Is there a killer app for the HT?

[yosgof]

Yesterday I was contacted by Matt. He referred to me an Israeli MBA student who’s task in one of the courses is to come up with a marketing plan for Segway in Israel.

Today we had a meeting in which we tried to come up with potential (killer) applications and relevant market verticals.

The more I though about it the more I ruled out various trades. I was quite surprised by this outcome. By a simple elimination due to various difficulties related to each trade and combined with the high price, I managed to pretty much rule out everything.

The only one I ended up with was commuting and this is only applicable for people who live in a traveling distance (on an HT) from their place of work. In Israel this is scant few.

I think I just managed to explain to myself the reason for the very slow acceptance rate of this revolutionary technology.

Any ideas?

- Yossi
http://gallery.photo.net/photo/3365119-lg.jpg

[SegwayUtah]

It seems that all new technologies take a while to find their place. Take the Internet, for example, which was mostly used by government and universities for its first 20 years of existence--but which in the last 10 years has come to find its place in the majority of homes and businesses.

Or the TV. Or the automobile. Or the PC. Or . . .

The security market is a _huge_ market for the Segway HT. Paramedics and other emergency personnel are also a great market, as are warehouse workers--and that's just on part of the commercial side.

Chris

[yosgof]

Chris,

I hear you.

Indeed the Internet was a killer app with the academic community for the first 20 years and then others started seeing the benefit. This only happened though when a guy from CERN added a critical component by inventing HTML.

As for security, and mind you I am talking about an Israeli environment, do you envision a security guard on top of a Segway stopping a suicide terrorist with an explosive belt attached to his wait at an entrance to a shopping mall?


- Yossi
http://gallery.photo.net/photo/3365119-lg.jpg

[SegwayUtah]

quote:Originally posted by yosgof

As for security, and mind you I am talking about an Israeli environment, do you envision a security guard on top of a Segway stopping a suicide terrorist with an explosive belt attached to his wait at an entrance to a shopping mall?

Well, hopefully they don't have to do that frequently! And if they do, they can always hop off the HT to take care of business. The other 99.9% of the time, they can use it to patrol and get around more efficiently, and to be more visible to reduce crime.

Chris

[drolsinatas]

I was just thinking about this today. I try to use my Segway as often as possible (since I spent so much money on it, it's time for it to earn it). As a tool for commuting it's definatly awesome, fun, reliable, and cost effective, but only if you have the ideal lifestyle for it and don't mind trading in the extra minutes.

As fast as I was able to, I forced the "I want to keep it shiney with no scratches, and I'm affraid of breaking it" mentallity out of my mind. Lately I've been seeing the Segway as a tool. Kind of like something that belongs in a shed rather then the showroom, and the best part is that you can ride it around! As a powered 2 wheeler I think would be amazing.

1. If I could move a refrigerater with it, then hit a button and cruise to the corner store on it, I'd love it even more.

2. If there was platform on it so I hold paint and stand 1 foot higher so I could paint a room without the need of a step ladder, that would kick a**.

3. If I could spray parking lines with it (just by buying a little attachment for it) that would rule.

I already do yard work with it. It's very fast for loading barrals full of weeds and grass and dumping it off the side of the property. I use when ever I need to move other tools around from a job site to the truck.

Is it possible (with modifications to the software) to use the charge port as an electrical outlet. Portable Electricity always comes in handy.

This thing rules.

[Stewbonz]

Yossi,
Recently, I was asked to do a Segway Demonstration for the Bangkok Airport Authority.
It seems the Police and Security is an ideal killer ap.
Below is some info I put togethet from several articles.


A new breed of technologically enhanced officers set to keep our airports safe weather it’s catching thieves or finding lost children.

In the USA a fleet of 50 futuristic Segway Human Transporters are used by the Chicago Police at O’hare International Airport and throughout the city.
The high tech, self-balancing Segway Human Transporter is the airport police's new answer to combating crime in a time of heightened airport security.

