I agree with Jimbo, on it's likely markets/applications, but I disagree that Kamen is not touting it as a replacement for cars. That is exactly what he is suggesting - that people use this device instead of cars for short trips in cities and around their neighborhoods. He's made that quite clear both in his interviews and on the segway website.
The thing can't negotiate a curb, would be useless and dangerous in heavy pedestrian traffic, has no environmental protection, etc. It will never be heavily used in major cities. It is too heavy for most people to easily move up or down stairs of any kind. The battery run-time is too short for most people to commute to work even if they had a bike path or something to use, which most do not. Sure the segway offers more technology, etc. but as a practical commuting matter, if people wanted to take an electric scooter device to work, they would already be doing it for $600 instead of $3000
The real markets are corporate and government - factory floors, large warehouses, amusement parks, at the track, maybe some shopping centers/malls, airports, sports arenas, vacation spots, tours, museums, apartment complexes, office and maybe some government mail delivery, couriers within large buildings, heck even large car dealerships.
[This message has been edited by Lud (edited 04 December 2001).]
