4 ms·

If Google can avoid the "Segway curse" of extreme dorkiness, I can only then see Google Glass having a chance at being revolutionary.

blhack 14y ago
Segways didn't "fail" because they were dorky, they didn't see wide adoption because they were [and are] extremely expensive.
- julian37 14y ago
  I can't imagine Google Glass will be exactly cheap either. Also, just like Segway has been facing regulatory issues [1], Glass deployment might be hampered by safety and privacy issues, at least initially and in some markets. Not too far-fetched of a comparison really. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segway_PT#Restrictions_on_use http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segway_PT#Restrictions_on_use
  - blhack 14y ago
    Retail price is about $1500 on the glass.
    - driverdan 14y ago
      That's early adopter price. Final retail price will be much lower.
- jzwinck 14y ago
  They're also somewhat dangerous, having killed the guy who bought the Segway company, among others. That is not mitigated by the fact that the Segway was marketed as something like better walking, discouraging helmet use (even while claiming in safety manuals that helmets are required).
  - markdown 14y ago
    AFAIK he drove off a cliff. He would just have quickly died if he had walked off the cliff, or ridden off with a bicycle. While anything on wheels is more dangerous than walking, it's disingenuous to claim that this particular death is proof of the danger of travelling by Segway.
- damoncali 14y ago
  ...and not particularly useful.
- shirro 14y ago
  And mostly useless. Most active people would prefer walking or cycling to maintain their fitness. Most inactive people don't have the coordination and would rather sit down on a mobility scooter. It was a cool idea with a limited market. Glass will succeed if people find it useful enough and the dorkiness will become cool. It is really an extension of the smartphone user interface and smartphones are undeniably useful. People currently wear glasses and those ridiculous bluetooth earpieces so it isn't a big stretch.

blhack 14y ago

Segways didn't "fail" because they were dorky, they didn't see wide adoption because they were [and are] extremely expensive.

julian37 14y ago
I can't imagine Google Glass will be exactly cheap either. Also, just like Segway has been facing regulatory issues [1], Glass deployment might be hampered by safety and privacy issues, at least initially and in some markets. Not too far-fetched of a comparison really. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segway_PT#Restrictions_on_use http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segway_PT#Restrictions_on_use
- blhack 14y ago
  Retail price is about $1500 on the glass.
  - driverdan 14y ago
    That's early adopter price. Final retail price will be much lower.
jzwinck 14y ago
They're also somewhat dangerous, having killed the guy who bought the Segway company, among others. That is not mitigated by the fact that the Segway was marketed as something like better walking, discouraging helmet use (even while claiming in safety manuals that helmets are required).
- markdown 14y ago
  AFAIK he drove off a cliff. He would just have quickly died if he had walked off the cliff, or ridden off with a bicycle. While anything on wheels is more dangerous than walking, it's disingenuous to claim that this particular death is proof of the danger of travelling by Segway.
damoncali 14y ago
...and not particularly useful.
shirro 14y ago
And mostly useless. Most active people would prefer walking or cycling to maintain their fitness. Most inactive people don't have the coordination and would rather sit down on a mobility scooter. It was a cool idea with a limited market. Glass will succeed if people find it useful enough and the dorkiness will become cool. It is really an extension of the smartphone user interface and smartphones are undeniably useful. People currently wear glasses and those ridiculous bluetooth earpieces so it isn't a big stretch.