In the 1990s, inventor Dean Kamen sought to revolutionize personal mobility. His creation, the Segway, was meant to change how people moved in cities.
Image source: Dave Proffer, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Dean Kamen, a visionary inventor, developed the Segway after creating groundbreaking medical devices like AutoSyringe and the iBOT wheelchair.
Image source: jason gessner, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Segway used gyroscopes and tilt sensors to maintain balance, allowing riders to control movement by shifting their weight.
Image Source: Free Malaysia Today, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
When the Segway launched in 2001, industry leaders like Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos believed it would be bigger than the internet.
Image source: BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Despite high praise, the Segway's rollout was flawed. Delayed consumer availability and high expectations hurt its market reception.
Image source: aleehk82 [1]Derivative work: 丁 (talk) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/aleehk82/3144281707/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org
The Segway was heavy, impractical for sidewalks, and required both hands to ride, making it less user-friendly than alternatives.
Image source: Richard from DC, US, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
At a steep price, the Segway was out of reach for most consumers, making bicycles and e-scooters more attractive alternatives.
Image source: Photo by Segway parking, Segway tour, Chiang Mai, Thailand, licensed under CC BY-ND, via flickr.com
Many cities restricted Segway use on sidewalks and roads, limiting its adoption as a mainstream transportation option.
Image source: pixabay
In 2009, Segway was sold to British entrepreneur Jimi Heselden, who tragically passed away in a Segway accident the following year.
Image source: Gawrisch, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In 2015, Chinese firm Ninebot acquired Segway, shifting focus to newer, more profitable personal transport options.
Image source: Maurizio Pesce from Milan, Italia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In 2020, Ninebot discontinued Segway production, marking the end of an era for the once-hyped personal transporter.
Image source: Gnsin, CC BY 2.1 JP <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.1/jp/deed.en>, via Wikimedia Commons
While the Segway failed commercially, its innovations influenced modern e-scooters and self-balancing transporters.
Image source: generated by AI tool
We appreciate your time and interest.
To explore more, check out the full article using the links below:
Image source: Dave Proffer, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons