General Motors Corp. and Segway announced a new vehicle prototype today "that could change the way we move around in cities." Project P.U.M.A. (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility) is an electrically powered, two-seat vehicle with two wheels. Photo gallery. Video 1, Video 2, Video 3.
posted by stbalbach on Apr 7, 2009 - 110 comments

Toyota has a "Segway killer" called the Winglet (still being refined) including a hands-free version steered with the knees. Test riders say its fun, but Toyota has not decided to commercialize it yet (ie. no price info). Segway owners weigh in.
posted by stbalbach on Aug 1, 2008 - 49 comments

We've done anarchoprimitivism before (1, 2) with mixed results.

Some people have a different take. For my part, I don't think Daniel Quinn ever intended to inspire anything involving Segways.
posted by Arturus on Nov 21, 2007 - 17 comments

Steadicam operators! Are you tired of simply walking with your camera rig to achieve that special wobble-free shot? Or maybe you're making a movie on the cheap and can't afford all that heavy equipment? Behold! The future of filmmaking has arrived! Presenting: Steadicam on a Segway! (Warning: Obnoxious, awful Flash interface on second link)
posted by 40 Watt on Jul 25, 2007 - 28 comments

The Easy-Glider is everything the Segway is, but cheaper. Electric engine, 16-25 kilometers (10-15 miles) on a charge. Looks like fun [8mb qt] for only less than EU1000 ($1300 US). (Currently not available in the US.)
posted by Dave Faris on Jun 14, 2007 - 42 comments

The Electric Unicycle makes transportation a breeze: "You lean forward to accelerate, lean backwards to brake, and gyrate your arms wildly to turn." (Invented by the man who thought his own homemade Segway had one wheel too many)
posted by Robot Johnny on Jul 7, 2005 - 14 comments

Step Aside Ben Hur ! [video and audio, prob SFW] Welcome the American Chariot. Unlike the evil Segway, whose self-balancing ability smells of sulfur, the Chariot obeys the laws of gravity and delivers a powerful commanding post for the discerning officer.
posted by elpapacito on May 23, 2005 - 32 comments

The Centaur Three years after its Human Transporter was supposed to change the world, Dean Kamen's innovation factory unveils a successor that just wants to have fun.
posted by Shanachie on Jan 24, 2005 - 18 comments

America at 10 MPH: Josh Caldwell is riding a Segway from Seattle to Boston. He's already gone over 2800 miles. [This project is independent of Segway.]
posted by kirkaracha on Oct 14, 2004 - 30 comments

$1,000 Segway competitor, the Rad2Go Q, on show at CES.
posted by MintSauce on Jan 12, 2004 - 22 comments

Segways recalled.
posted by liam on Sep 26, 2003 - 59 comments

First Stolen Segway Recovered. It was inevitable. And it was all caught on tape. Segway owners and members of SegwayChat covertly planned and implemented a successful sting operation to recover a stolen Segway HT. (Main link goes to 5 MB embedded Windows Media video of actual sting taking place!)
posted by docjohn on Aug 14, 2003 - 30 comments

Move over Segway! Sir Clive Sinclair, who invented the first pocket calculator (retailing at only £79.95 + VAT in 1972), the ZX80, and the ZX81 with its massive 8K operating system, is promising an update to the Sinclair C5 that will compete with the Segway.
posted by Pericles on Aug 5, 2003 - 20 comments

Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos meet "Ginger": a fly-on-the-wall account (via White Noise).
posted by timeistight on Jun 19, 2003 - 29 comments

Something's wrong with the Segway if even the leader of the Free World and his noble father can't dominate it. Or could it be vice-versa?
posted by Carlos Quevedo on Jun 13, 2003 - 39 comments

I saw the meter reader riding a Segway today. Apparently Seattle has been using them in trials for city employees. While San Francisco has been working to try to ban Segways from the sidewalks, other legislation has already been passed that may affect your ability to make use of America's favorite alternative to walking. Probably a good thing to know before you plunk down some serious dough for one.
posted by jessamyn on Jan 9, 2003 - 35 comments

