How Segway Didn't Change the World

[Roger]

Do you remember the hype over "Ginger," the code-named product that later became the Segway Human Transporter? It was thunderous. Five years ago, buzz spread quickly that Ginger was going to forever change our lives, reconfigure our cities, maybe even bring us lasting peace. In my mind, at least, it was a water-fueled anti-gravity landspeeder.

It turns out that Ginger was a two-wheel electric chariot that, while remarkable, did not change the course of human civilization.

The story of Segway is an interesting case study on how to create a media frenzy, but also on the risks of doing so. Hype is great for getting attention, but horrible at setting expectations.

Still, it is an amazing product and, had it come out sans the blasting fanfare, it probably would have a different reputation today. I'm fortunate to have taken a ride on a Segway. It's a fun way to travel. Its controls are so sensitive to tiny shifts in your weight, it feels as though you were controlling it with your mind.

Segway's inventor, Dean Kamen, and many others genuinely thought it would change the world. So why didn't it? Price, for one, put it out of most people's grasp, but also range (eight to ten miles, depending on the model) and speed made it an impractical replacement for commuters.

The Segway is still here and it's finding its niche. Business Week has an interesting article about where the company is going. Police departments, disabled people, and factories are finding the Segway quite useful for specific tasks. The article hints at new products coming, including a possible hybrid car. Let the hype begin.

--Posted by Porter B. Hall


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