you've probably heard about this scooter thing. i can't believe how many people are belly-aching about the $3000 price tag. it's like they've never noticed how new technology is expensive before it is cheap. (unless, of course, you're the music industry, in which case you just collude to keep the price of music artificially high.)
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what about it looks like crap? it was certainly hyped out of proportion, but I can't believe how well it seems to work. one of the videos I saw had a guy riding up a ramp (fairly steep to boot) and then spinning around in circles maintaining perfect balance. that's impressive. I'd totally buy one if I lived in a city other than LA. I just wish it went a bit faster (at least fast enough to out run someone...).
the amount of technology under the hood to handle the stabilization is really impressive. and this is the first version -- in five years they'll be the size of a house and require their own power generation plant! no, wait, they'll get smaller, lighter, and more efficient. stupid technology. (but i'm not sure this is the killer application for all the technology involved — the big thing missing from the current conception is a good way of actually carrying things.)
if it had a gps system and it steered itself, then that would rock. but still, it looks too much like a lawnmower.
now you've hit on something. what they need is module attachments like the lawnmower attachment for small yards (maybe even seed planting and watering capabilities) or the pooper-scooper attachment for urban dog-walkers. things to suit specialized needs. they need to build some ports for third-party development. the gps thing would be easy, but the driving itself is just lazy. arvind, I'm surprised you didn't want a chair, too.
jim, you did see the videos of the mailman making deliveries, right? they have attachments for over the wheels and on the handle bars. so, at least there's something.
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IMHO, this scooter thing looks like total crap.