Well, what if we think about things on a larger scale?
Yes, the Segway HT might just seem like it's a derivative of the iBOT technology, and it might very well be. But, I think that a lot of people might be missing the point of this announcement.
The real importance of what Dean's developed here isn't the Segway HT itse;f, but rather the entire world of possibilities that it opens up. While I agree that I can't see people running out to drop $3000 on one tomorrow, the concept is what's really amazing here.
Architects, urban planners, and environmental designers have sought, for centuries upon centuries, to develop some sort of plan for the 'utopian' city. Derivatives of this concept have been popping up all over the place, and have been for quite a while. There are suburbs of Madrid, Spain erected in the 1920's that reflect the plans of Gaudi for his own, unique, 'organic' utopian community. There was the World of Tomorrow from the 1939-40 New York World's Fair. Walt Disney World's Epcot, even. There are planned communities all across the country, including Disney's own Celebration in central Florida.
These ideas were really only the seeds for the future, and none of them has truly caught on as the next generation of cities. Building a planned community in rural countryside can be moderately successful, but nothing on the scale of a true city has ever been attempted.
The Segway HT makes that possible. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that Dean's real motive behind all of this was to effect greater change in cities. He's probably even said as much.
If our culture adopts this technology, there's no need to have automobiles in our cities - reducing noise, pollution, and freeing up valuable space occupied by infrastructure.
So, my reaction - I think people are missing the point. I think it's about more than the Segway HT. I think it's about the possibilities that it opens up for change. It's the first invention that I can think of that has the potential to really change cities. There's been nothing in the history of urban development, or transportation, that really comes close.
Of course, if nobody agrees with me, we'll still be guzzling gas and driving around tanks for another 50 years
