Segway - Why It Failed

The Segway was once one of the most anticipated pieces of technology, yet today it's mostly seen as a joke. This video explores what happened.
To submit ideas and vote on future topics:
companymanideas.com
Patreon: / companyman
Twitter: / mikecompany17
A very special thanks to this wonderful group of Patrons:
Library of Scars, Craig Mews, Jon Sturtz, Gabriela Martinez Celaya, Jennifer Yugo, Checkered Omega, Caitlin Kenney, Jennifer Peters, Jandel, John Briscoe, Laura Floyd, John & Becki Johnston, Kib Bibens-LeFebvre, Andrew Jeeves, aziz alfozan, Audria Richmond, Adamant, Moriah Krawec, Dandaley, Tyrone Cowan, NoChance13, Ronnie Cheng, Astra, Ahmad, milkshake, Jon, Christian & Penny Gray, Emerald Computers - Jason Dragon, Brett Walton, Peter Wesselius, Meow Wolf, MyNameIsKir, Sirpoptart.
Company Declines:
Kmart: • The Decline of Kmart.....
Blockbuster: • The Decline of Blockbu...
RadioShack: • The Decline of RadioSh...
Solo Cups: • The Decline of Solo......
Toys "R" Us: • The Decline of Toys R ...
hhgregg: • The Decline of hhgregg...
Pan Am: • The Decline of Pan Am....
ESPN: • The Decline of ESPN......
Gibson: • The Decline of Gibson....
iHeartMedia: • The Decline of iHeartM...
Bon-Ton: • The Decline of Bon-Ton...
Kodak: • The Decline of Kodak.....
General Electric: • The Decline of General...
Woolworth: • The Decline of Woolwor...
Dell: • The Decline of Dell......
Sears: • The Decline of Sears.....
Payless: • The Decline of Payless...
Hostess: • The Decline of Hostess...
Redbox: • The Decline of Redbox....
Nokia: • The Decline of Nokia.....
JCPenney: • The Decline of JCPenne...
Quiznos: • The Decline of Quiznos...
GameStop: • The Decline of GameSto...
NASCAR: • The Decline of NASCAR....
Shopko: • The Decline of Shopko....
MoviePass: • The Decline of MoviePa...
Reebok: • The Decline of Reebok....
The Gap: • The Decline of The Gap...
Pier 1 Imports: • The Decline of Pier 1 ...
Sbarro: • The Decline of Sbarro....
AOL: • The Decline of AOL...W...
Long John Silver's: • The Decline of Long Jo...
Chuck E. Cheese's: • The Decline of Chuck E...
GNC: • The Decline of GNC...W...
Hertz: • The Decline of Hertz.....
Steak 'n Shake: • The Decline of Steak '...
CiCi's Pizza: • The Decline of CiCi's ...
Boston Market: • The Decline of Boston ...
Yahoo: • The Decline of Yahoo!....
Montgomery Ward: • The Decline of Montgom...
Fry's Electronics: • The Decline of Fry's E...
Souplantation: • The Decline of Souplan...
Gateway: • The Decline of Gateway...
BlackBerry: • The Decline of BlackBe...
Sports Authority: • The Decline of Sports ...
Atari: • The Decline of Atari.....
KB Toys: • The Decline of KB Toys...
Pizza Hut: • The Decline of Pizza H...
MGM: • The Decline of MGM...W...
FYE: • The Decline of FYE...W...
HP: • The Decline of HP...Wh...
Forever 21: • The Decline of Forever...
Guitar Center: • The Decline of Guitar ...
WCW: • The Decline of WCW...W...
Sega: • The Decline of Sega......
KFC: • The Decline of KFC...W...
Macy's: • The Decline of Macy's....
Circuit City: • The Decline of Circuit...
Bed Bath & Beyond: • The Decline of Bed Bat...
Carvana: • The Decline of Carvana...
Fuddruckers: • The Decline of Fuddruc...
______________________________
Website created by - fullertonmedia.com

[@AngelArm1110]

That stair climbing, auto balancing wheelchair was orders of magnitude more impressive, and more needed than the Segway could ever have dreamed of.

[@karstenschuhmann8334]

But imagine how expensive this would have been. Today things could be made much cheaper. All components have become much cheaper: - Powerful light batteries. - Powerful high-torque electric motors. - powerful alternators - acceleration sensors

[@nellayema2455]

The iBot was an amazing device. The 3000 was good, but the 4000 was more refined, and had better tires. The high cost was what killed it. I was a factory trained technician for several years.

[@bobair2]

Very true!

[@benjaminrobinson3842]

I heard about the iBot *after* I learned about the Segway, and thought "Wow, that's a much more practical use for the Segway tech!" I'm surprised, to say the least, that it was the other way around.

[@coachbrandon01]

I was heavily in the wheelchair community when the wheelchair was advertised and demonstrated. The high cost and insurance was prohibitive, to start. The big reason that it failed to gain any traction was because wheelchair users did not trust the technology failing. Imagine being in a wheelchair, that high, when the power fails.... on steps. The wheelchair users said, no thanks. It never took off because of that. Some even said that it would kill them if it fell over. The Segway was a much more practical use of the tech, and way less risk. It has been known for injuries and risks, too. It is not so much a tech problem, but a human issue.

[@ghostcoffee1099]

Segway will always be associated with Paul Blart

[@-Down-D-Stairs-]

That's the first thing that comes to mind

[@tjenadonn6158]

Pop Blop Mop Cop.

[@thetrench8486]

As it should be

[@CandidLy1]

I thought it was perfect for a security guard in a large mall, and he made it look like so much fun!

[@toonboy2041]

🎵the haters hate me, I pass em byyyyyy!🎵 🎵I’m rollin rollin, on my seg-way!🎵

[@OfficialUSKRprogram]

Segways just look goofy, which is why I want one, you cannot be taken seriously while on a segway

[@iwanaGoFast2010]

Imagine being a midget on a Segway!!

[@Dr.Kornelius]

ideal vehicle for escaping a crime scene

[@robertbutler8004]

@@Dr.Kornelius they could not out run a snail!

[@roquefortfiles]

In case you're too young to remember!! The build up to this thing was enormous. We were told something was coming that was going to revolutionize transportation. A game changer. The hype around this thing went on for half a year. Finally it was released. Everybody went... "Huh?.. what?? within a month it was forgotten about. The only thing it revolutionized was getting around a car factory.

[@ShinrithatGriethrat-cg4pg]

I remember them, saying that supposedly the way City’s were built was going to change because of everybody being on these things. What a joke lol.

[@roquefortfiles]

@@ShinrithatGriethrat-cg4pg The build up was huge!!. And then it was like..... That's it???? !. And it disappeared. Maybe mall cops use it

[@almubarak89458]

If you ever seen the South Park episode where Mr Garrison invents a super fast traveling device named "IT". The creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone said the Launching of the Segway and how they built it up to be the greatest thing ever was the main inspiration for the show.

[@roquefortfiles]

@@almubarak89458 Never seen it. But the southpark guys got the joke. I think everyone remembers the endless hype.

[@SkepticalSteve01]

Bad luck for it to come out less than three months after 9-11 and the World Trade Center massacre. We all had a lot more on our minds than wanky little electric scooters with the wheels on wrong. It’s been a joke ever since the smoke cleared. I’m a little surprised Elon Musk didn’t buy up the company and make it his trademark personal transportation system, for getting over that awkward gap between your front door and the Tesla parked in your driveway.

[@DanielAyy]

The fact you could buy a half-decent used car for the same price as a new segway is in my opinion the biggest deciding factor against getting one back then.

[@johnzabrenski6327]

Yeah, I bought a used S class Mercedes 450SL (R107) in 2001 for $5000

[@randomami8176]

My thought exactly.

