Inventor Dean Kamen demonstrates the p Series Segway HT at the U.S. Department of Commerce on February 14, 2002.

The Segway PT (formerly HT) is a two-wheeled, self-balancing transportation device invented by Dean Kamen and unveiled in December 2001. It is available in various models and form factors produced by the company Segway Inc. of New Hampshire. The name "Segway PT" stands for "Segway Personal Transporter", while the older acronym, HT, stood for "Human Transporter". Image File history File links SegwayHT.jpg Image of the Segway HT from the Technology Administrations Office of Technology Policy in the United States Department of Commerce. ... Dean Kamen on one of his inventions, the Segway Human Transporter. ... The United States Department of Commerce is a Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. ... February 14 is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Dean Kamen on one of his inventions, the Segway Human Transporter. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... Official language(s) English Capital Concord Largest city Manchester Area  Ranked 46th  - Total 9,359 sq mi (24,239 km²)  - Width 68 miles (110 km)  - Length 190 miles (305 km)  - % water 3. ...

Computers and motors in the base keep the Segway upright at all times. Users lean forward to move forward, and back to move backwards. In new models turning is also done by leaning left and right while in older/discontinued models via twisting a hand grip on the left handlebar. Segway PTs are driven by electric motors at up to 12.5 mph (10 mph in the small discontinued p-Series). Gyroscopes are used to detect departures from perfect balance. In laws that regulate it, the applicable category is sometimes called "electric personal assistive mobility device" (EPAMD). A Lego RCX Computer is an example of an embedded computer used to control mechanical devices. ... A gyroscope is a device for measuring or maintaining orientation, based on the principle of conservation of angular momentum. ...

History

After successful field trials by German police in February 2006, the Segway is on its way towards official approval in Germany.

The Segway was first demonstrated to the public on December 3, 2001. This date was a full year ahead of schedule because the developers wished to forestall the media overhype due to leaks from a book manuscript about what the publisher termed "IT." The media hype had reached a frenzy that claimed, without any actual details, that "IT" was some sort of revolutionary invention. To cope with the expected demand, or so the rumors go, the factory in Bedford, New Hampshire was originally supposed to be designed to build up to 40,000 units per month. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2126x1685, 493 KB) Summary Pilotversuch des Segway bei der Polizei in Saarbrücken, February 2006 Field trials of the Segway by the police of Saarbrücken (Germany), February 2006 Reinhold Eder <reinhold. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2126x1685, 493 KB) Summary Pilotversuch des Segway bei der Polizei in Saarbrücken, February 2006 Field trials of the Segway by the police of Saarbrücken (Germany), February 2006 Reinhold Eder <reinhold. ... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... Map of New Hampshires 234 municipalities with Bedford shaded in yellow. ...

During the months following the demonstration in late 2001, three limited-edition Segways were sold on auctions at Amazon.com for more than 100,000 dollars each to raise money for Kamen's education effort FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology; http://www.usfirst.org/). A full year later, in late 2002, Amazon finally began to take pre-orders for the first units with first deliveries in March 2003. By April 2003 Amazon, the official site, started regular sales. Amazon. ...

The company was 'rumored' to expect to sell between 50,000 and 100,000 units in the first year, but six months later, by September, only 6,000 units had been sold ($36M in sales). The figure was revealed during the voluntary recall of all Segways in September 2003; the press release described the software hazard behind the recall in these terms: "Under certain operating conditions, particularly when the batteries are near the end of charge, some Segway HTs may not deliver enough power, allowing the rider to fall. This can happen if the rider speeds up abruptly, encounters an obstacle, or continues to ride after receiving a low-battery alert."[1] The company offered a software upgrade as a remedy, along with a reminder to users to follow proper operating techniques (literally not to ignore warnings that the unit is running out of battery power- the primary cause of the recall). 2003 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December A timeline of events in the news for September, 2003. ...

In October 2003 the company released a smaller, lighter, less expensive model ($3999), the p Series Segway (p133) for more urban and pedestrian environments. This has been the favorite model of the inventor, Dean Kamen. He is often seen on it with his special briefcase holder with briefcase. 2003 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December A timeline of events in the news for October, 2003. ...

