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Ogo, a new take on personal transportation

ogotechnology.com

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Re: Ogo, a new take on personal transportation

#131

Post by maxerickson »

lotharbot wrote: post #119
agumonkey wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It does avoid bearing the medical equipment tag, the old tech metal cruft, disabled .. none of that comes to mind when I saw the video. It might help everybody forget about the condition and start acting normal again. It feels slightly unsafe though, just a bit.

> "It does avoid bearing the medical equipment tag" In my mind, that's a huge negative, because it makes it a lot harder to get insurance to even partially cover the cost.

The iBOT didn't find a market, probably at least partly because of FDA regulation:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBOT

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_device#Class_III:_Gene...

Re: Ogo, a new take on personal transportation

#133

Post by hunterloftis »

bernardom wrote: post #91
scribu wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree and I think the cool factor comes from the fact that users of Ogo need it in order to move without their hands being tied up and also that it actually takes a bit of muscle effort to operate. Compare to Segways, which are associated with laziness (at least in my mind).

Not just your mind. http://www.paulgraham.com/segway.html

"Someone riding a motorcycle isn't working any harder [than someone riding a Segway]."

TIL that Paul Graham has never ridden a motorcycle.

When riding a motorcycle, your left hand is used for clutch control, your right hand is used for both front brake and throttle control, your left foot is used to shift and your right foot controls the rear brake. Your arms control the front wheel's angle, which creates lean, and balance must be maintained by your whole body at all times:

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysQThqrpI1c#t=0m40s

Motorcycling is hard work; thus the multitude of fitness regimens for motorcyclists:

- https://rideapart.com/articles/introductory-strength-trainin...

- http://trackdayfitness.com/

- http://www.soundrider.com/archive/tips/motorcyclist-workout....

- http://www.askmen.com/sports/bodybuilding/the-motorcycle-wor...

- http://www.sportrider.com/fitness-motorcyclists

Re: Ogo, a new take on personal transportation

#134

Post by hunterloftis »

agumonkey wrote: post #97
paulsutter wrote: post #28

This looks like a huge improvement over a wheelchair (have you ever tried the joystick control on an electric wheelchair?). Way better mobility. And it looks cool. Completely the opposite feeling of watching someone on a Segway, which could make even the coolest person look like a mall cop.

It does avoid bearing the medical equipment tag, the old tech metal cruft, disabled .. none of that comes to mind when I saw the video. It might help everybody forget about the condition and start acting normal again. It feels slightly unsafe though, just a bit.

> It feels slightly unsafe though, just a bit.

To me, this is part of the appeal. Abled folks get to do all sorts of slightly unsafe things: skateboarding, motorcycling, etc. Why should disabled folks be tied to ultra-regulated, super-safe electric wheelchairs with absurdly slow governors?

The edgy vibe is what makes this cool (for me). I'm allowed to choose to ride a motorcycle (which could leave me stranded / kill me / etc). Disabled folks should also be allowed to choose their own calculated risks.

Re: Ogo, a new take on personal transportation

#135

Post by agumonkey »

hunterloftis wrote: post #134
agumonkey wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It does avoid bearing the medical equipment tag, the old tech metal cruft, disabled .. none of that comes to mind when I saw the video. It might help everybody forget about the condition and start acting normal again. It feels slightly unsafe though, just a bit.

> It feels slightly unsafe though, just a bit. To me, this is part of the appeal. Abled folks get to do all sorts of slightly unsafe things: skateboarding, motorcycling, etc. Why should disabled folks be tied to ultra-regulated, super-safe electric wheelchairs with absurdly slow governors? The edgy vibe is what makes this cool (for me). I'm allowed to choose to ride a motorcycle (which could leave me stranded / kill…

Uh, because you don't have legs in case of a bad thing, and even though disabled people may have strong arms after using wheelchairs, and a strong spirit, it's still far more risky for them. What if the person break a wrist or an arm and can't move with the remaining one ?

Re: Ogo, a new take on personal transportation

#136

Post by agumonkey »

lotharbot wrote: post #119
agumonkey wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It does avoid bearing the medical equipment tag, the old tech metal cruft, disabled .. none of that comes to mind when I saw the video. It might help everybody forget about the condition and start acting normal again. It feels slightly unsafe though, just a bit.

> "It does avoid bearing the medical equipment tag" In my mind, that's a huge negative, because it makes it a lot harder to get insurance to even partially cover the cost.

Very good point. It would be sad if the medical world stays too dogmatic, because a device that makes you wanna live is as important as a safe vehicle. At least I believe that's it's a win for everybody, that person may be far proactive mentally, physically[1] and socially; lessening the load on their close ones, and maybe other related bills like pain pills or other treatments.

[1] I buy the argument of being constantly trying to balance. These sets of muscle are rarely trained yet very very impact-ful on both body and mood.

Re: Ogo, a new take on personal transportation

#137

Post by pbhjpbhj »

throwaway7767 wrote: post #113
paulsutter wrote: post #28

This looks like a huge improvement over a wheelchair (have you ever tried the joystick control on an electric wheelchair?). Way better mobility. And it looks cool. Completely the opposite feeling of watching someone on a Segway, which could make even the coolest person look like a mall cop.

> (have you ever tried the joystick control on an electric wheelchair?) I have, and they suck. But the main reason they suck is because they've been neutered so they're useable for a wider range of people. Many people who use electric wheelchairs also have problems with fine motor control, seizures, etc. so the joystick has a lot of filtering with associated slow response and staggered acceleration. I know people in…

>Those wheelchairs go fast after some modding. //

Wheelchairs usually occupy the same space as pedestrians - this was a big failing with the Segway, they're not allowed on pavements (aka sidewalks) - in the UK at least - as they're powerful and relatively heavy vehicles. Presumably at least a part of the design is to protect the wheelchair users surroundings and people nearby.

Re: Ogo, a new take on personal transportation

#139

Post by ljk »

zyxley wrote: post #130
nsxwolf wrote: post #127

Is "personal transportation" a new euphemism for "wheelchair"? I've never heard that before.

If it's not (legally) a wheelchair, it doesn't need FDA approval, and from what I understand FDA approval is an extremely expensive process (as in, "increase unit price by hundreds of thousands of dollars" expensive).

So in the end this is a good move? People who need wheelchairs can get them for cheaper, like how gluten-intolerant people get a lot more choices now that gluten-free options are getting so popular
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