[@johnpekkala6941]

Exactly. "Needed the money to run the company" Well if your product is so expensive only rich people can afford it to use just as a goofy gimmick thing you will never succeed. A normal person would buy a high end motorcycle instead for that money. Todays Escooters including Ninebot that we see everywhere today have becone a huge success largley because everyone can afford them and they perform really well and are also not clumsy and goofy like the Segway but a proper and practical vehicle that can also be easily folded and carried. I bought myself one last year for around 450 dollars and it works just great. Its not self balancing or anything but its stable and it takes me where i need to go quickly. Sure the Segway was a cool thing when it first released and i have tested one at a time and i liked the feeling when riding it but as said I clearly see why todays E Scooters is a success and Segway failed.

[@StellaHulliet]

I just stumbled upon a new crowdfunding project called freebeat Morph 2-in-1 e-Bike, and it seems quite promising! One outstanding feature is that it can be charged indoors, which is a game-changer. With its powerful motor and fat tires, it offers a smooth and adventurous ride in any terrain. The smart technology and fitness integration make it an ideal choice for those looking to stay motivated during indoor and outdoor rides. Plus, the eco-friendly aspect of converting indoor calories into CO2-free miles is commendable. I'm excited to see how the Morph e-Bike will revolutionize the cycling experience!

[@MrComradebuttons]

modern e-bikes cost more than my audi a4… the e-bike companies aren’t failing

[@Sweet00thtkc]

My mother once told me I should try getting a Segway and I said that I had never seen an actual person on one in public in my entire life. I continued to rant about how unpopular they were when two people came up over a hill on them right in front of us.

[@williampotter2098]

Mother's do that. It's part of their power

[@chriswheeler6092]

In my city they were everywhere for a while. There was a company that even took people on a tour of the city on segways. It was common to see security guards using them. Then all at once people stopped using them.

[@order3457]

lmfao god trolling u.

[@NJdaniels96]

Sitcom timing

[@srfnsurfer]

The franchise quarterback of the Carolina Panthers was riding one through downtown. When he was out with an injury.

[@pasiondemarginales]

I used to be a Segway tour guide and I can confidently say it is one of the most dangerous activities you can ever do. Most of the accidents lead to minor injuries, but we just had way too many of them...

[@Dontbustthecrust]

​@@be.prepared.to.do.that. and I can think of 100 more. Lol

[@Krunschy]

I imagine this was probably due to this type of environment being a poor way to familiarize with the technology.

[@Dontbustthecrust]

@@Krunschy totally. It's not like a bike that's been around for 1000 years already. You'd have to do a 30 minute class before you start the tour and that's not at all practical for a business.

[@myoutuber77]

I dont think safety had anything to do with this. You see, snowboards and motorcycles are probably more dangerous vehicles and still somehow their sales do not depend on safety records. For the US consumer I put my bet on the fact that the company name didn't sound "cool" and it also should have started with an "i".

[@Dontbustthecrust]

@@myoutuber77 the risk to reward is way better with motorcycles and snowboards. they are just not that risky in the big picture. And not that expensive compared to a Segway.

[@revelationnow]

One of my colleagues once rode a segway for a tour of a bluechip factory in the US. He was French and was visiting. Anyway, during the tour his segway ran over a loose tile on the floor, and it freaked out and threw him off, leading to a broken hip for which he needed a metal hip joint installed resulting in a limp. The great thing about bicycles is they are much more predictable.

[@jamesesparza6893]

Fun fact, that is because the bicycle has an intuitive design, the front wheel actually self-corrects when the writer removes their hands from the steering wheel. This is why some people can ride a bike without holding the handlebars, it's literally within the design to keep you going straight even after a bad bump.

[@josepheaton5087]

But you can die on anything, bicycles, motorcycles, skateboards etc…. But yet all these things are still sold and used, I covered 21 miles of rail trails on my mini Segway and found it amazing

[@MikePhalin]

I remember when they started showing up at theme parks for security. You can't take someone seriously when they're on one. The best thing about the Segway was its role in Paul Blart.

[@Starry_Night_Sky7455]

You mean Mall Cop.

[@mattm1686]

@Super Nostalgia I thought the Easter bunny saved us

[@WordUnheard]

Paul Blart was the final nail in Segway's coffin. While a lot of Americans look like Paul Blart, no one WANTS to look like Paul Blart. They damn sure don't want to pay thousands of dollars to look like Paul Blart.

[@PeugeotRocket]

Why can't you take them seriously? It helps them get around without exerting themselves thus helping them have more energy when they need to actually use it. I mean, of course you can't rely on it solely. You need to get some exercise too. But I can totally see it being useful for security, especially those who need to patrol large spaces.

[@MercenaryBlackWaterz]

In my city there is a "gang" of Segway riders (I call them the Segwees) they get no respect at all, for obvious reasons.

[@David-qi1ys]

To me, this was a solution looking for a problem. Hailed as “revolutionary” by media and those selling the product, meanwhile everyone I knew was asking “revolutionising what?”

[@tjenadonn6158]

The sort of thing that Elon Musk would be big on today.

[@planescaped]

All the hype from the tech sector really came off as an echo-chamber from people who were out of touch with the reality of such a product. I did not know a single person who saw the segway as anything other than an overpriced novelty or a punchline for obesity. The only people who cared were the overly indulgent tech-addicts and people with more money than sense.

[@DFWRailVideos]

In other words, a Gadgetbahn.

[@ZhovtoBlakytniy]

It's like walking- but lazy and possibly more deadly

[@Funni-guy99]

Like the metaverse

[@edwardtaylor4785]

It was a technologically advanced, clever, and expensive solution to a problem that didn't really exist.

[@brianjones7660]

A cure in search of a disease…..

[@ALObtuse]

Reinventing the wheel, if he’d only put the wheels inline he’d have had the electric scooter before everyone else. They seem very popular

[@Jalmaan]

A device on two wheels that can go barely faster than walking, on which you have to stand. I don't see how they didn't realize it was doomed to fail.

[@photonfield]

And yet e-scooters are more popular than ever. Of course these cost $50 per unit when bought in bulk compared to the Segway's $5000. I think it would have been a successful product if they could get the price down to even $300. But 5k is just dead in the water.

[@Jalmaan]

@@photonfield i rarely see them used ever. It feels like a gimmick, like 3D, fidget spinners, etc

[@photonfield]

@@Jalmaan E-scooters? They have rental companies set up in the summer in most big cities. Companies like Voi, Tier, Bird, Ryde, Bolt. I see literally hundreds of them when walking around downtown.

[@Jalmaan]

@@photonfield oh, those things, they're banned in the Netherlands haha, so I always forget they exist. We mostly have rental mopeds (for which you need a drivers license)

[@BlurbFish]

@@photonfield You mean the e-scooters that are several times faster than walking?

[@Verinia]

I once had a client who used to own a segway dealership. Yes there were dealerships, and they were in malls. Anyway, I worked at a homeless shelter.

[@Chronosmaster002]

Volunteering at a homeless shelter has reminded of varied and interesting (if a bit sad) some of the client’s stories are.

[@williampotter2098]

LOL, It isn't very civilized to laugh at that, but damn it! It's funny ....

[@ShaftyMegee]

Oof...

[@tjenadonn6158]

Ouch. There is such a story there

[@TheLonelySoulja]

AM sorry, but HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA damn that was funny, but sad

[@bf0189]

Dean is such a nice person. I was in Robotics in high school and we won the state tournament but we only came in 37th in the international championship in Atlanta. He still talked to all my team mates and myself for hours and hours. He really gave his own time to us and I'll never forget that.

[@perfectallycromulent]

alternatively: a very rich many was pumping young people for new ideas for his company, with no plans to pay anyone for those ideas.

[@bluelight628]

​@@perfectallycromulentif that was the case why would he listen to ideas from the team which came 37th

[@timofy2641]

@@perfectallycromulent dude he's a nice guy. Founded multiple entire non-profit robotics competitions just to educate and inspire new engineers. Everything doesn't have to be so negative

[@lulumoon6942]

Great story!

[@JoeStuffzAlt]

He might have enjoyed it. He probably saw your team as fellow engineers and not students.

[@Prettygirldomoharvin1]

This just unlocked a forgotten memory. I remember riding one and almost crashing into a building, but was able to swerve into some bushes. I was around 14 years old when Segway first came out, I’m now 28. These were all over DC as an alternative for bikes to move around the city & one day they just all disappeared. Now, it’s just bikes and scooters.