In June 2004 Segway LLC released the new "midnight blue" Segway i170 model, and later in October 2004 the company revealed a prototype model of a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle capable of driving on two wheels called Centaur (ATV)[2], but no plans to mass-produce it for sale. In November 2004 Josh Caldwell became the first individual to complete a trans-continental trip from Seattle to Boston by Segway. The trip took 101 days leaving from Seattle on August 8, 2004 and finishing in Boston on November 18, 2004. In 2006 Josh and others released the documentary film "10MPH" which chronicles this journey and has won best documentary in film festivals. 2004 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December See also: June 2004 in sports Deaths in June • 28 Anthony Buckeridge • 26 Naomi Shemer • 26 Yash Johar • 22 Bob Bemer • 22 Thomas Gold • 22 Francisco Ortiz Franco • 16 Thanom Kittikachorn • 10 Ray Charles • 5 Ronald Reagan... October 2004 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December See also: October 2004 in sports Events Deaths in October • 29 HRH Princess Alice • 25 John Peel • 24 James Cardinal Hickey • 23 Robert Merrill • 19 Paul Nitze • 18 K. M. Veerappan • 16 Pierre Salinger • 10 Christopher... A group of “quad bike” all terrain vehicles The term all-terrain vehicle is used in a general sense to describe any of a number of small open motorised buggies and tricycles designed for off-road use. ... November 2004 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December See also: November 2004 in sports November 2004 in science Events Deaths in November • 30 Pierre Berton • 29 John Drew Barrymore • 26 Bill Alley • 24 Arthur Hailey • 23 Rafael Eitan • 18 Bobby Frank Cherry • 16 John... August 8 is the 220th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (221st in leap years), with 145 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar with 43 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In early 2005 a new kind of lithium ion battery doubled the range of the Segway models i167, i170, and i180 [3]. The more powerful battery also made possible the first off-road model, the Segway XT.

Today (2006)

The new 2006 Segway PT

The Segway PT's detachable wireless InfoKey

In August 2006, Segway discontinued all previous models and announced new second generation designs that upgraded many elements of the previous transporters. New materials, new industrial designs and new functionalities that affected nearly every part of the Personal Transporter were revealed. The new Gen II PT, marketed under the two product lines, i2 and x2, has a distinct new capability to allow users to steer by leaning to the right or left, which matched the intuitive natural of moving forward and backward. Other features were also announced, including numerous tech functions available on the machine as well as by wireless InfoKey access[4]. Image File history File links PTtopview. ... Image File history File links PTtopview. ... Image File history File links PTinfokey. ... Image File history File links PTinfokey. ... August 2006 is the eighth month of that year, and has yet to occur. ...

Although the company has faced disappointments, its sales have increased 50% year-over-year since its release in 2002 which suggests the per month sales have increased to ~2500 units in 2006. Segway Inc is reported to be focused on expanding their presence in industry as well as consumer markets with the new models. The device's high price (new units for sale between US$4000 and US$5500, depending upon the model) is believed to be the main factor responsible for consumer demand being so much lower than expected and for the fact the profit margins are high. Segway Inc. has established dealer franchises throughout the United States where people can examine and test-drive the Segway HTs. Segway Inc. has signed distribution agreements in several foreign markets, including Italy and South Korea. The company currently has more than 100 dealers and distributors internationally.

Uses

The Segway PT is designed to be used on sidewalks, other pedestrian areas, as well as bicycle lanes on city streets depending on local laws. Its footprint is not much bigger than that of a human being. A sidewalk. ... Look up Pedestrian in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Though its creators believe the new Segway PT is ideal for dense urban areas, some Americans believe that US cities (such as Atlanta, Houston, or Los Angeles) were designed to be navigated almost entirely by automobiles through use of freeways and the Interstate Highway system and that there's room neither for Segway PTs nor any alternative forms of transportation. Communities in which the Segway PT would be most successful would be those that are pedestrian-friendly, that is, in walkable communities. In professional planning, "smart growth" encourages communities with shorter distances between home, work, stores, and recreational areas. Therefore, the success of the Segway PT in the market of personal transportation (as opposed to as a recreational device) depends largely on both urban development trends toward "smart growth" rather than toward "urban sprawl," as well as the availability of future more affordable Segway models. Its acceptance may also depend on something less complex, the price of gasoline in the United States. If gas passes $4/gallon, alternative forms of transportation may quickly gain respect. This article is about the state capital of Georgia. ... Houston redirects here. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... It has been suggested that Autobahn be merged into this article or section. ... Interstate Highways in the lower 48 states. ...

