Those few of you who joined me in watching “Arrested Development,” the short-lived sitcom on Fox a few years ago, will remember that magician Gob Bluth’s dorkiness was enhanced by his piloting a Segway around town. Well, GM and Segway apparently didn’t want the Gobs of the world to be alone any longer: they have teamed up to create a two-person Segway concept called the P.U.M.A.
Project P.U.M.A. stands for Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility, and it’s been all over the Internets lately. The two occupents of the vehicle are seated, rather than having to stand, and it’s capable of going 35 mph for about 35 miles, similar to many neighborhood electric vehicles.
Here are the P.U.M.A.’s dork credentials:
- An acronym for a name
- A small set of front wheels — training wheels, if you will — for stability when stopped
- Video-game-style steering apparatus
- Upright pod design (the yellow stripes on the concept do not help)
- No room for anything but the two dorks inside and their iPhones
As this is an experimental vehicle, no price has been set, and this is likely not its final form (though it’s probably pretty close). GM and Segway hope to bring the P.U.M.A. to market in 2012. God help us.
Now that I have made my feelings clear on what is likely a breakthrough in both technology and heights of dorkitude, make your feelings known in the comments.
Tags: GM, personal transportation, PUMA, Segway
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Segway is an innovator in electric propulsion. Forget about the formfactor; the propulsion systems they design have an incredibly high efficiency, with very little environmental impact. GM has some very impressive research behind their V2V technology, which will revolutionize the way we navigate our city streets. Think about a day when people like yourself pose no threat to the intelligent masses on the road.
These are two innovative American companies coming together at a crucial time in our history to think about tomorrow’s needs. A prototype is not a product by definition, think about the concept.
They re-introduced American innovation, when we desparately need it. Think outside the box.
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Segway is an innovator in electric propulsion. Forget about the formfactor; the propulsion systems they design have an incredibly high efficiency, with very little environmental impact. GM has some very impressive research behind their V2V technology, which will revolutionize the way we navigate our city streets. Think about a day when people like yourself pose no threat to the intelligent masses on the road.
These are two innovative American companies coming together at a crucial time in our history to think about tomorrow’s needs. A prototype is not a product by definition, think about the concept.
They re-introduced American innovation, when we desparately need it. Think outside the box.
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Man you are such a ballbag, the whole reason behind this petty/spitful little stab at people/engineers that are more inteligent than you could only ever dream of being, is pittyful!
As said above, YOU really need to think out of the box, it’s the concept which is a marvel, not the product!And Finaly drop the whole inferreority complex about not owning a Segway, and calling the people the be privilaged enough to try/own one “DORKS”
You are one spitful, geollous individual that I hope I never have the incoveneince of meeting or speaking to again!SEGWAY AND DEAN KARMEN RULE, as do the people that can understand/like the concept for what is, not the product!
Sorry to everyone else, but it neededto be said, end of!
Sorry everyone, it needed saying!
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