Segs-4-Vets hooks up veterans with Segways
Dean Kamen's done a lot of work over the years building technologies for the disabled, which lends a bit of irony to the fact that his most well-known consumer transport, the Segway, is seeing some increased use by veterans. A non-profit by the name of Disability Rights Advocates for Technology (DRAFT) has snapped up some 150 units over the past few years -- 30 of which just went out last week -- to help amputees get around quicker and further than with your run of the mill wheelchair. Results of the Segs-4-Vets program sound positive, but at $6k a pop the price continues to be prohibitive for wider rollout and donation, even at discount directly from Segway.[Thanks, Laura]
Filed under: Transportation
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
psychofire1 @ May 12th 2008 6:06AM
Screw old people.
Ayman @ May 12th 2008 6:09AM
your ganna be old Soon enough
so basically your screwing yourself
El Taco @ May 12th 2008 6:37PM
you want to screw old people, don't you?
ugg.tryptophan @ May 12th 2008 7:02PM
not all war veterans are old psycho
Ayman @ May 12th 2008 6:08AM
Can someone explain this too me
if your a veteran who lost your legs
and segway helps you go around but the trick is that you have to stand up... you guys following!!!!
bi0hazard @ May 12th 2008 6:38AM
maybe some of them only lost one leg, or they have artificial legs.
ethana2 @ May 12th 2008 6:12AM
I may want to start a business to circumvent their patents... Well blatantly ignore more like. Really there's no reason those things should cost that much. They're worse than Apple.
If you do want one and are technically inclined, follow these instructions:
http://www.netcraft.com.au/geoffrey/meta/
Oinquer @ May 12th 2008 9:23AM
yep...seen two or 3 DIY Segway for 1000 bucks tops...
Flashpoint @ May 12th 2008 7:58AM
What we SHOULD do is give the veterans (who desire REVENGE) a wheelchair covered with armor - toting 2 machine guns and a rocket launcher.
Then we refield them !
Instead of letting them sit out the rest of their lives, they can become machines of war and rain fire on the terrorists.
Ayman @ May 12th 2008 9:04AM
Okay Ironman on a wheel chair
hrt @ May 12th 2008 10:29AM
40k Space Marines much? Dreadnoughts ftw!
ugg.tryptophan @ May 12th 2008 6:59PM
"even in death i serve",or in this case, disability
Darwin @ May 12th 2008 9:02AM
How is it ironic, "that his most well-known consumer transport, the Segway, is seeing some increased use by veterans?" His former wheelchair invention was just that, a wheelchair. So vets using the Segway more and more seems like a natural progression.
patsy @ May 12th 2008 9:50AM
Exactly my thought, someone needs some schoolin' in the meaning of "irony." Irony is the fact that even though much of Kamen's work has been to help the less abled, his most prominent consumer product is used mostly by rather able-bodied yuppies.
Hagbard Celine @ May 12th 2008 11:49AM
Good, I'm not the only one. I read it a couple of times asking, "What's ironic about that?"
Engadget,
Please...PLEASE, get someone to proof your work!
El Taco @ May 12th 2008 6:42PM
geez, don't be so mean to Ryan. All of that wii fit is obviously throwing him off, so give him a break!
Podaman @ May 12th 2008 10:03AM
Segs-4-Peglegs
Paul @ May 12th 2008 10:49AM
It's good that the company wants to do some good.
Phil @ May 12th 2008 11:10AM
They couldn't pick a better acronym than DRAFT?!?!?
Rainier @ May 12th 2008 12:31PM
Oops, I accidently read that as "Sega" and my curious gaming finger clicked!
YouFaceTheTick @ May 12th 2008 1:42PM
"Dean Kamen's done a lot of work over the years building technologies for the disabled, which lends a bit of irony to the fact that his most well-known consumer transport, the Segway, is seeing some increased use by veterans."
Irony would be something unexpected. This is correct: Dean Kamen hates the military and in an ironic twist his most famous invention is helping the military."
ugg.tryptophan @ May 12th 2008 6:54PM
better than spitting on them; the vets deserve it