Modded Vespa rocks touchscreen, XP, and WiFi

Are you ever cruising on your Vespa, listening to The Kinks, pondering the plot of Absolute Beginners, and fantasizing about Twiggy when you think, "Hey, I need to check my email"? Well, you're in luck, because Quang Nguyen, a forward thinking Vespa-modder (no pun intended) has managed to cram a touchscreen rockin', WiFi sportin', XP-equipped PC into his red GTS250. Sure, he's also got a Louis Vuitton seat, but that isn't nearly as exciting as the prospect of being able to watch Quadrophenia and update your MySpace profile from any spot you happen to motor towards. Just make sure to watch out for the Rockers.

[myro255 @ Aug 8th 2007 3:36AM]

This is one of those things that just because you can do something, dosent mean you should....

[Chuckles McGee @ Aug 8th 2007 9:43AM]

GPS is the only reason I'd imagine someone using a touch screen on a VESPA...

[Quang Nguyen @ Aug 8th 2007 4:45PM]

It does have a GPS in it. Holux GPS with Microsoft Streep/map 2007 :)

[myles @ Aug 8th 2007 3:56AM]

That touchscreen is positioned near the shins of the driver. You'd have to drive with your legs wide open, one hand on the steering, and the other between your legs to control the screen. And probably rear-end somebody.

Even at rest, you'd have to kneel down, poke your head around the seat to operate the screen, and look like a total fool.

Pass.

[kyle allen @ Aug 8th 2007 3:58AM]

or you could use it like the guy in the picture.

[kyle allen @ Aug 8th 2007 3:57AM]

sweet! finally i can play my n64 roms whale driving!

[ChrisKejriwal @ Aug 8th 2007 4:56AM]

This is definitely heights of being a geek... Now this is what is called mobile email ;)

[Jason @ Aug 8th 2007 5:09AM]

It doesnt blend does it ?

[Matt @ Aug 8th 2007 5:21AM]

I prefer to mod my Segway.

http://www.beforeisleep.net/labels/segway.html

[Teren @ Aug 8th 2007 5:58AM]

Now that's what you call wardriving :)

[Quang Nguyen @ Aug 8th 2007 6:47AM]

The reasons behind the Vespa mod is not to promote the use of computer while you are driving. It was design so that I can check emails and access internet where ever I go when I'm not driving. Version 2.0 of my Vespa will have Voice Recognition and so I can surf the web via voice command (wireless/bluetooth).
I wouln't have to use the touch screen much.

[s.yo @ Aug 8th 2007 10:41AM]

Quang, i am worshipping your scooter right now.

[Bill @ Aug 8th 2007 7:26AM]

Breaking story - man returns to his Vespa to find the expensive LCD + computer mounted to his bike inexplicably ripped off, leaving only dangling wires behind. Film at 11.

Look, this is pretty cool, but unless you only park in a secure garage, this rig is going to get ripped off in about 2 seconds. Having a cool stereo in a locked car is bad enough - I've had my window bashed in in broad daylight - but a whole computer rig in an open vehicle? God, I hope you have good insurance.

[Quang Nguyen @ Aug 8th 2007 7:54AM]

Yes people have asked me about being affraid of getting it ripped off. I only answer I have is no. I will not let fear be the factor that control my creative talent.

[Bill @ Aug 8th 2007 9:39AM]

Hey, more power to you, man. There's no question that you did some quality work on your rig. Best of luck to you!

[Chowchowbath.com @ Aug 8th 2007 7:38AM]

This is the height of geekish attitude. Yes we all know windows costs less than 150$ now, and so also perhaps a vespa! but this is the most disastrous thing anyone can do to disrupt driving sense! is this what is meant by email on the move :) ??

www.chowchowbath.com
Bangalore. Technology. Life

[joewhat @ Aug 8th 2007 6:54AM]

Hey, a the GTS 250 is around 4000Euros here and a whole lot of fun to drive around with your girl hugging you... at least when it's not raining (which it is almost constantly). I want a car...

[strider_mt2k @ Aug 8th 2007 7:53AM]

Two things:

Do not dis The Kinks.

Everybody's a hero.

[gbeide @ Aug 8th 2007 8:13AM]

I don't get what the pun is.

