Segway vs Sinclair C5

[redmondo]

Hi all,

Im hoping to pick your brains for a little info. I want to be able to argue that that it is the technology employed in the Segway that is responsilbe for its success, and that it is this technologhy that will ensure that it does not go the same way as as the Sinclair C5 of mid 80s fame.
Im aware of the 5 gyros, power supply etc, but what I want to hear is what the technolgy means to a Segway user. Evangelize to me!!

We dont get many over in Europe but they appear to be selling quite well over where I guess most of you are based.

looking forward to being converted :-)

also how much of the same technology is used in the stair climbing wheel chair?

[Dragan]

I think that one sign of successfully applied technology is how quickly it becomes transparent to the user, and how quickly it integrates into your life.

I doubt many would argue that P.C.'s have become a necessary part of our lives, given our dependance on them and what they do for us. That wasn't a terribly quick integration, but it is extraordinary technology.

For me, the Segway and using it became almost transparent in less than a week. By that I mean I stopped even thinking about moving about in a different way, I stopped thinking about the Segway, and what it was doing for me. I simply move from place to place as I always have, only now I do it without moving my legs. It's simply so intuitive it's easy to forget you're even on it, especially with the "p". The "physical presence of the i makes a difference in that regard, but not much. With the i, I still find myself glancing down occasionally to make sure the wheels are going to clear a narrow spot, but other than that, it's just not even there.

I saw someone on this forum using a signature line that is to the effect of worrying about the day someone will call his name, he'll lean forward and fall flat on his face, forgetting he wasn't on his Segway! Sounds funny ( and the mental visuals are great), but I know exactly what he means, and it reinforces what I said; it is transparent technology, and that's a sign of exceptional technology, in my opinion
Wayne

[BruceWright]

To me, the main difference is how well they integrate into the space they were designed for.

The C5 did NOT integrate with road traffic well at all. It was all but invisible to other cars, big tall tail flag notwithstanding.

The Segway integrates WONDERFULLY with pedestrians. It moves like a pedestrian, it's the size of a pedestrian. And it interacts with other people like a pedestrian.

It's a hard thing to understand until you've been in a crowd on one, but it really is a different thing from any vehicle invented before.

Kamen compared it to walking, not driving, and people didn't understand. But everyone who's ridden one DOES understand. It's more like something you wear than something you operated. It quickly becomes an extention of your body, as easy to control as your own legs. No other machine does that.

-Bruce Wright

Segway: Vehicle of Dream

[X-man]

Redmond,
It's too bad you didn't run across me last Sept. when I was gliding around Dublin. I would have gladly given you a demo which may have helped you understand. I had absolutely no problems there (although the curb cuts in Ireland leave more than a little to be desired) and even traversed Grafton Street wiith ease.
I did raise a few eyebrows all over town though.

Bob

[GyroGo]

the technology is cool, but it's all about the EXPERIENCE

[florin]

I didn't knew what a C5 was, so I checked the web. I found www.sinclairc5.com.

One thing I noticed is that the C5 drivers doesn't have a smile on their face.

Compare the following 2 pictures:

http://www.sinclairc5.com/images/Photos/P0000881.JPG
a Sinclair C5 "Enthusiast"

http://www.segwaychat.com/photos/dgbint/100_0684-small.jpg
Some people using the Segway HT for their work.

People who ride a Segway always have the famous Segway smile, it's fun to be on a Segway.

Regarding the Segway smile, in my case it last a few hours, I think that's with most of the people. So never ride a Segway on serious days (like going to a funeral, fireing somebody, etc.), I don't think others will appriciate the segway smile :-O

Redmondo be warned, once you have been one a Segway you are addicted to it :-)

Kind regards,

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

[BruceWright]

I'd add to Florin's comment.

You DO have to ride it to "get it". There is a moment of epiphany on everyone's face when they ride it for the first time. I read all about it beforehand, and nothing prepared me for the experience. I still made my decision to buy one gradually, but there was certainly a change in understanding when I rode it.

-Bruce Wright

Segway: Vehicle of Dream

[Stan671]

The C5 is a tiny little car. Nobody wants to be in a tiny little car competing for road space with full sized cars. The C5 was trying to be a car replacement by replacing the car with something tiny. But it did not change the concept of the car because it just tried to be a tiny car. Basically, it was a downgrade of the car.