[@poindextertunes]

Who would’ve thought an already existing technology would be way better for public transportation?? 😅

[@dangheathen]

My band booked Sun Studios (formerly Sun Records)for a night's recording session. We were out back taking a break at about 3:00 in the morning when the owner pulled up on a Segway. He then proceeded to let all four of us ride it around the parking lot and it was one of the most surreal experiences of my entire life. Good times...

[@abemartinez9623]

As a former mall security guard . The Segway patroller 6. Was a badass product. It had 3 wheels . 3 feet off the ground all terrain tires. Had an 50 mile charge . It was designed for university or military/ hospital properties that had many buildings on the same land that were outside. It was fast an reliable. The mall I worked at was a Tanger outlets. An it was huge . Before Covid on Black Friday we had thousands of people you couldn’t even walk. But this thing could make way very easy. Crowd control was a breeze on top of it . When the mall closed at night we would race around it was a great time. Kinda miss that joh

[@GeorgeSukFuk]

Ok Paul blart

[@abemartinez9623]

@@GeorgeSukFuk hilarious. Never heard that one beforeZ very clever

[@GeorgeSukFuk]

@@abemartinez9623 haha I'm surprised you never heard it before. It's a pretty common jest

[@abemartinez9623]

@@GeorgeSukFuk yeah that’s weird , never heard it at all. You’re on some next level deep intelligential thinking. Definitely consider a career in comedy. That was some 4th dimensional shit right there . Hilarious

[@GeorgeSukFuk]

@@abemartinez9623 well now I feel like you're messing with me

[@joannamarieart]

I think another one of the big issues is that the US as a whole is not built for pedestrian traffic, and the segway was a pedestrian-level vehicle. Many cities do not have decent sidewalks, or sidewalks at all, so attempting to travel around on a segway would be extremely impractical.

[@stanislavlestal6707]

Exactly! Unfortunately, the US is made for cars/trucks only.

[@aimxdy8680]

depends on parts of the US, in the northeast and parts of the midwest it’s very walkable, while in the sunbelt sprawling cities it’s not very walkable.

[@sandal_thong8631]

Even places that are pedestrian and bike-friendly like Amsterdam don't like other types of people-movers like electric wheelchairs.

[@Marc-gj9vx]

Even if they had all that, what you do when you want to go inside a store? How do you "park" it somwhere without no one stealing it (its expensive). Also why not just walking, its good for your health.

[@schwarzerritter5724]

If a place is built for pedestrian traffic, it is built for bicycle traffic. Bicycles, even electric ones, are faster and cheaper.

[@edgarcontreras3833]

I love how clear and concise your video is about obscure topic I would’ve never even thought about

[@thelibertyworkshop2952]

Before my brother passed away , he was handicapped so that he couldn't walk even a short distance ... He had purchased a Segway PT and a Segway Ninebot ... He rode them all the time , and they were as reliable as the day is long ... It was funny because the older folks that lived in his senior apartment building , always called them " witchcraft " , L O L ... Anyway , after his passing , I inherited them and they are great fun !!

[@sheikahjin]

I think the design is intrinsically funny. It’s that smooth floating motion while you stiffly look straight ahead, like you defy anyone to mock it.

[@samuelglover7685]

What it really needed was a matching Spandex (tm) full-body outfit, with little tiny wings at the ankles and temples.

[@Blox117]

unicycles are way cooler

[@2-Way_Intersection]

creative mode lookin ass

[@foilist1]

@@Blox117 And cheaper too!! 🤣

[@Blox117]

@@foilist1 true

[@Jzany34]

I had a friend who let me ride his Segway often. Once, I was riding it around the neighborhood and had a few spectators (this was around 2004). I did a demonstration showing how to accelerate and decelerate, but when I leaned back at peak speed to apply the brakes, the system failed and I crashed down on the pavement and slid a short ways. Thankfully I wasn’t injured, though my backside was numb for a bit. Let’s just say the novelty wore off for me.

[@karsaorlong3761]

not surprising, segway looks very cringy and unimpressive

[@SidewalkSurfer212]

No man, there’s an update/patch you can buy that turns off the safety features. That thing will FLY

[@jessikapiche6097]

it failed because the wheel could never adapt to the road we have here (all breakup and unequal) so rural area was a no go. it was not really that portable either, more between a bike and a scooter... could not replace the skateboard for kids, young adult, and could not replace the speed of a scooter either.

[@almadixon-cider31]

That Wheel Chair Was Off The Hook!🤯🤯

[@HypherNet]

Given that onewheels and other self-balancing devices have become pretty commonplace, it's clear that the basic idea and tech were sound innovations, and that mostly it was the missteps you mentioned that stopped them from being successful. I would have loved to see some comparisons in this video (or maybe a new video) to those successful derivative products.

[@sonoftheredfox]

I had completely forgotten about Segways so much, that I didn't even know the whole thing about the dude that bought them plunging off a cliff on one. Company Man has met my "learn one new thing today" goal.

[@TheSupart91]

​@SuperNostalgia.Why? The logic makes no sense? Save me bcuz he knew i was gonna sin regardless? Sounds controlling

[@sonoftheredfox]

@Super Nostalgia While I completely agree with what you're saying there Mr. Bot, you need to tweak your reply algorithm a little bit.

[@ellencoleman4604]

I am actually shocked at the number actually sold. They were so prevalent in media, were production teams the only people that bought them?

[@connormclernon26]

Segway tours in major cities

[@hj-mr5gg]

The security company im at had 2 of them

[@eugenetswong]

Yeah, I thought that I was in the minority. I'm surprised that there were less than 1m.

[@grahamsmith9541]

Leeds Castle in Kent UK. Have Segway tours of the grounds.

[@johnbockelie3899]

"Wwwwaalllking ?????, no NOT ME !!!".

[@raymondjensen4603]

We used to travel the expansive factory areas at Boeing with bicycles. At one point it was rumored that Boeing was considering using Segways, but the cost was the deal breaker, so the rumor goes.

[@jsmith2028]

I just want to say, I appreciate your videos. I appreciate the in depth look that you provide.

[@mikesmusicden]

Dean Kamen was his own biggest enemy. Before the Segway came out, I remember how over-hyped it was. You are right when you mention that people literally thought it was a teleportation machine or anti-gravity device. When people saw what it was, it was a huge letdown. Every interview I saw with Kamen when the Segway came out he came across as arrogant and obnoxious. He was on Jay Leno once and Jay was being lighthearted and trying to ride the Segway and Kamen was getting angrier and angrier because Jay and the audience wasn't approaching his invention with gravitas and awe. No doubt that Dean Kamen was a genius and invented some very important (and lifesaving) devices, but his ego and hubris seemed unmatched

[@alexforce9]

He probably looked at his device with the scientific eyes - all the interesting and amazing science and engineering that lead to it. But obvs not a shred of marketing sense or popular design ,

[@Allen_Leigh_Canada]

agree, being a genius is not enough, one needs to have good characters.

[@thesuperknot_]

I remember the hype. “Ginger” was supposed to change the world. What changed the world instead was 9/11.

[@ccricers]

He seemed to have a good track record with medical inventions, but clearly transportation and urban planning is out of his area of expertise.

[@mikesmusicden]

@@ccricers I agree with that. His medication pump device and multi-wheel wheelchair really helped improve the quality of life for a lot of people but, yeah, he was out of his lane with the Segway...and being as obnoxious as he seemed to be didn't help...

[@ivanvarykino8202]

Ya gotta give the guy credit. He actually designed products and delivered them. Both life saving, and "pedestrian" 😉 The Segway may not have lived up to the hype, but it exists. I would never call an inventor who at least attempted to deliver on promises, a failure. But ya, when the new owner rode his own investment off a cliff, it kind of served as an epitaph to both owner and product.

[@tanjinpang]

Agree! Meanwhile we can easily see many kickstarter scam...

[@ivanvarykino8202]

@@tanjinpang Exactly! Some have no intention to deliver or create anything. Only to take the money.

