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I want one!!!!

http://www.time.com/time/business/artic ... 60,00.html

Could this thing really change the world?

I can answer that: NO

Find an effective, cheap, and mass-producable antiviral agent, and then the world is changed.

Not only does it have no brakes, it also has no engine, no throttle, no gearshift and no steering wheel.

So? It has a reversable electric motor. Reversable means it can stop itself. That means it has a braking mechanism. Electric motors almost always generate their full amount of torque, even at 0 RPM. Therefore, a gearshift are not necesary. It DOES indeed have a throttle. You lean forward, and it tells Segway to accelerate. That Time article is a crock. They are trying to make this thing sound like magic.

You misread that - there's no throttle or brake CONTROLS. The unit is controlled strictly by your leaning in the direction you want to go.

No, it may not change the world (then again it might if it can be produced cheaply enough - science fiction authors have been predicting something like this for decades) but what is rather amazing is the balancing act it performs.

This thing has been in production for about a million years now and it's been all on the hush hush. The inventor built it up to such a fevor message boards sprung up just so people could argue over what it was. Some said it was a small power source, others said it was some magical transportation device. My feelings, it's a freaking scooter, it's a cool scooter but it's still a freaking scooter, and just how the hell is a scooter going to change the world? It's not like it's something you can go pick up the kids on and get groceries with thereby ridding the world of all automobile related polution. So, another overhyped product by another money crazed company/ inventor.

glass

Yeah, there was alot of talk about this on the morning news radio this morning too and most seem to think it's not going to be so revolutionary. It won't replace a car but might come in handy for some and only in a few instances, if it's even allowed in those places (like college campuses). If you've carrying much of anything, it wouldn't be a good thing so that'll eliminate its desire for many city types who might now think it'd be great on sidewalks. Then there's winter, for those of us in the northern states and I highly doubt it'd be good on snow and ice. For $3K, I'll be surprised if the idea goes over. We're all spoiled by the conforts of our cars, at least most older adults who'ld prefer AC, tunes, windows closed in rain and other bad weather. Those reasons in themselves is why I almost never ride my motorcycle anymore, too damn inconvenient and not nearly as relaxing and comfortable as a car.
Now, although I've never skateboarded, if and when the hovelboard comes out I might just have to check that out for fun even though I'll be even older yet (gads!)

Did anyone see South Park last week where Mr. Garrison invented "IT". Heh.

"IT beats dealing with the airlines!"