Toyota i-unit creates new term: personal mobility
By Joshua Fruhlinger 
posted Dec 7th 2004 5:28AM
posted Dec 7th 2004 5:28AM
To meet individuals' "wishes to enjoy freedom of movement, harmony with society, and harmony with the Earth's natural environment," Toyota has created the i-unit personal mobility vehicle. Basically Transformers for people with lots of money, the i-unit can run in a low-speed upright or high-speed reclining position. It is also shaped like a leaf, which, according to the same designers that created the "personal mobility" term, "seeks to express the power of the unknown, the logic of living things and the simple beauty of waste-free functionality." Which is exactly what we think every time we see a leaf. All it needs is some gatling guns and it'd be ready for the next Aliens flick.
Oh, please! Personal mobility has been a buzzword for ages. In some circles, anyway. Please also see this Blair article from like, 7 years ago. http://www.blairmag.com/blair6/scooter/
If this continues to happen, the Segway may not have been a bad business idea. Maybe it's like the Apple Newton, too early for it's time.
Is it just me or does personal mobility vehicles have to only carry one person? Part of the fun of traveling is knowing you can go with friends.
Looks like the designers were watching a lot of Earth: Final Conflict.
Regarding the previous comment on personal mobility vehicles only carrying a single passenger: that's the whole point. Most Americans who commute waste resources by driving individually; "personal mobility" is an attempt to reduce waste that takes a different route than the more prevalent "car pool/mass transit" method. Given the penchant for single-passenger SUV driving that we* seem to have, this approach might be just as effective...which, from what I've seen, is (sadly) "not very".
It looks like a high speed electric wheelchair designed by the Minbari.
Is anyone really in the market for one of these things?
The Segway didn't tank because of the business model--rich people will always be spending ridiculous amounts on ridiculous things. It tanked because of the design of the unit itself. It looks too much like a motorized scooter, and getting around in it is actually more of a chore than walking. It's not versatile enough to handle hopping street curbs and such, and not fast enough to make going around obstacles worth it.
The i-unit looks to be more worthwhile, as it doesn't require a constant balancing act on the part of the user, and can (hopefully) go fast enough that one can drive around obstacles and still save time vs. walking.
Oh, one other thing the i-unit has over the Segway: Speakers!
I can see it now: a group of three or four bass-crazy ricers crusing through the neighborhood on their i-units (painted with flames and tribal graphics, of course), seeming to bounce erratically, as their dual ground-firing cannon-style subwoofers actually lift them off the ground an inch or two with each beat.
Yup, Toyota knows their market alright. :D
Re: Halbyrd
The Segway does NOT require a "constant balancing act on the part of the user." That was the point of the Segway and what made it such a big deal. It balances itself. That was part of the high cost (the rest being that it uses very high end components, at least they were when they came out).
This does not look like a leaf.
It looks like a vagina.
Sign me up!
I think that the whole leaf thing is also the fact that is supposedly made out of all environmentally safe plant-based materials.
They should design one with enough space to carry a baby as well.
New mothers often have the hardest time getting around with the bubs.
Kap
I WANT ONE!!
I just love the idea of the new "units". The only question I have is what exactly does
"high speeds" mean? I know the i-foot was said to do about 1mph. But what about the i-unit? How fast can it go?
My God!
I thought my weird-looking Trikke was something, this looks way Sci Fi from Earth Final Conflict. If I had enough money, I am there in line to buy it, if my wife lets me! (She is still scared of that flying car called a Moller)
i've seen this unit in actual demo. i was at aichi expo in nagoya japan and it's really impressive. if there's a production unit then i'd get one!
does anyone know where i can download the soundtrack for the presentation of the i-unit/i-foot. i love the music! or is there anywhere i can download the actual video presentation?
thanks!