If the distance to travel is short, as the EPA states that most car trips in the US are less than 5 miles and contain only one person in the vehicle, a Segway PT can be used for personal transportation between home and office, for getting around the city center, shopping, outdoor trips, etc. It is already used in some theme parks by both visitors and employees. Numerous companies organize guided group tours on Segway HTs in the USA, France, Thailand and other countries. Theme Park is a simulation computer game designed by Bullfrog Productions, released in 1994, in which the player designs and operates an amusement park. ...

A Chicago police officer patrolling on a Segway.

Several organizations have run pilot tests on Segway business use, among them police departments, post offices, warehouses, and utility companies. Some of these pilot programs have demonstrated that Segway PTs can often significantly reduce cost and quickly repay the investment; however, the massive fleet sales which Kamen and others predicted have not yet been forthcoming, new second generation models and new lithium ion batteries that double range may have altered this in recent years. Yet people tend to resist change, for example, during a trial by mail-carriers employed by the United States Post Office to deliver mail on foot, some participants noted that they could not sort mail or hold an umbrella while operating a Segway PT and thus would rather drive large trucks. The participants also complained about the device's battery life; however, the new lithium ion batteries with increased capacity as mentioned above may eliminate that source of resistance. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2000x3008, 703 KB) A chicago police officer on a segway. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2000x3008, 703 KB) A chicago police officer on a segway. ... Chicago (officially named the City of Chicago) is the third largest city in the United States (after New York City and Los Angeles), with an official population of 2,896,016, as of the 2000 census. ... A police officer is a person who works for a police force. ... A USPS Truck at Night A U.S. Post Office sign The United States Postal Service (USPS) is the United States government organization responsible for providing postal service in the United States and is generally referred to as the post office. ...

The Segway PT was developed after the iBOT wheelchair and was intended to be used primarily by able-bodied users. Still, an increasing number of disabled people (4000-7000, according to a group called Disability Rights Advocates for Technology) use Segways to enhance their limited mobility. Among these users are people with multiple sclerosis or arthritis, COPD and even amputees in particular a growing group of war veterans. Using a Segway PT instead of a traditional wheelchair or an expensive iBOT (that costs four to five times as much as a Segway PT) allows them to easily travel around the city, while easing social interactions. This has also been supported by a product called the Segseat that adds a seat to the Segway PT for folks with limited capacity to stand for long periods. However, Segways cannot be marketed as medical devices, because Segways have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a medical device and because Johnson & Johnson has exclusive rights to the medical uses of the balancing technology found within the iBOT and Segway PT. The iBOT is a variety of powered wheelchair, developed by Dean Kamen in a partnership between DEKA and Johnson and Johnsons Independence Technology division. ... The international symbol of access depicts a person in a wheelchair A wheelchair is mobility device that takes the form of a chair on wheels, used by people for whom walking is difficult or impossible due to illness or disability. ... this is a very painful thing my name is lauren!!!!! haha muaha muaha muahaha Arthritis (from Greek arthro-, joint + -itis, inflammation; plural: arthritides) is a group of conditions where there is damage caused to the joints of the body. ... Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term for a group of respiratory tract diseases that are characterised by airflow obstruction or limitation. ... Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma or surgery. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is an international American pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer packaged goods manufacturer founded in 1886. ...

