Toshiba's fuel cell-powered "Segway competitor" in the works?

Sure, we've seen plenty of Segway wannabes, but Toshiba is reportedly planning to go head to head (or wheel to wheel, depending on perspective) with the human transporting giant by releasing a "competitor" of its own. While details are scant at this point, photos have surfaced that showcase Tosh's presumably forthcoming fuel-cell powered scooter, and it apparently boasts a safer, sturdier design than the hopelessly recalled Segway. Interestingly, the mysterious device is said to sport "LED lights" and communication sensors on the front to "prevent collisions" with other riders and "auto-navigate" when possible. Considering that the manually-driven Segways are illegal on Japanese streets, this functionality would hopefully legalize the machine for public use, but matching up this bad boy with a HT-V1A on a deserted street would give a whole new meaning to Tokyo drift, eh?

[Via Crave]

[strider_mt2k @ Nov 15th 2006 11:27AM]

It also dries your hands with a 400 Mph gust of air apparently.

[JPBOSS @ Nov 15th 2006 2:31PM]

Yep, looks just like the Dyson Airblade, just bigger. hehe

[Monte @ Nov 15th 2006 11:01PM]

My thoughts exactly!

[Michael Parker McEachern @ Nov 15th 2006 11:42AM]

why would anyone waste money trying to go against the segway?

that thing was a shit-festival and everyone knows it

[strider_mt2k @ Nov 15th 2006 11:45AM]

Segways are not permitted at the shit festival.

[Foof @ Nov 15th 2006 11:55AM]

Indeed, looks like a Dyson.

[Ken @ Nov 15th 2006 12:06PM]

Look at the "face" on that thing! It's the RGB eyes from the aliens in "War of the Worlds".

That's no Segway competitor... it's a robot for our new alien overlords!

[Steve Jobs @ Nov 15th 2006 12:45PM]

Ha! Wait until we release out "i-Walk"!

[SugarDaddy @ Nov 15th 2006 12:48PM]

What kind of fuel cell?

[Michael Parker McEachern @ Nov 15th 2006 1:13PM]

what do you mean it's not permitted at the shit-festival?

it shouldn't be permitted anywhere.

[Nick @ Nov 15th 2006 2:10PM]

haha i thought people riding segways looked retarded. that thing is 10x worse

[blackfeather @ Nov 15th 2006 2:19PM]

"Ok, Captain Pike... Is it one blink for no and two blinks for yes?"

[JC @ Nov 15th 2006 2:25PM]

At least this one will protect you from a kick in the nuts you'll probably get for riding it in the first place.

[glacia00 @ Nov 15th 2006 2:48PM]

I can't even tell exactly how you stand or do you sit on this thing. Regardless it will never make it out of Japan because of the look. I'm curious why so many Japanese designs have an almost disturbingly infantile look to them. I'm not saying it needs a gun-turret but this might as well have a giant hello-kitty sticker on it.

[apeguero @ Nov 15th 2006 4:30PM]

What the hell is this? It looks like a projector of some kind in the front. Is she standing up or sitting/kneeling next to it? What a retarded looking thing. Being that this looks like a robot, we'll probably hear one of those "overlords" comments pretty soon here.

[number40one @ Nov 15th 2006 4:38PM]

Apparently one merely has to be capable of performing auto-felatio in order to ride this thing.

Where do your... uh... LEGS go?

Maybe their trying to one-up the Segway's laziness factor by requiring riders to amputate their legs.

[Loneguitarist @ Nov 16th 2006 4:54AM]

it's clearly just a mobile version of the Dyson hand-dryer for persons with giant hands. I have such hands. I shall be purchasing one of these.

[Jordan @ Nov 16th 2006 11:29AM]

I can see it now...

"Remember, Captain Pike.... it's one beep for 'yes,' and two beeps for 'no.' "

[Taro at news.3yen.com @ Nov 17th 2006 10:22PM]

Ok, ok, had enough fun? I wrote the original engRish report and stole the picture from a insanely vague Japanese PR release that was not fully released (maybe it was recalled). The Toshiba "Jegway" in the picture is only a 1/2 scale prototype. The "Jegway" is actually a 3-wheel device and may be locked in the folded position so people don't try to ride during testing (Toshiba did not offer any explanation and their Japanese website no details or pictures).

-- Taro http://news.3yen.com