[@kbo8029]

​@@codyfrisch4378oh god, fucking one wheels.. I knew a guy who was obsessed with his and rode it all the time. He only took breaks when he had to heal from whatever he broke riding it most recently.

[@zwerko]

You mean - both life saving, and life taking. Segway did end up claiming a few lives... Not necessarily a big deal given that it's practically impossible to have a transportation device that will never claim any lives, but still...

[@AyoMillz]

Gave riding off into the sunset a different meaning

[@sergeiburtsev5712]

Segway is not dead. It has evolved into electric scooter.

[@QuinnnMallory]

There was an episode of Frasier in the early 21st century that included a Segway. Niles was riding it and hyping it up.

[@Oddman1980]

I remember looking to see what a segway cost when they were still being sold in the 2000's, and at the time for the price of a Segway you could literally buy a Harley-Davidson. The price was, as you pointed out, crazy. Paying motorcycle money for something that couldn't keep up with a $500 electric bicycle from Walmart just wasn't ever going to work. The bicycle was safer and you could sit down on it, too.

[@sodapone]

It reminds me of the same challenge that electric scooters face, and why Lime and Byrd got so much pushback - sure, it's more convenient to just step onto one and go, but it's also less safe since your head has further to fall compared to a bicycle.

[@groupewaite]

Is safer!

[@jonathankessler7436]

I think it was a risk proposition from the outset because it is unclear of what it really can be used for.

[@eriklarson9137]

@@groupewaite what is!

[@DerBingle1]

and this was supposed to change the world.

[@jamescogswell9297]

“He saw someone in a wheelchair struggling to get it up” - Company Man, 2023

[@cancel1913]

I see what you did there! LOL

[@Zanthum]

I have not ridden a Segway but I was at Dean Kamen's robotics competitions in highschool F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Competition (FRC) and there were officials for the competition riding them around the venues. Speaking with one of them it came up what it was like to ride them vs being on foot. They said it was useful for getting around faster and being able to see above the crowds, but that balancing on them all day was really hard on their legs like balancing on a ladder and that they would rather be on foot because it wouldn't be as much of a workout. So the one thing the Segway was supposed to do, make walking easier, it failed at.

[@MajinMattPlays]

I'm a bit young to have gotten a good chance to use the Segway before it became nothing more than a joke and a forgotten piece of the past, but I've always thought the idea was pretty cool. As someone who can't ride a bike due to some stuff wrong up top that makes it really difficult to coordinate myself properly, the idea of something like this is really cool, and truthfully I'm a bit sad something similar never really caught on.

[@runtofthelitter420]

I remember when the segway launched. They really pushed it as something to rent instead of owning. Going on local tours on segways was popular. You had groups of 10 segwaying through the city centers led by a guide. It felt like it was a huge thing for a a while. Then all of a sudden they were just gone.

[@gomahklawm4446]

Accidents and resulting lawsuits. They're a pool of risk.

[@xrrrismickey]

They're still using them in Seattle. I saw them today.

[@CameronJP]

They still use them in really touristy cities. However I am remember they even had Segway tours in non tourist cities.

[@Aligartornator13]

A few years back I was in Prague with some friends. Over the course of three days we witnessed 4 (!) people having crashes with segways. Two just kinda fell off, one crashed into a pedestrian and one got stuck on a curb an faceplanted onto the pavement. All without wearing a helmet. Was no good publicity for the product...

[@Dave-Shearer]

@@CameronJP I once got pitched on buying a franchise to offer Segway tours in my non-tourist city. I took a Segway tour in Salem, and found riding them so much fun I seriously considered it.

[@sneakyquick]

I honestly think that the wheelchair they made ibot was much more impressive than the segway.

[@MundaneGray]

Well, yes. Because it actually solved a real problem. The Segway didn't.

[@bradtorville5526]

And yet when the hell was the last time you've seen a person on the iBot? Truly innovative and something that addressed a lot of issues for disabled people who need a wheelchair but they're nowhere to be found these days.

[@marcst3199]

I guess it was too pricy and the insurances wouldn't pay for that.

[@everythingthrice2582]

The segway would become the "handless segway" aka the hoverboard which is still used today

[@KaoticReach1999]

Aren't the hoverboards suffering the same fate?

[@MrJ1GS4W]

When I was in middle school the brother of a friend of mine, who had a problem with his hips and couldn’t get around easily, rode a Segway to/from/around school and would often let me ride it. It was a custom Segway that had this massive tires and overall looked pretty cool.

[@insederec]

The concept was extremely successful once other companies removed the handles and started calling them hoverboards

[@grey4904]

I still can’t believe the guy who bought the company while riding one off a cliff. I always thought it was a joke but nope

[@mykolperez2808]

It wasn't the inventor, it was the man who bought the company.

[@grey4904]

@@mykolperez2808 my bad 🫢

[@charlockprime]

This. That right there is crazier than most of the stuff Hollywood can come up with. It's definitely high on my personal list of reasons to never own one of those things.

[@gameskyjumper1721]

Not the person that invented it. The person who bought the company.

[@benjaminwatt2436]

I looked up several articles and none of them say the accident happened because of the segway. although the way Company man says it, it does sound that way. its too sensational to be true

[@itsmellslikeshitdontit3752]

Once again I'm very impressed with your videos

[@earldonald3095]

I couldn't help but think of certain similarities between some of the issues faced by Segway and some of the scooter rental companies like Lime and Bird appearing in many cities, especially the part about working with municipal governments around allowing their usage in public spaces and sidewalks. There are apparent differences in the technology and application of these products. But I’d be curious to hear your analysis on this and if, in some ways, Segway walked so these newer companies could run decades later. Great video, as usual!

[@vilukisu]

The things electric scooters share with Segway are the problems with infrastructure and being motor powered light-vechiles (thus seemingly more comfortable than muscles powered vechiles like bicyles). There are crucial differences however that make e-scooters popular and more succesful. The Segway seemingly tried to compete with cars, as indicated by the quote that it would be to cars what cars were to horses. That is quite simply unrealistic because actual replacements for personal cars exist; it's not a matter of coming up with one. Thing holding those back is the environment they operate in: lack of infrastructure for cycling, places only being reachable by car, public transport being underfunded. The problem of the Segway becomes apparent when it's compared to a bicyle: it's far more expensive, needs charging, is harder to maintain and offers no means of transporting things which a bike can achieve with just a simple basket attatchement. So it cannot compete with cars, because their dominance (looking at the US specifically for now) is due to infrastructure and environment, and it cannot compete with a bike because it 1) is more expensive, 2) is seemingly harder to control, 3) requires charging, 4) lacks even the small cargo space of a bike basket, and 5) cannot take advantage of what bicycle infrastructure exists (repairshops, parts being easily available, even the most basic places for parking and locking up a bike). No, why do electric scooters work, especially as a rental model? Because they are not necessarily competing with bikes or cars. They are an alternative for pedestrians whose choices are walking or public transport. Compared to Segway, e-scooters are easier to control and to learn. For those that own their own e-scooters, they are far lighter and foldable, so you can actually carry them up a flight of stairs to bring it indoors, so it can be charged and it is stored safely. But the reason they really thrive is that they are offered through a rental model which makes them accessible. A person can rent one, drive where they need to be, end the rental and not have to worry about it. They might move about smaller distances by foot or otherwise and end their day somewhere other than where they innitially arrived and they can ideally grab an e-scooted from the next street corner. This is a thing where a Segway could have worked, it really seems to have failed because it expected people to buy an expensive vechile which they cannot safely store or charge, an expensive investment that they are responsible for that does not offer the benefits of a personal car or a bicycle, nor is it as easily or cheaply maintained. Another point needs to be made about the fact that afaik e-scooters are far more popular here in Europe where bicycle and walking infrastructure exists far more than in the US. I could see rental Segways existing here if they had beat the e-scooters and were commercially viable in terms of cost.

[@andriesquast2028]

Those companies exploit the public space commercially. Whereas normal companies have to buy a space to display or advertize their goods or services. So, i think those rental companies should pay counties for having their crap on the streets all the time.