What is a Segway?
The battery powered, non polluting, silent running, people mover is ready for action at any moment, indoors or out. The 20kph SegwayHT has the ability to turn in place without bumping in to any other people since it takes no more space than a person on foot. In addition the machines can stop quickly or stand still and remain stable.

Increased visibility.
One of the greatest advantages of using the SegwayHT is it gives police officers 20 cm of added height, which allows them to see over crowds. A mobile platform.
A side benefit is that the on-board officer becomes an attractive Public Relations tool as well as a representative of law enforcement.
One of the officers currently using the SegwayHT, thinks the devices really come in handy when there is an urgent situation. Especially these days, people don't want to see an officer running through the terminal because it arouses suspicion and concern.
Using the Segway HT you can move quickly through the concourse at a faster speed without attracting any negative attention. When people see an officer running through the terminal and they assume the worst.
Foreign visitors are comforted by knowing the latest in high technology is deployed in Chicagos Airports for their safety. A positive impression.

Increased mobility.
The Segway Human Transporter allows officers to cover more area in less time.
Before the transporter, a patrol unit could cover one area three or four times in one shift.
With the transporter, the officer can do six or eight patrols in the same amount of time.
The first incident where the SegwayHT came to the rescue was at O'Hare when they were in pursuit of a purse snatcher. The officer on a Segway rolled up beside the fleeing criminal and just waited until he tired, then stepped off the SegwayHT and arrested him.
The thief was exhausted and the cop was fresh as a daisy.
When the officer got the SegwayHT to conduct the patrol he was constantly moving around because it was effortless and fun. This allowed him to actually do the job as
it had been envisioned by his chief.


JEFF JARVIS
http://www.thailandsegwaytours.com/

[voiceguy]

That is an awesome article -- thanks Jeff/Stewbonz!

Voiceguy

"Every journey of a thousand feet ... begins with but a single lean forward..."

Corporate and commercial voices www.isdnvoices.com

[Brooster]

It makes a heck of a good dry cleaning delivery device.

[8][:P]



Brooster

[Desert_Seg]

Yossi,

I need to second some of the various posts. Being just around the corner from you (Dubai) we have similar harsh environments and varying uses. However, we have been extremely succesful with:

- Airport - Security, maintenance, even "in-house" functions

- Police / EMT - AWESOME acceptance (parking ticket writing goes way up!)

- Crowd management / control

- Commercial staff - are beginning to see acceptance at constructions sites, in large maintenance yards, and warehousing.

Lots of uses....the hurdle is the price, especially if you have a low cast work force.

Steven

Segway of UAE - The Segway product line distributors to Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Tunisia, UAE, and Yemen

[florin]

Hi Yossi,

I always understood that Israel is full of tourists and tourist attractions. Maybe a guided tours could be a killer app. for segways in israel.

Take care,

Florin


Visit http://www.florin-webdesign.nl/segwayinfo if you want to stay up-to-date on the situation about the Segway HT in the Netherlands.
http://www.florin-webdesign.nl/segwayinfo/uploads/cavt41287ea7e3ec0

[yosgof]

Obviously Segway tours are a big things as well as security work. And there is also a market of people with minor disabilities, However these are not killer applications in the sense that they do not make the HT a “must have”.

And as Steven mentioned so very right, there’s always the price issue (5 grand seem to be a lot of money all over the world :D).

It would be very nice though to come up with some market segment which is not associated with a particular trade or occupation and that would create a basis for a critical mass of Segway ownership.

If found this would be the killer app I am looking for.

- Yossi
http://gallery.photo.net/photo/3365119-lg.jpg

[Mr. Protocol]

I know that the UAE is keen to attract tourists. Are there any venues in Dubai or the coastal resorts that'd make for good Segway tours?

[voiceguy]

When the success stories generated around the Security, EMT and other like fields reach a level where the efficacy of the HT unit becomes undeniable, it will I feel, at that time, indeed become a "must have."

Voiceguy

"Every journey of a thousand feet ... begins with but a single lean forward..."

Corporate and commercial voices www.isdnvoices.com