japanese segway

[Robert Cunningham]

This caught my eye while reading my daily blogs.
Thought the community would be interested in this.
http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news-10767-The+Japanese+Segway+PMP-2.html

The Japanese have developed a segway like device minus the handlebars.
Seems INC may finally have some competition in the marketplace.

[voiceguy]

Any potential lack of marketability aside, doesn't Segway INC have a patent on the "Smart Motion" technology? If so, would this device/product infringe on that patent?


ASR -- An Actor who can glide and chew gum at the same time

"Every journey of a thousand feet ... begins with but a single lean forward..."

[JohnM]

quote:Originally posted by voiceguy

Any potential lack of marketability aside, doesn't Segway INC have a patent on the "Smart Motion" technology? If so, would this device/product infringe on that patent?

Not necessarily. What if the Japanese say they patented it first. Check this out:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20020113-2414.html
http://www.techgeek.com/subpage/index.phtml?topic=999&subtopic=998&item=1097

JohnM
Anything worth doing for 2 hours is 10 times more worthwhile if done for 20 hours.
RUSA #235

[byrd]

Frankly, I don't think you could get me on that thing! It doesn't look that safe.