Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Segway by Honda

youtube.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 64 posts

Re: Segway by Honda

#41

Post by irrelative »

dieterrams wrote: post #19
jvdh wrote: post #13

Like Paul Graham said in July 2009[1] The trouble with the Segway is that it makes you look smug. This thing will make you look even more so. [1]: http://www.paulgraham.com/segway.html

Really? I think it makes you look less smug. It doesn't make you effectively taller the way Segway does, and sitting is a more casual position. I think the people in this video look smug, for various reasons unrelated to the U3-X itself.

Additionally, your arms are free which is a big win, and at least in the video, it didn't require wearing a helmet. I think they've made leaps and bounds over the smug issue.

It looks like this only targets indoor super smooth surfaces, but I think it could definitely find a niche.

Re: Segway by Honda

#43

Post by wheaties »

What a waste. I want one. I'm so conflicted. Does wanting to buy consumer oriented yet entirely unnecessary products make me more American, dumb or both?

Re: Segway by Honda

#44

Post by 10ren »

dieterrams wrote: post #19
jvdh wrote: post #13

Like Paul Graham said in July 2009[1] The trouble with the Segway is that it makes you look smug. This thing will make you look even more so. [1]: http://www.paulgraham.com/segway.html

Really? I think it makes you look less smug. It doesn't make you effectively taller the way Segway does, and sitting is a more casual position. I think the people in this video look smug, for various reasons unrelated to the U3-X itself.

I thought the blonde would say, "That's uncool. We're not friends anymore." But the tech is cool.

I wonder if it could handle a skateboard park in some way?

Re: Segway by Honda

#46

Post by IgorPartola »

dieterrams wrote: post #37
IgorPartola wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another thing about this particular execution is that it is still not cool. It's even worse than the conventional segway: you necessarily sit shorter than everyone around you which will make an impact. We as a species favor tall individuals on a subconscious level (think of US presidents). Whatever alternate mode of locomotion is to be created, it needs to be cool. Think jetpacks.

I actually think that it's better than the Segway for making you slightly shorter. One of the problems with the Segway is that the increased height (and width) makes you so conspicuous as to practically be flaunting your use of it, and how independent you are from the lowly ambulating masses. Whereas someone riding a Vespa can still come off as cool. (Though they'll immediately look silly next to someone on a Harley.…

Well, yes. Someone sitting lower than others around him/her is not necessarily bad: think driving a Ferrari vs walking down the street. But this thing does not look cool. It looks more like you are somehow incapacitated (I think some other comments mention knee injuries). Even a hover chair from the Austin Powers movies would be better. Jetpacks would be ideal.

Re: Segway by Honda

#49

Post by WiseWeasel »

wheaties wrote: post #43

What a waste. I want one. I'm so conflicted. Does wanting to buy consumer oriented yet entirely unnecessary products make me more American, dumb or both?

It's not socially acceptable to want one until someone uses it to put her life in jeopardy before a worldwide audience.

Re: Segway by Honda

#50

Post by WiseWeasel »

dazzawazza wrote: post #2

A part of me thinks that Honda has solved the problem of walking. Something evolution solved a long time ago. The evolved solution also allows us to go up steps! While it's cool it seems like there is a long way to go before it's useful/cost effective. None of the above undermines the technology btw, just the application.

I could see a device with two "legs" like this being optimal for some tasks. It could ideally walk up stairs, or skate along flat surfaces.
Post reply on HN