Most of the Segway PT technology is concentrated in its base with the handle being only useful for the human rider. Stripped of the handle, the Segway PT becomes a universal robotic platform that is still capable of balancing whatever is installed and of moving around as easily as with a human. The Segway robotic platform is widely used by robotics developers in universities and private companies. In December 2003, the Associated Press reported that The Pentagon had purchased several Segways, as part of a research program called Mobile Autonomous Robot Software, an attempt to develop more advanced military robots. There have also been some rumours about a batch of sturdier Segways used by soldiers in a pilot exercise. (See also: Bicycles in warfare). Trinomial name Homo sapiens sapiens Linnaeus, 1758 Humans, or human beings, are bipedal primates belonging to the mammalian species Homo sapiens (Latin for wise man or knowing man) under the family Hominidae (the great apes). ... ASIMO, a humanoid robot manufactured by Honda. ... December 2003: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December - → Events December 31, 2003 In Taiwan, President Chen Shui-bian signs a law that allows referendums to be held. ... Associated Press logo Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ... The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located at 48 N. Rotary Road, Arlington, Virginia 22211 (Map). ... Predator drone Military robots are autonomous or remote-controlled devices designed for military applications. ... This article or section should be merged with bicycle infantry The bicycle is not suited for combat. ...

Technology

The Segway PT has electric motors powered by batteries which can be charged from household current. It balances with the help of dual computers with proprietary software, two tilt sensors, and five gyroscopes. (The gyroscopes do not affect the balance; they are merely used as sensors, see detail below.) The servo motors rotate the wheels forwards or backwards as needed for balance or propulsion. The rider accelerates or decelerates by leaning forward or backwards in the direction he or she wishes to travel. On older models, steering is controlled by a twist grip on the left handlebar, which simply varies the speeds between the two motors, rotating the Segway HT (a decrease in the speed of the left wheel would turn the Segway PT to the left). Newer models enable leaning to steer as well as accelerate/decelerate. Rotating magnetic field as a sum of magnetic vectors from 3 phase coils. ... This article or section needs additional references or sources. ... A Lego RCX Computer is an example of an embedded computer used to control mechanical devices. ... A gyroscope is a device for measuring or maintaining orientation, based on the principle of conservation of angular momentum. ...

The Segway PT is built simply to stay balanced in one place. Designed to mirror the process of human walking, if the rider standing on an initially balanced Segway PT leans forward, therefore offsetting the balance, the HT moves forward to regain balance just as in walking a leg moves forward to retain balance (walking is controlled falling). In the Segway PT, changes from a balanced status are first detected by the gyroscopes. While the Segway HT is tilted forward (off-balance), the spin of the gyroscopes is altered and measured by electrical sensors. These electrical signals are passed on to the onboard computers. The computers calculate the data received from the gyroscopes, and determine how to correct the shift in balance. These calculations are converted to different electrical signals which are sent to the motors, directing each motor to activate in the required direction. In the example presented, with the rider leaning forward, the motors would spin so that the wheels move the Segway PT forward. By moving the Segway PT forward, the base of the unit is brought once again underneath the rider and balance is achieved. Note that this process occurs about 100 times per second[5], so small adjustments to maintain balance occur almost immediately after the balance is offset by the rider.

The side effect of this balancing system is that as the Segway PT balances itself the entire unit changes position in the direction it has moved to restore balance. (For example, if the rider leans forward, the entire Segway PT will move forward from its original position, until the rider restores an upright position on the unit.) This is precisely how the Segway PT is controlled -- the balancing and movement is essentially one combined system. Designed much like the physiology of human walking, the Segway system is a balancing system that leads to intuitive motion.

Riders who have had experience with the Segway PT have undoubtedly felt its governor (speed limiting) mechanism. When the Segway HT approaches the maximum speed of the motors, it intentionally begins to overcompensate the balance correction by speeding the motors up slightly faster than required to maintain the normal upright position. This slightly moves the platform out in front, and leans the handlebars backwards towards the rider, eventually nudging the rider to lean back slightly and slow the Segway PT down. If not for the governor, riders would be able to lean farther than the motor can compensate for, like running faster than your legs can keep up with. The Segway PT also slows or stops immediately if the very front of the unit (the control shaft or forward bag) nudges into any obstacle in front of it.

The technology used in the Segway PT is licensed as Segway Smart Motion. Wow Wee, a toy company, is the first licensee, and will make use of it in products (the P.E.A. Bot) debuting sometime in 2006. WowWee Toys Ltd. ...

