....looks very stable and safe. Still, I wouyld think hit a high enough curb fast enough and down you go.

Find it hard to bleieve if you put all your weight forward it owuld be able to suport you. Nice feat of engineering but nothing thats going to change the world me thinks.

I just don't understand why they expect people to use these things when you can't SIT on them. Most people do not want to stand when traveling by vehicle. And, in fact, these things would be useless outside in a significant part of the country for a significant amount of the year due to snow and cold -- after all, they are not enclosed in any way.

As stated, a very nice piece of engineering, but not as generally practical as the designer/company would, I think, have us believe.

Word on the street is that it can do stairs. Now that is pretty cool.

Anyway, I do think that it would be good for certain people. Take the feature I just stated. Now imagine a grandmother who can no longer get around in her house 'cause climbing the stairs is too difficult (I know this happens - it happened to my grandparents). With this, she could at least get up them pretty easily.

Or, imagine how much easier it could make life for the elderly when they just wanna get out and do something. Browse around Wal-Mart. Get a few groceries. Someone will come up with a basket-accessory for this thing, and it's all good. They're much more practical for handicapped persons than an Amigo or other type of motorized wheelchair is.

Think of the people that currently have to use walkers to get any place. Now, they just hop on one of these and zip along to the destination. I think that would definitely be a target audience, because of the practicality for said persons.

The list goes on and on. It might not be mainstream, and it might not "change the world" how everyone is thinking... but I can see it making someone's life just a bit more live-able, and I think that's important too.