The Segway HT is an empowered pedestrian. It does not try to compete with cars on the road and it integrates perfectly with other people - either on the sidewalk or indoors. The Segway replaces the car by doing the job of the car in a completely different way. The Segway upgrades the pedestrian.

The C5 was just less of the same. The Segway HT is a completely new way to get around.

Excellent technology is like the music in a movie. If it is done well, you don't know it's there, but you experinece the effects of it. With the Segway HT, the tremendous technology that makes it work is not the purpose of the machine, but simply a tool to make the machine do this cool new thing which is travel in a way nobody has before.

Yea, the segway HT self balances - but so what. The real point is that it goes forward and backwards, spins in place and takes up no more room than the rider does.

Sure it has high tech rechargeable batteries - but so what. The real point is that it can take you 8 miles to work and recharge completely before the end of the day when it comes time to go home.

Sure it has the highest power motors for thier size - but so what. The point is that it will effortlessly take the rider up and down any hills he could encounter during a trip.

Sure it has custom designed silica-rubber tires - but so what. The real point is that it goes fine in the rain and won't mark up floors indoors.

The bottom line is that the C5 was just a tiny car. The Segway offers a way of getting around that did not exist before. THAT is what makes all the difference in the world.

Stan Dobrowski

[KSagal]

Bravo Stan,

Nicely done!

Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.

[Stewbonz]

In my office, I often hear people mention Mr Sinclair.
Sinclair was ahead of his time and I predict the C5 will be back, along with hundreds of different types of personal transporters.
The high end transporters will be self-balancing.
The revolution of personal transport has begun.
I rarely get into a car these days. Can't wait untill I get my Centaur.



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

[redmondo]

Thanks for all the info guys, cetainly seem to be keen, not surprising! I had a look at that Centaur thing, now that looks totally mad!!, I also came across those twells, looks like you guys will be some of the first to try them out.

I have also read that the Sinclair C6 is due to be out this year but I have no idea what it looks like etc, but may be try interesting.

Does anyone know what sort of numbers segways sales are at? I know some postal services and police forces have decided to try them out that must have boosted the slaes figures.

As for the sidewalks or "footpaths" as we call them, in dublin leave a lot to be desired, and I'd say you did a little more than raise a few eyebrows gliding down Grafton st.

Thank you all again.

Redmond

[Raving Glide]

If the C5 is the little car thing... most states won't let you use it in the city areas because drivers won't be able to see you... a term comes to mind... ROAD KILL... not good



GW

[lwillis]

I'm currently reading the "Code Ginger" which I received for Christmas. In the book Dean is quoted several times making the point that he DID NOT want the teh Segway to be associated or interpretted to be a road vehicle. He clearly wanted it to be associated with pedetrian movement and "making the world a better place". Which now sets me back in deep thought about the Centaur. Clearly the pedestrian market didn't take off as expected. Where as the C5 was intended to be a vehicle whose market didn't take off as expected either. Is the Centaur an attempt to fill this gap?????

Les Willis
Looking for a glide

[Stan671]

The Centaur is an experimental concept vehicle created to show that it could be done - like climbing a mountain - because it's there. Segway may or may not develop a product in the future based on the Centaur concept. The point being that there was not an end product in mind when the engineers came up with Centaur.

Stan Dobrowski

[gbrandwood]

I also got the book for Christmas - it really deepens your knowledge about the HT and helps you appreciate Dean's vision. So Les, as referred to in the book, the Centaur was a result of frog kissing and may, or may not ever, become a prince!

This topic is a really good one to read because I find people are quick to make the comparison - especially in the UK. At least three people have mentioned the two in the same breath to me and it's much easier to clearly differentiate between them with such well thought out messages. Thanks guys. Sometimes is just so hard to explain. People need to ride them!

Gareth

[lwillis]

Thanks guys. Appreciate the insight. I got distracted with the Centaur. My main thought was to try to point out that the Segway and the C5 aren't even in the same ball park and shouldn't be compared with other as this thread started out.

On the other hand, I'm sure there will be those who will find striking resemblances between apples and oranges. ;)

Les Willis
Looking for a glide

[rethin]

quote:Originally posted by redmondo

I have also read that the Sinclair C6 is due to be out this year but I have no idea what it looks like etc, but may be try interesting.

Redmond


The C6 turned out to be just a folding bicycle with very tiny wheels (think like rollerblade size). There's a picture of it out on the web someplace.

I actually saw one of those things (or something very very similiar) on the streets of Tokyo once.

Rethin