[@RedlineGuiding]

Several years ago I had an opportunity to ride an "off-road" Segway at a NH ski resort during their summer operations. After 5-10 minutes climbing the learning curve we were set free a bit and loosely guided on some local trails. I must say, it was ridiculously fun. Within a half hour we could ride no hands, do donuts, and more. Going down hills was a bit scary until you trusted the machine, but overall it was a blast. Much better than the zip lines we also tried that day. The "scooters" where much more interactive and the experience lasted a while.

[@ypvsypvs]

I have one since 11 years. Used it for 12000miles. I live in Stockholm Sweden and am handicapped to the extent that I can stand up and walk with a stick short distances after a motorcycle accident in 2005 after which I was confined tyo a wheelchair for 6-7 years before able to stand up. The Segway completely changed my life. I can again get out in forests, go swimming in lakes in the summer. with the 20 miles (plus) on a charge I go around town, use it for myshopping with a back pack etc. It's a pity it got thought of in a certain way that is not at all deserved as it is a wonderful thing. I use it extensively every day and am still to break or wear out a single part on it. I even use the original battery pack still, even though it this year is starting to sag a bit from before. So that is getting changed soon. But hey, I rode it half way around the globe, so I'm good with that.

[@sophocles1198]

You wrote 1200 miles, you meant 12,000 miles?

[@Wargasm54]

So. You had a life altering crash on a 2 wheeled vehicle and you decided to buy another 2 wheeled vehicle? 🤔

[@Mortgage_guru]

I have almost the same story I have gout attacks and sometimes is very painful to walk so I use my Segway to get around and love it.

[@HooLeePhucingSheet]

So did you pay out of pocket or did you make your insurance pay for it?

[@FernandoHernandez-jw4yy]

@@Wargasm54 What a nonsensical and inconsiderate comment. That's like saying "So you had an incident while walking and you decided to walk again?". Motorbikes go several orders of magnitude faster than a Segway. There is no comparison.

[@desmondsouthwell3529]

My wife and I rode Segways in the UK quite a few years ago. We just paid for about one-and-a-half hours on them. They were great fun, riding on a track on private property. The first half-hour was a learning trip. But after that. those who had paid for the longer second session got to really push them to their limits. Full speed, on a much longer track, sharp turns, up and down inclines, etc. This all came to a standstill about two-thirds through the session, when my wife was aiming to drive hers up a hill, misjudged it and came off, trapping her foot somewhere on the platform, which twisted it and fractured a small bone in it. Bags of ice were sent for from the hotel, and she was then put in a van and transported to our hotel. The people in charge were extremely helpful, too. The bone eventually knitted completely, with no long-term problems. We put no blame on the owners of the Segways, as she made the mistake of starting up the hill before she was told to, so no one was in a position to catch her in case something like that happened. But it did show that there was some danger in using them. Yes, there would always be the problem of not being safe to use on footpaths, etc, so maybe not such a great idea as at first thought.

[@smithfield06]

You have to hand it to this guy, as regards medical appliances this guy was a genius. The Segway was so hyped up reminded of sir Clive Sinclair and his C5.

[@Beer_Dad1975]

My family (myself, my wife and my 2 kids) did a Segway ride thing at a park at Lake Taupo in New Zealand a number of years ago - it was fun and they were mostly easy to control, though reversing one apparently requires some kind of boss level skills as my wife and I both fell off them when trying to reverse. A few years later, cheap Chinese "hoverboards" hit the market, and we bought our kids those - essentially a small Segway without the handle bars and only a couple of hundred bucks each. The kids were mad for them for about a year, then they lost all interest - and now they sit gathering dust in the corner of the garage (just after we'd spent more money on replacing the batteries in them too). Instead they both go everywhere on their bikes - which are really a far better and more affordable solution to getting around than the Segway ever could be.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

classic case of "it's just a fad". I'm glad they use bicycles tho. So it wasn't for nothing. And who knows... in a few years they might remember these Mini Segways again and develop a new appreciation for it and how awesome parents you are for having bought them for your kids. :)

[@omgjimmyboy]

Now we have electronic scooters laying all around the streets

[@Hyper_Drud]

I think I’ve seen a Segway once in real life. I’ve seen those “hoverboards” more times. There was a guy who rode on one around my college campus and my sister even got one for her birthday. I tried it out a few times before she was done with it and I thought it was a neat little novelty. I think it still works it just needs a new battery charger because our uncle’s puppy chewed up the cord when he brought it over for Thanksgiving.

[@Skank_and_Gutterboy]

This is what killed the hoverboard: the only video you could ever find of them involved mom getting on it to try it and smashing her head on a tile floor 1.8 seconds later, and the shot cutting off before you could see the blood. 99.999% of all parents see that and say, "I'll get my kid one of these about half past never. Lifelong doctor bills is just what I want. Hard pass!"

[@mission3479]

​@@Skank_and_Gutterboy what killed the hoverboard were all the incidences of them catching fire and burning people's homes down because they had cheap lithium batteries

[@jrr851]

As a FIRST Robotics kid who grew up in it, Dean Kaman was an idol. When Segway failed, it was sad, we all had such high hopes for it.

[@sepg5084]

I never had any hopes for it even though i was a "tech nerd". It cost as much as a motorcycle, rode not as fast nor as far, can only have one passenger, and is more unsafe than an ordinary kick scooter. It was also extremely over hyped, i was like "wtf????" when i finally saw it revealed on TV.

[@mahzorimipod]

building personality cults around autists was not a good idea

[@skunkfac3]

​@@mahzorimipodDo your research before labeling something a cult. FIRST changes lives. Thousands of high schoolers had their career paths illuminated through their involvement in the program, myself included. Implying that the program exists for little more than to stroke Dean's ego is not only wrong, but insulting.

[@anasevi9456]

That technologies only real practical use was with stair climbing wheelchairs. Segway's themselves were just stupid and dangerous, and if you felt otherwise as an adult; you should learn to give a bit of healthy cynicism towards hype. As a kid always wanted to ride one though.

[@king_big_pp]

@@skunkfac3 Dude's not incorrect. Dean may have been this great guy and influential and all that jazz. And the technology behind the segway may be impressive. But acting like anything a genius creates is automatically some revolutionary product is part of that cult-of-personality.

[@ninapaquette2750]

I went to Dean’s house for winning the FIRST Robotics world championship. Everyone ate lunch on his helicopter pad and he has a train engine in his living room. He also invented those coke freestyle machines. The winning teams also toured his development HQ and I really think he just makes whatever he wants no matter how hard it is to make because he has company’s who invested and buy anything he makes. He makes the impossible and sells every aspect of it and uses the money to poor into the next project.

[@castonyoung7514]

Did you mean pour? Or is he giving to the poor?

[@Pairrot]

Whoah, had no idea the winners toured his home! I got his signature on the back of a 7461 Sushi Squad shirt, got it in a trade for two of my teams shirts which was 100% worth it

[@ericgropuis]

I didn’t know they got a tour, I knew they got to meet him in person, my team didn’t get that far during that competition

[@TheRacerG]

Appreciate the info, Companaman.

[@brycedunlap]

The Segway directly lead to Hoverboards, one wheels, mono-wheels, and a number of other personal transportation devices which people are still using. While the Segway itself may have "failed", it had a significant impact that still is seen today.

[@SimuLord]

True, but all of those products you mentioned are hideously unsafe, terribly impractical for everyday use, look ridiculous, and tend to be expensive. New look, same great taste, I suppose...

[@Inspectorzinn2]

The biggest issue is legality. I remember getting a hoverboard years ago and it was great! They were more practical for getting to class than biking, could easily be picked up like a skateboard, looked great, and were cheap ($150). The only problem was the college/university, city, and even private dormitories all banned them quickly. It was fun while it lasted.

[@gc4408]

Yes all overly expensive things that will never be for the masses…..

[@bobsled3000]

It really did help pave the way for Escooters and Ebikes. Both of which are FAR more popular than the Segway every was and have mainstream traction especially in large cities

[@matthewbowen5841]

All of those products revolutionised KZbin compilations of idiots falling down.