Models and price

As of 2006, there is a new series out, replacing all the old models. These include: 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• i2: Comes in Black and White, uses the new LeanSteer and InfoKey technologies.
• x2: The new XT model, same upgrades, with its own special software for offroad. Can be equipped with a golf bag carrier, replacing the GT model.

Previous i-Series and p-Series versions included:

• Segway HT i180 — Human Transporter
• Segway HT p133 — Human Transporter
• Segway GT — Golf Transporter
• Segway XT — Cross-Terrain Transporter

The price of a Segway HT or PT is between $4,000 and $5,500, depending on the model.

The Segway's i-Series models maximum speed is 12.5 mph (approximately 20 km/h). Maximum power is 2 horsepower (1500 watt) per servo motor. The i-Series is capable of covering 15-24 miles[6] (24-38 km) on a fully charged lithium ion battery, depending on terrain, riding style, and the condition of the batteries. It takes 8-10 hours to recharge. The p-Series is capable of covering 6-10 miles (10-16 km) on a fully charged nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery, depending on terrain. It takes 4-6 hours to recharge. The horsepower (hp) is the name of several non-metric units of power. ... The watt (symbol: W) is the SI derived unit of power. ...

Operation

Although bicycles and traditional scooters must be "at speed" to balance, the Segway PT can balance while standing still. Yet, a Segway PT must be turned on before it is usable. While it is off, the Segway PT is unable to balance, and the kickstand will not hold a person's weight. The original Segway models were activated using one of three keys:

• Black Key — for beginners. Slowest speed (electronically limited to no more than 6 mph); slower turning rate.
• Yellow Key — for intermediate users and/or sidewalks. Faster speed-up to 8 mph; faster turning rate.
• Red Key — for more advanced users in open areas. Maximum speed-up to 10 mph on p-Series and 12.5mph on i-Series; and max turning rate.

For the new i2 and x2, you use an InfoKey instead to control settings. The Infokey can turn on the PT from up to 15 feet away, as well as turn on beginner's mode (Black Key) or advanced (Red Key), show mileage and a trip odometer, as well as put the Segway into Security mode, which locks the wheels and will set off an alarm if moved, to prevent theft.

Once it is turned on, the original Segways enter a "Power-Assist" mode (for help pulling it up steps and ramps) and the new Gen II models enter a "Riderless Balance" mode. In the older models in Power-Assist mode twisting the left handlebar grip like a motorcycle throttle moves it forward and backward. In power-assist mode it is still not balancing and is not safe to ride. Once powered on and in Power-Assist mode, "Balance mode" is entered by holding the Segway level and pressing down its mode button (red or blue in newer models). In Balance mode, the rider mounts and rides. While riding, there is no traditional throttle. Leaning forward accelerates; leaning back decelerates and goes in reverse. Twisting the left handlebar grip now turns the HT to the right or left.

The dashboard indicator window on the handlebar indicates battery charge level by a ring of black bars around a green smiling face icon. The face smiles and is backlit in green during standard operation. If the battery runs too low or a subsystem is not functioning well, the Segway face will frown and backlight turn red. If it's unsure of the rider's safety it will perfrom a "safety shutdown" and will vibrate and beep for seven seconds (to warn the rider to dismount) before shutting off.

The Segway is turned off by stepping off the platform and then pressing and holding the red or blue-colored mode button until shutdown tones and the face icon's sleeping appearance indicate the shutdown process is engaged. When complete (takes 3 seconds to shutdown all CPUs and subsystems) the Segway and its display turns off.

