Jan 11 in blog
Written by: ITworks Marketing
It wasn’t that long ago that inventor Dean Kamen believed his two-wheeled personal transportation device, the Segway, would transform transportation. Unfortunately, the Segway has grown to be synonymous with technology failure. Kamen imagined a future filled people zipping about on a Segway PT scooter to run errands and commute to work.
That vision hasn’t quite come to fruition and it’s pretty rare that you see someone utilizing a Segway. They’re still around and have recently observed their 10th anniversary. So while they may be classified as a tech failure, they’re still alive and kicking.
Let’s discuss how the Segway really works though.
Powering the Segway
The Segway PT is powered by electric motors. Those motors are fueled by a series of lithium-ion batteries which are simply charged by a common household electrical socket. Five gyroscopic sensors, two tilt sensors, and two computers with specialty software prevent the Segway from tipping over.
Making the Segway Move
Users play a role in making the Segway work too. When riders want to go forward, they move a control bar away from their body. If they want to move backwards, they move the same control bar nearer to their body. The Segway notices a change in its balance point and adjusts the velocity to keep its riders balanced. To steer, riders tilt a handlebar in the direction in which they want to move. Today’s Segway PT can move up to 12.5 miles an hour. It performs best, obviously, in communities which include a good amount of sidewalks and other areas in which the Segway can effectively motor.
Lowered Expectations
Experts touted that the Segway would be a bigger deal that Internet. Obviously the device didn’t meet that level of hype!
Unfortunately, once the Segway was released many thought it looked weird and you looked weird riding one. Others thought it looked dangerous. Regardless, the negatives were enough to prevent the Segway from reaching its promised potential.