[@Poofesure]

Today I learned what that South Park episode was mocking 😂 you never know what you will learn watching your videos

[@notawesomebread]

The Segway would have been much safer with Wii Motion Plus Inside

[@Alphine_Agnitio]

out of all the places I would have found a comment of yours... this is not where I thought it would be

[@InfectedChris]

Wow. Can't believe it took you this long.

[@frenchabortion]

The “Joke” was it’s better to stick a rod up your ass on your own. Than letting the TSA finger your ass before getting on a plane

[@Brixster]

@@notawesomebread Your comment made me want to see Matt riding a segway off a cliff in Wii Sports Resort

[@robderiche]

the segway was just too powerful for its own good. i have seen mild-mannered tourists instantly transformed into rampaging speed demons as soon as they stepped aboard. society just wasn’t ready to adapt to this quantum leap in personal mobility. it drove people mad.

[@rraallvv]

Its weight, platform stability, and bar handle might have made it seem safer to ride than it actually was.

[@suntanironman]

My lasting memory of the Segway is this: I was jogging around my college campus at night in 2006 (give or take a year). Very few people lived on-campus and it could be quite quiet at night (possible to run a full lap around the entire campus without passing by another person). As I was running, I saw a group of police officers (maybe 9 or so) on Segways… in a ‘Flying V’ formation… just rolling down the empty street on this empty campus. And I laughed so hard after they went by. I just remember thinking “What the hell are they doing? Are they flying home for the winter? 😂” I think that might have been the first time I had actually seen a Segway in-person (actual real world use). And my reaction to finally seeing the product in-person was uncontrollable laughter. 😂 And it wasn’t even the product itself I was laughing at - it was the situation in which I saw the product being used. But that situation made me think of the product as basically a joke (whereas before I hadn’t really formed an opinion on the product).

[@12345fowler]

Flying home for the winter was a good one.

[@chouseification]

by contrast, there are a few useful places for them - I live in MN, and there's a neat river road going along the Mississippi and over a few cool pedestrian bridges. There's a Segway tour that goes at least several miles - opening it up to a lot more peeps than otherwise.

[@largol33t12]

I think the real problem was it was too dang expensive. I actually rode on one and it's easy to quickly understand how the vehicle works. I could see myself riding this around town every day. Segway also should have branched out and offered different versions. They had a working prototype ATV. It still could use the gyroscopic stabilizer. You simply popped a wheelie and it would fold the front wheels in. Then you rode it like a normal 2-wheel Segway. I think it was a mistake to not offer it. I would have bought one for sure.

[@davidhorton276]

I have two - a Segway robot and a mini pro and I love riding them..

[@ciscornBIG]

​@12345fowler glad you signed off on his quip, chief

[@johnmickey5017]

My friend was a Segway tour guide for a few years. They gave the tourists’ Segways a lower max speed - so that he could intervene when a newbie would start driving toward a parked car.

[@joeyvindictive3552]

That job sounds like a complete headache!

[@youjustlikeit3774]

"Segway Tour Guide." Now that is what you want to see on a person's resume.

[@kwebmail2007]

Wow this brings back memories, I was a 20-something tech involved person when this thing was being hyped before launch. The media push was just off the charts about how amazing this "new thing" was going to be, people legit thought things like a real hoverboard or "Aliens" style personal exoskeleton. Then they showed it and it was just incredibly underwhelming... like how could you even imagine this thing is revolutionary? I remember some authors in the tech sector were even complaining "thats not what I was shown and have been reporting about". However it definitely taught the younger me a great lesson about the echo-chamber effect of the tech investment world and the media essentially being hype-machines regurgitating whatever they're given. Cool technology I guess but just not seeing things from a bigger perspective.

[@HeleneLouise]

I thought that this device probably was one that people with mobility issues might have considered. Except that the same mobility issues would have made it difficult to use. A person with arthritis might not be able to stand very long, for one thing. And it seemed to be something that would take a lot of clearance space to use inside a house. It's hard to imagine very many situations this would work in.

[@eicdesigner]

I tried to ride a Segway...TWICE. Both times I found it extremely difficult to maneuver in a typical sidewalk environment and almost impossible to stop. Handling around pedestrians and other Segway riders was nerve-wracking. If you get up some speed and a 4-year-old future track star runs in front of you, just start selling everything because that parent is going to own you. Yes, it was a brilliant piece of tech that needed 5 or 10 more years to make it safe for the average human at the DMV. And, yes, I consider them a joke, even when I see the police using them.

[@brettrobinson2901]

Next you'll say we need to make sure " the tech is safe & effective " before we start sending heavily armed Robocops to apprehend dangerous juveniles out skipping school..... loser...😜

[@I_Have_The_Most_Japanese_Music]

"Almost impossible to stop": why didn't they use that in their marketing campaign?

[@iamagi]

I used it on and found it intuitive to use.

[@chloedsmith]

Rode one twice myself, fell once and it's not workable if anyone is getting too close, but for something like what I did (outdoor tours of a vineyard) it's really up there in terms of fun.

[@HarmanRobotics]

You probably need more than two attempts to get proficient at operating a Segway. The problem as I see it is that there is this notion that it nearly drives itself, and that no skill is required to use it. That is totally wrong. Yes, it is very easy to ride but to operate safely requires the user to put in some effort on learning how to operate it proficiently. It absolutely can stop extremely quickly - but a first timer will not be able to do that. When the Segways were first sold you had to get training on them, a Segway rep would come to your place (for free*) and make sure that you understood how to operate it - it was part of the cost of buying one. *meaning that the cost was built into the purchase price.

[@Sketch105]

Disney had designated Segway tours at Epcot for a few years because it seemed “futuristic”. Years later there was a class action suit by a group of disabled guests who were upset that their own personal Segways were banned from use in the theme parks. It was a great idea to help people be more mobile but just impractical and safe in public spaces.

[@alokbanapurmath1640]

Thanks for this case study, I enjoyed it.

[@joshpointoh]

When they showed Bush and Ellen falling on their butt back to back, I couldn't help but think, maybe the Segway can detect and eject a-holes.

[@zakmartin]

I remember the hype. They didn't call it a Segway in the beginning, they called it "It", which was widely understood to stand for "individual transport". And of course there were numerous articles in newspapers and magazines titled "What is IT?" It (!) failed because it didn't live up to the hype. For one thing it was far heavier and bulkier than the public had been led to expect. Most people expected it to be lightweight and easy to stow away, perhaps in some kind of carry bag. If you rode one to your local mall or city centre, where would you park it? It was too big to take into a shop, a bar or a cinema, but too light and valuable to leave on the street, secured only with a bike lock. And then there was the price. Another "revolutionary form of transport" that turned out to be a dismal failure was the C5 car.

[@exoticeditz8863]

Im sure if they did what Uber is doing now with lime scooters it could’ve worked. It had potential, but they hyped it up like it was going to be revolutionary technology

[@pete_bruschi_racing]

I met Dean at the FIRST Robotics NYC Regional 2012. He not only founded this high school competition, but stayed hands on with it, and spent so much time with so many of our teams. He set the career path for probably hundreds of thousands of kids for STEM fields. Such a nice guy. Unfortunate that the Segway didnt take off for him. But to be honest, it was always weird.

[@ShadyLife101]

I didn’t know that he was the founder. I had been on my school’s robotics team that same year, but we were a small and new team whose robot was over 50% wood 😅

[@samuelglover7685]

Guess he really wasted his life, then. He needed somebody to pull him aside and say, "Think about what you're trying to do here, because you're spending a helluva lotta time and money to do what tricycles have been doing for centuries."

[@egill624]

@@samuelglover7685 He started a robotics organization to inspire high schoolers to get into STEM and invented many things to help disabled people and people receiving medical care. I wouldn't call that wasting your life.

[@john2g1]

@@samuelglover7685 This video also missed how the Segway basically became the "hoverboards" of the 20teens the sold tons of units. In the US the "hoverboards" ended up being banned in most indoor spaces and air travel (because of the batteries).

[@HarmanRobotics]

@@ShadyLife101 Cool, our team's robot was about 90% wood. We made it to Nationals twice in four years with wood robots.

