Originally Posted by
ItsJustMe
How does the fact that many people haven't heard of him invalidate the argument that he's not an idiot?
Kamen is one of the most responsible entrepreneurs on the planet right now. He's doing insane amounts of work to make the world a better place. He's been in the news dozens of times.
The reason people don't know who he is is that most people don't remember squat unless it's holding a gun or has tits.
Well, yeah.
I never said that that wasn't the case.
Nobody remembers that he invented the insulin pump, adapted an engine to water purification, or anything else besides the Segway. He's "that Segway guy", the one who loudly proclaimed that the world would be turned upside down by some secret device. Before its launch, nobody even knew that this thing would have
wheels.
Where I think he failed was in generating the hype that preceded the Segway's introduction. It was like a circus sideshow where you're hoping to see the Eighth Wonder Of The World, which turns out to be a guy born with twelve fingers.
What I'm saying is, public perception matters. He could be the most genius human ever to exist, but if the public thinks he's crazy, then that's all he'll be remembered as. They don't see him with a new water purification system, they see him drinking his pee.
It could still be improved, though. Change the power source and it could run for a lot longer. Maybe pay some attention to Honda's hydrogen efforts and adapt it to the Segway chassis. The guy who uses one at summer camp wouldn't have to bring out the old golf cart anymore.
*edit* And, like ILTB mentioned, improve its weight. The lightest one is 70 lbs? What typical Segway rider -- someone who's at least able to stand up, but doesn't walk or bike so much -- is going to succeed in lugging one back home after it's run out of juice?