Trivia

• The Segway has been known by the names Ginger and IT in the past. The name Ginger followed the name of the project the Segway branched from, which was to develop a wheelchair able to climb stairs. It was called Fred Upstairs, after Fred Astaire — hence Ginger.
• The invention and development of the Segway HT is the subject of Code Name Ginger (the paperback edition is titled Reinventing the Wheel), a book by journalist Steve Kemper.
• The name "Segway" is a homophone of "segue" (a smooth transition); PT is an initialism for personal transporter while the old acronym HT was an initialism for human transporter.
• The inspiration behind the Segway HT came from the balancing technology of Kamen's innovative wheelchair, the iBOT, which can climb stairs, and prop itself up onto two wheels, to raise the user into a nearly-upright position. The first iterations of balancing technology were done in early Segway models.
• The Segway resembles the motorized, gyroscopically stabilized unicycles in the science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein titled "The Roads Must Roll."
• The chemist and inventor David E. H. Jones ("Daedalus") described a similar kind of servo-stabilized unicycle, called "the unisphere" in a column in New Scientist magazine on 18 May, 1978.
• The author of an opinion piece in salon.com suggests that Kamen holds that "walking is a remnant of the Dark Ages, an unpleasant time-waster that technology need eradicate" [7]; this point is often noted by critics of the Segway, who feel that walking is a natural human exercise that should be encouraged, not made obsolete, to offset declining health figures.
• President George W. Bush gave a Segway as a gift to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in December 2005. [8]
• Segway Inc. has dropped the "HT" designator in favor of "PT", short for "Personal Transporter", and all information related to previous models has been changed to reflect this.

Fred Astaire Fred Astaire (May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987), born Frederick Austerlitz in Omaha, Nebraska, was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. ... Ginger Rogers on the cover of the April, 1938 issue of Modern Screen Magazine Beautiful Ginger Rogers (July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was a legendary Academy Award-winning American actress and dancer. ... Homonyms (in Greek homoios = identical and onoma = name) are words which have the same form (orthographic/phonetic) but unrelated meaning. ... In music, segue is a direction to the performer. ... Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations formed from the initial letter or letters of words, such as NATO and XHTML, and are pronounced in a way that is distinct from the full pronunciation of what the letters stand for. ... Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations formed from the initial letter or letters of words, such as NATO and XHTML, and are pronounced in a way that is distinct from the full pronunciation of what the letters stand for. ... The iBOT is a variety of powered wheelchair, developed by Dean Kamen in a partnership between DEKA and Johnson and Johnsons Independence Technology division. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... This article is in need of attention. ... Heinlein autographing at the 1976 Worldcon Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7, 1907 – May 8, 1988) was one of the most influential and controversial authors of hard science fiction. ... The Roads Must Roll is a 1940 science fiction short story by Robert A. Heinlein about wide, rapidly moving passenger platforms (like moving sidewalks, but much faster). ... From American Scientist Online [1]: David E. H. Jones is a guest staff member in the chemistry department at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK. In 1962, he earned a Ph. ... Daedalus is a fictional inventor created by David E. H. Jones for his Ariadne column in the New Scientist and The Guardian, and which is currently featured in Nature. ... New Scientist cover - 18 December 2004 New Scientist is a weekly international science magazine covering recent developments in science and technology for a general English-speaking audience. ... Junichiro Koizumi , born January 8, 1942) is the current Prime Minister of Japan. ...

Segway in popular culture

• In an episode of The Simpsons, Kent Brockman is finishing a story saying "... making this the latest Segway scooter crash to claim over one thousand lives." In another episode, The Seven-Beer Snitch, Homer Simpson flees a prison mob on a Segway proclaiming "Fly, Segway, Fly!" only to fall off the edge of the balcony.
• The Segway and its iBOT ancestor were both preceded in concept by the two wheel fire engine of the comic strip character Smokey Stover.
• In the Frasier episode "The Love You Fake," Niles is a Segway tester and is seen riding one throughout the show.
• In Arrested Development, G.O.B. owns a Segway HT and is often seen riding it.
• Shaquille O'Neal is known to own (or have owned) a Segway, as evinced by a tour of his home on MTV Cribs.
• Two Segways were used during Peter Gabriel's Growing Up Live/Still Growing Up Live tours by Peter and his daughter, particularly during the Games Without Frontiers song.
• On the Reise Reise tour Flake Lorenz, the keyboardist from the German rock band Rammstein, rode a Segway HT during the song Amerika in a show in Gothenburg, Sweden. He accidentally ran into the band's lead singer Till Lindemann, giving him a bad knee injury which meant Rammstein's Asian tour had to be cancelled.
• World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) professional wrestler Simon Dean routinely drives a Segway look-alike to ringside before his matches. He has named his Segway look-alike "The Dean Machine".
• Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer, was the first consumer to purchase a Segway.
• In the Family Guy episode "Petergeist" (5/7/06), the Griffin family is shown "Rocky VI" at the Swanson household. Rocky Balboa's (animated) manager rides a Segway through Rocky's Bedroom and crashes it into a wall. It was also featured in the episode 8 Simple Rules For Buying My Teenage Daughter when Neil rides one to a fake X-Men convention at a motel and comments that "These things usually have Segway parking."
• At the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics competition (founded by Dean Kamen, creator of the Segway), Segway HT's are commonly ridden by competition judges and referees.
• During the final episode of Futurama, Fry and Bender ride Segways to Fry's holophone recital and crash into each other.
• In June 2003, President Bush "failed the Segway test" by falling off, though he "managed to leap to safety, landing on his feet."[9].
• Segways were used to provide cameramen with transport and stability during the 2006 British Open Golf championship. They proved popular amongst audience and the competitors alike, Phil Mickelson being notably amused.