Pre-order your Ginger today! Amazon scores exclusive selling rights, apparently.
posted by adamms222 on Nov 18, 2002 - 70 comments

Oh no...not again... In the latest twist to the long-running Ginger saga, it's now being rumored that the two-wheeled device unveiled by inventor Dean Kamen last December isn't in fact the real deal.
posted by mathis23 on Aug 19, 2002 - 39 comments

Gentlemen, start your lawyers! The Segway claims its first victim in Atlanta.
posted by Dirjy on May 9, 2002 - 33 comments

The Segway revolution has begun. "Three Atlanta, Georgia organizations are the first to buy a fleet of Segway transporters." "Fleet," what a visually scary word. Forget priests touching little boys in naughty places and the numerous wars going on in this world, the fact someone actually bought a Segway is CNN’s new top story.
posted by Werd7 on Apr 24, 2002 - 33 comments

Want to be the first kid on the block to own a Segway? Amazon and Dean Kamen are auctioning off three of them. All proceeds go to Dean's non-profit organization, FIRST.
posted by corpse on Feb 19, 2002 - 10 comments

Has anyone else seen the cover of the current New Yorker. It's a great merging of recent threads.
posted by anathema on Dec 13, 2001 - 11 comments

Today on KottkeFilter: the much-anticipated 'WHAT' project from 0sil8 Heavy Industries, code-named 'Danza,' has finally been released. And let me tell you, does it ever live up to the hype!
posted by catatonic on Dec 12, 2001 - 65 comments

Diary of the first Segway owner An obviously fictional account of a Segway owners first day in a busy city. Similar comments were made in last nights report by The Daily Show's Mo Rocca. So it looks like the Smartass vote is in on the Ginger/IT/Segway.
posted by Jeffy on Dec 4, 2001 - 27 comments

'It', or 'Ginger' is finally here. While official announcements will be made tomorrow morning, there are a few first looks around the web. Officially named Segway, and overhyped for a really long time, it probably be as huge as everyone has said, but looks like it definately could make things interesting.
posted by christian on Dec 2, 2001 - 226 comments

Project 'IT' Tons of info about this mysterious device! Does 'IT' stand for Individual Transportation?
posted by stevridie on Mar 11, 2001 - 17 comments

You thought it had gone away.. but Ginger appears to be back in the news again. This time it's an upcoming Inside magazine article that purports to conclusively reveal that "IT" is a two-wheeled scooter running on a hydrogen-powered engine. After all the hype nearly two months ago, is this the answer? Does anyone even care anymore?
posted by zempf on Mar 6, 2001 - 12 comments

IT gets a domain. The interesting thing is now maybe less how world-changing IT might be (most dreamers I know, at least, have gone from wide-eyed Bradburian dreaming to the expectation of disappointment to resigned cynicism by now), but how the commercial game will play itself out. I feel all dirty now.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken on Jan 27, 2001 - 6 comments

"IT," also known as "Ginger," has not yet been released by its inventor, but we'll be glad to notify you by e-mail when we actually know what IT is and if IT will be available for purchase from Amazon.com.
posted by endquote on Jan 24, 2001 - 6 comments

Dean Kamen denies everything!

DEKA is currently working on several exciting projects. The book proposal referred to one. However, the leaked proposal quoted several prominent technology leaders out of context, without their doubts, risks and maybes included. This, together with spirited speculation about the unknown, has lead to expectations that are beyond whimsical. We have a promising project, but nothing of the earth shattering nature that people are conjuring up.

posted by palegirl on Jan 13, 2001 - 12 comments

What is "IT"? National Medal of Technology winner demos some kind of hush-hush invention to Bezos, Jobs, and Doerr: the consensus view is that it's bigger than the PC. Either one of the most stunning inventions of all time or one of the most stunning publicity stunts of all time. Possibly both.
posted by grimmelm on Jan 9, 2001 - 77 comments