[@Ferbals]

I wish you would have included an image of what it would be like if the Segway was as big as the PC! The picture in my head is hilarious!😂 Great segment, though!

[@dudevinci]

You can say what you want about the segway ,but no matter what it is really fun to drive.

[@mr_q_02]

I remember this release. It was insane. People KEPT talking about it and how it was going to change the world. Except no one knew what it was. Then finally they showed it off, and everyone was like "well...that's kind of stupid, isn't it?" 😂

[@noelleelizabeth9991]

I remember everyone saying walking will be obsolete, followed by extreme pearl clutching about obesely rates.

[@papaelf]

Exactly how I remember it too.

[@ACoolKidsProduction]

Yeah, I remember how, as the South Park clip showed, in pre-announcement hype it was just called "IT." It doesn't get more hyped up than that.

[@rubyy.7374]

@@noelleelizabeth9991 Man, I guess tech bros weren’t a recent development like I thought.

[@noelleelizabeth9991]

@@rubyy.7374 nah 😂 my dad lowkey is one

[@TheRealBizWiz]

*I can attest to this 100%.* The overhype was real. It was waaay overhyped. When it rolled out we were all like, “That’s it? This thing?” It was weird.

[@dmug]

Yep I remember seeing silly flash animations showing personal hoverboards as speculation. I remember it being referred to as “it”. Immediately I recall the backlash as we were already well aware of obesity and people saw it as anti exercise. Had this been perhaps even 5 years later it’d never gotten the hype.

[@Blox117]

unlike the hype around unicycles

[@77Badger]

@Earthquake1964 Right? I remember laughing a lot when the thing actually came out after all the hype.

[@davidbkelly]

But if you rode one you would love it

[@johnliberty3647]

@David Kelly like a fat chick

[@ApeCod]

We all thought Kamen was developing the hydrogen powered car. Turns out it was a scooter, that was somehow dorkier than other scooters.

[@WowIndescribable]

Great video! The definitive Cliff Notes version of the Segway story.

[@juliadagnall5816]

Segways remind me of the “people mover”, the moving walkway concept that was supposed to be the transportation of the future. It’s one of those things that is useful only in a very specific set of circumstances. You can’t carry anything in your hands, you need a clear path that’s wider than your body lest you run over someone’s toes, and the added height means you’re even more likely to hurt yourself if you fall… yeah, I think I can see why they didn’t catch on.

[@carlrood4457]

This is the problem. Even if they could "replace walking", how would the transition ever happen? Ever seen an NYC sidewalk during rush hour? They had to be banned because there was no place for them

[@thetechgenie7374]

It was trying to solve a non existent issue no one asked to be solved. In other words was a solution to a problem that never existed. E-bikes are actually useful for commuting and killed the Segways off. Then now you have E scooters

[@allewis4008]

Not having a chair, no storage

[@arandomperson8336]

This is kind of how I thought about it too. A bicycle is faster, half as wide, costs 1-10% as much, and is street legal. The Segway looked cool but it wasn't a better solution than what was already out there.

[@necropolistc6357]

but hoverboards are more popular than ever, and they're just handle barless segways...

[@CommissionerLawWonder86]

Understandably that the Segway was in fact, hilariously goofy. But, in 2015, there was an even goofier device that I called it, the Segway without a handlebar. It was called the Hoverboard. Not to be confused with THE hoverboard in 1989's Back to the Future II, I'm talking about the handlebarless Segway. Oh, and by the way, they caught fire. If you thought the Segway was bad in the accident department, try explaining to Timmy why he can't have a hoverboard for Christmas.

[@freakytostadacartoon]

That was the snobbiest product ever.

[@crouchb15]

Almost got run over by one

[@ueno1]

Don't worry about Timmy understanding, be a parent and say no!😊

[@order3457]

bro that was the dumbest trend ever. i always laughed when someone acted like that POS was anything of value.

[@clawmachinez26]

I hated working retail in a luxury outdoor shopping mall at that period of time for these things alone.

[@2W3X4YZ5]

Poor Ginger. It never had the opportunity to become self-aware.

[@SpencerWheelman]

Segways didn't fail, they gave us electric unicycles

[@PTS156]

My dad ran a huge food plant at the time Segway’s came onto the scene. I think he might be the only one in the world who saw the vision and implemented it in a way that made sense. The foreman used to walk across the huge facility on foot… it took them 15 minutes to get across the place. Way too much time was spent walking from place to place. 5 minutes on Segway. Made everything significantly more efficient. A massive warehouse with basically zero foot traffic(for Segway’s to run over or to mock the Segway rider as they drive by), and clearly delineated paths for Segways is the only place a Segway makes sense. He said before they came out with Segway… he thought about using bicycles or rollerblades.

[@rusm5710]

Why not use a bicycle?

[@vitoc8454]

@@rusm5710 Tom Scott covered a Dutch flower warehouse that was so large the staff used bikes to get around

[@ralphiecifaretto8961]

That's the problem. There's a miniscule amount of instances where this stupid thing would have been useful.

[@TheLakabanzaichrg]

Local police in my hometown actually used to patrol on these but they only used them on a few main streets and eventually phased them out with bycicles

[@All_I_can_say_is_Wow]

"I exist" -skateboard

[@poizunman75]

I did retail security for three years with the Paul Blart uniforms and everything. Our property did have a Segway, but nobody used it. If we needed to get around, we either did so on foot or on a golf cart. I can just about guarantee you that none of the security guards before, during, or since I was there would be caught dead on it Also, can you do a video on Old Spice?

[@norgeek]

I tried one once for fun and it was SO impressive how well developed and easily controlled it was. I have terrible balance and never could do skates or skis or boards or anything, but the Segway too seconds to master. But it cost more than all the cars I've owned combined, lol.

[@anametoignore2286]

I never owned a subway but my dad did randomly buy one of those """hover boards""'" (I always hated that they were called that) but that was sinificantly cheaper while still being pretty impractical. The hover board was like a segway but more dangerous with less control so that was fun but riding it in the house was just asking to bump into shit and outside it was very uncomfortable going downhill, reslly felt like you didn't have control

[@GearheadDaily]

I remember the hype around this thing and the immediate laughter as it was rolled out to the public.

[@texivani]

I like that they normalized the auto-balancing technology. When I saw it as a kid at a science center, I was blown away. Like over a decade later I got to ride an off-road version and thought it was also awesome, but I knew the price didn't make sense (and I was still pretty young) Cut to now and I have this kick-ass electric unicycle that uses the same tech, and it's the coolest thing I've ever used.

[@eventhere2788]

I wanted a Segway. My husband bought me an electric bike. It's OK but I still wish I had that Segway

[@WhiteOwlOnFire_XXX]

Unicycle? Man yall are cringe asf.

[@user-hh6ex9md4w]

Thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts on the Segway technology! It's amazing how advancements in auto-balancing have evolved over the years. If you're into outdoor adventures and camping, you might want to check out the Segway Portable PowerStation Cube Series. It offers a massive capacity, powerful output, and fast recharging options, making it a reliable backup power solution for your outdoor excursions. Happy camping!

[@Notfiveo0]

My neighbor had a dealership and (tried to sell) them from his garage. I think a local attorney bought the all terrain version and I would see him drive it around the neighborhood for about a year or so, until he seemed to disappear.

[@marciabrady3323]

My husband rides an EUC too. They are fun.

[@eyvindjr]

You did not mention el-bikes and el-scooters, which have actually become very common in many European cities. They are not as maneuverable as Segways, but cheaper and faster.

[@nickclarkuk]

I have ridden a Segways twice in the Uk. One at a car show over some obstacles and one at a Holiday park around a specially designed course . It has a speed limiter which when reached it would lean back which caused me to jump off the first time . Once I got the hang of it I loved it . So much so I bought a small one for my son who used it twice . It’s now dead sitting in a cupboard .