The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox network. ... The Seven-Beer Snitch is the fourteenth episode of The Simpsons sixteenth season, first aired on April 3, 2005. ... Homer Jay Simpson is one of the main characters in the animated television series The Simpsons. ... This article is about the comic strip, the sequential art form as published in newspapers and on the Internet. ... Smokey Stover was a comic strip written and drawn by Bill Holman from March 10, 1935 until he retired in 1973. ... Frasier is a critically-acclaimed American TV sitcom whose last original episode aired on May 13, 2004. ... Dr. Niles Crane Dr. Niles Crane is a fictional psychiatrist on the show Frasier. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... This is a list of the main and recurring fictional characters from the Fox television comedy series, Arrested Development. ... Shaquille Rashaun ONeal (born March 6, 1972), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is one of the National Basketball Associations most dominant and famous basketball players. ... The MTV Cribs logo MTV Cribs is a reality television program on MTV that features tours of the houses and mansions of celebrities. ... Peter Brian Gabriel (born February 13, 1950, in Chobham, Surrey, England) is an English musician. ... Christian Flake Lorenz [pronounced Lor-ents] (born November 16, 1966, and sometimes called Doktor Lorenz) is a German musician, best known as keyboardist in the German Tanz-Metall (dance metal) band Rammstein. ... Rammstein is a German NDH-metal band that was formed in 1994. ... oeh, America is a great country! I love America! ... Gothenburg (Swedish: ) ) is a city and municipality in the province Västergötland on the west-coast of Sweden. ... Till Lindemann in 2004. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... Mike Bucci Mike Bucci (born June 5, 1972 in Toms River, New Jersey) is a professional wrestler performing for World Wrestling Entertainment on the RAW brand as Simon Dean (a name possibly inspired by the real name of former wrestler and current WWE road agent Dean Malenko). ... Steve Wozniak or Woz co-founded Apple Computer and designed the Apple II, contributing greatly to the personal computer revolution. ... Apple Computer, Inc. ... Family Guy is an American animated comedy created by Seth MacFarlane for FOX in 1999. ... 8 Simple Rules for Buying My Teenage Daughter is an episode from the fourth season of the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... Neil Goldman is a recurring character on Family Guy. ... The X-Men are a group of comic book superheroes featured in Marvel Comics. ... Look up first in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Dean Kamen on one of his inventions, the Segway Human Transporter. ... Futurama is an American animated television series that follows Philip J. Fry after he is cryonically frozen at midnight, December 31, 1999, and is defrosted a thousand years later in the year 2999. ... The British Open is the title or popular name of a number of sporting tournaments: The British Open golf championship A tennis tournament often called the Wimbledon championships British Open Squash British Open snooker. ... Philip Alfred Mickelson (born June 16, 1970) (nicknamed Lefty for having a left-handed swing), is an American professional golfer. ...

References

External links

• Official Site
• Segway Enthusiast News
• Segway Chat
• Segway Desktop Wallpapers