[@somejoe7777]

The hype on the Segway when it was about to be released was just astonishing. Kamen himself was primarily responsible with his statements about changing the world and being as advanced above the car as the car was to the horse and buggy. Most people expected some type of flying personal transporter, as that was the only thing they could think of that was this revolutionary. When the Segway was revealed as a walking-speed clunky scooter, people were so underwhelmed and disappointed that the entire thing became a joke unto itself. If Kamen hadn't raised expectations so much, it might have been more successful.

[@MikeBarbarossa]

Great successful innovations usually start in a garage and work up. When you try to start from the top, the instant huge overhead and expectation weigh heavy

[@georgemousmoules2173]

Dean Kamen lived about 5 minutes from where I grew up. We once saw him riding a Segway past my middle school and a small piece fell off the back. We pulled up in our car and told him that, he thanked us, and then just kept going. Wonder if he ever truly cared about the product, as that was back in the late 2000s and he had moved onto other products already

[@lufromcalab]

We got to try them out at Disney, and they were kinda neat. Within a few minutes, it was pretty easy to maneuver one without having hands on the handles, but it was pretty clear that some people had trouble balancing even with their hands on. Given the range, they weren't a terrible option for someone who has mobility issues, but is capable of standing and balancing. A guy in Calgary got his licensed as a mobility aid, and you would see him moving around downtown from time to time, with the blue wheelchair placard on it. A little more maneuverable than a powered 3 or 4 wheel scooter, and it didn't take up the entire elevator when you get on there. Like in the US, in Canada they're not allowed on the sidewalk, nor are they allowed on the road without special permit, so anyone that I knew who was even looking into them gave up because of the hassle of getting a permit for them to use anywhere at all. I've talked to a few people who have used them on tours in places like France, where having a group of people walking 7-10 km would be out of the question, but on a Segway, pretty much anyone can cover that distance without even getting their heart rate up. All in all, I think they have a niche market, but not to a point that it would keep a company in the black to sell and support to a small market on a global delivery format.

[@joshgravitt8228]

I went to a military school in the military, gave some of our students a Segway and said they were thinking about including them on parachute drops instead of motorcycles, and ask our students to try to trash them and destroy them, and we absolutely could not because it was so durable is sad that it turned out to be a joke

[@RinFeet]

I worked at Epcot in 2008 and my managers rode them around. They’d scoot into the tiny back office and the Segway took up half the room 😂

[@SamareckRage]

I remember in the early 2000s at Disneyland, we saw a cast member riding one next to Innoventions; they weren’t using it to get around the park quicker, they were just using it to add to the futuristic atmosphere of the area. As far as I can remember, that was the only time I saw one in person.

[@aerystargaryenii2565]

I always remember mall cops having them

[@mikevienop289]

Rode a Segway as part of a Tour of Richmond, VA. It was fun to ride as long as you didn't get too wild: lean too far to the left or right and you could turn into an unexpected spiral. It had power to get up a fairly steep muddy slope (our guide ran us that way on purpose to demonstrate that ability). Given the tight constraints in some downtown cities and with the need to be more environmentally friendly, something better than the battery-powered Segway should be attempted.

[@thekingbdon]

I used to work across the street from that place. They always did a ton of business so I was surprised to hear in this video that Segways were a failure.

[@chemicalfrankie1030]

the problem for me was that it was never clear what to do with it once you arrive at your destination.

[@GBiv78]

I rode one around Berlin on a tour and it was actually pretty fun and surprisingly manoeuvrable. We definitely covered much more of the city than we could have on foot. But yeah it felt like a laugh and super lame, but fun and convenient. I think the ridiculous price was what kept it from taking off

[@vice.nor.virtue]

that is the most uncool thing i ever heard happen in berlin and i've lived here for four years

[@justicedemocrat9357]

Why not just ride an e-bike?

[@inyrui]

​@@justicedemocrat9357what difference does it make either way

[@skirata3144]

@@inyruilower chance of people loosing control and driving into traffic would be one reason.

[@ivegas1000]

I've done E bikes and Segway multiple times in various places around the world, all during tours. The learning curve was about 15 minutes and they were both fun and allowed further travel than walking and e-bike is especially helpful going uphill. It's different experience on each. The Segway is vertical and smaller footprint than a bike. Don't know about the law in each locale so not sure how practical to ride the Segway if not in tour. Where a bike or e-bike you pretty much has no issue if ride on the road. For owning one it's not practical for me for the price, maintenance, distance etc. So only ride them on tours when they are still available. Very good video BTW, just subscribed.

[@PoesRaven73]

I remember before they were revealed that there was some speculation it might be some sort of hovercraft (à la “Back to the Future “. When it was revealed to be a scooter, the disappointment was palpable.

[@WilliamBrinkley45]

The other big rumor was that it ran off hydrogen it would extract from H20….I actually heard that on the radio and the company did nothing to squelch the rumors

[@mplsmark222]

So much science fiction is improbable for the simple reason there is just not enough energy to propel, lift, hover like people dream of doing. Futurists usually get things wrong, but then we have something like the PC, very few saw that coming or the impact it would have on our lives. You can make anything fly as long as you put a big enough engine on it, and have a powerful enough energy source,

[@bjkarana]

I grew up in Manchester, NH, where Dean Kamen's DEKA is located, and I distinctly remember my high school physics teacher saying "it" (Segway prior to going public) was a solution in search of a problem.

[@i001p]

I've driven a Segway once and it was a great experience i still have a vivid memory of my feelings driving it I guess the only reason it failed is that cities suitable for everyone driving segway just don't exist

[@fhm5384]

I actively worked alongside the DEKA R&D and Segway teams on the HT product. You hit the nail on the head and all the reasons you mentions are spot on. Many of Deans products suffered the same fate as he surrounded himself with brilliant engineers, but did not hire people that could actually get products to market cost effectively and timely.

[@gregoryt1139]

Actually, the University of Alabama in Huntsville developed a specialized MBA program for such engineers. Huntsville, AL being a hi-tech town, many engineers wanted to break-away to develop and sell their own pet projects, but they had no clue HOW businesses ran. In many case studies, function was greatly prioritized over form, and nerd excitement wasn't the same as regular people excitement. All of the failure points listed here were points of study throughout the program. Really, one could reasonably assume that Steve Jobs wrote the curriculum.

[@violent_bebop9687]

​@@gregoryt1139Well yeah, that's what made Jobs great. He never let the propeller heads dictate the project.

[@neeneko]

To build off this, something that really floored me early in my career was the skillset differences between R&D engineering and manufacturing engineering, and how huge a difference it could make to bring in the later to rework a product to make it viable. It is a whole other specialization that many clever products forgot to take advantage of.

[@jime6688]

I never tried one, but my first impression when I saw the reveal on morning tv, it looked like something for a lazy person. Then, a couple years later, my experience first hand. I worked security at a museum and some rich person wanted to bring it in to the museum. We wouldn’t allow it BECAUSE of the report of accidents at that point and we were afraid he would topple into a sculpture or painting. He insisted he needed it for medical reasons which, I find hard to believe since you must stand up to use it, but he eventually got his way. It left tread marks all over the gallery.

[@ecoideazventures6417]

So rich men get their segway!

[@kirbth4769]

There are medical conditions which make bending your knees harder so walking is hard while you’re still able to stand fine but considering the safety concerns I doubt someone who actually has difficulty walking would buy one

[@tymesho]

I've dealt with the "lazy" comments for 10 years now. When you're suddenly disabled, you strive for ANYTHING that will give you any sense of independence again.

[@jime6688]

@@tymesho that’s great, but as I said. Because of the orientation one uses to operate this, it’s hard to see the disability. I don’t claim to know everything, we(museum staff) thought it was a phony excuse. Handicap aside, let’s say you’re healthy. Why on EARTH would anyone use one over a bike?

[@tymesho]

@@jime6688 Yeh, no, I wasn't insinuating your situation, and you're right again, disabilities create disadvantages for all extremities when you have just one. I was expressing the mindset created when you lose just a fraction of mobility. Peace~

[@Curiousviewer22]

I rode a Segway the week after Bush fell. I rode one block and back in midtown Manhattan (illegal).. It was easy to ride and fun.

[@cvglahn]

It was the solution to a problem no one had.

[@OOOO-yz1lb]

A great line 🤯