[Penina @ Aug 8th 2007 9:11AM]

For help with the pun, go here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mods_and_Rockers

[n8diggity @ Aug 8th 2007 9:09AM]

I think they were playing off of "Vista" - A Vista Modder or a Vespa Modder... would have made more sense if the thing was running Vista.

[electronicat @ Aug 8th 2007 6:44PM]

Actually the pun was on "forward thinking." Get it? Scooter moves forward...?

[Bella @ Aug 8th 2007 9:45AM]

Ok this looks like a bad idea to me, its in a awkward position even if you can use hands free through Bluetooth which I got to tell you half the time my phone doesn't even recognize the voice commands because of outside noise, If your parked and are using the computer I assume that the Vespa must be running and that is just killing gas, and if it can be off to use the computer your killing battery.
If there is no way to prevent the driver from using it when they are driving it’s dangerous and will be causing a lot of accidents.
The new flat touch screens on the Vespas are a robbery waiting to happen there is nothing protecting it.

http://www.thenaturalsapphirecompany.com/

[Quang Nguyen @ Aug 8th 2007 10:00AM]

First of all I don't have to run the engine on the Vespa while using the computer. I can use the computer for 5 hrs without charge. The computer is a full computer using AC power and it is not a laptop or tablet-pc. If I need to charge the battery, it only takes me 30-50min for a full charge. BTW the battery is a deep cycle optima 55amps. :)

[beth_in_OC @ Aug 8th 2007 10:15AM]

interesting, I wonder why a laptop at a starbucks isn't as good as being crouched in some oil spotted parking spot in the sun or rain.

these are the kind of creative people that need to address real issues, like starving kids in every country, global warming/cooling (whatever the press says it's doing this week), alternative fuel sources, and so on. this is obviously a talented person, but I wonder why there was such a huge waste of resources and potentally good for humankind?

isn't a little scooter like that for escaping reality rather than bringing negative news from the Internet along with you?

[Rynth @ Aug 8th 2007 10:56AM]

I slightly agree, but hell, thats some awesome Work Quang!

You'll spawn a new craze if your not careful, or is that your plan to take over the world?

[jfls @ Aug 8th 2007 6:02PM]

Anyone who says "Why are we wasting time on (x) when there are important issues like (y)" needs to be punched in the throat. I'm tired of this obnoxious bit of non-logic.

[blueeyesm @ Aug 8th 2007 11:09AM]

Quang, are you commenting from your Vespa right now?

:)

[Jeff @ Aug 8th 2007 11:58AM]

All I can say is, ride on shooting star, man...

+1 to anyone that gets the reference.

[Crazylink @ Aug 8th 2007 1:07PM]

Reference GET!

[Crazylink @ Aug 8th 2007 1:04PM]

That totally kicks my Honda Metropolitan's ass.

[Phil @ Aug 8th 2007 1:07PM]

> That touchscreen is positioned near the shins of the driver.
> You'd have to drive with your legs wide open, one hand on
> the steering, and the other between your legs to control the screen.

Nah, that hand is part of the mod. When it's not on the touchscreen, it's on your Wii.

[petey @ Aug 8th 2007 1:33PM]

I don't think the intent was to compute while commuting. But I have to say it would be cool to have winamp visualizations playing while driving at night. Beats the old blue lights under the frame of those rice cookers.
Why do it? Cause he can!!!
And he has a trophy to boot.

Cheers Quang to "really big gadget"
Petey

[Jane @ Aug 8th 2007 4:16PM]

that scooter is a total nite-mare on wheels!

[godto @ Aug 8th 2007 4:29PM]

well .. i'm as close to Quang as you can get ... and i seen this bike in progress ... Quang spend lot of time and many hours on this .. personally i think he was crazzyyy .. but then .. he does what he love and enjoy ... he always been an artist in the family ... Quang had to learn and buy many tool for this project ... he did 95% all the work himself .. from cutting,bendding, welding the metall ... he even have to learn how to sew to do the sit..(FYI .. he cut up an LV bag just to get the leather for the sit) ..
BTW .. the screen does not interfere with the driving ..

[Quang Nguyen @ Aug 8th 2007 5:33PM]

Okay everyone, I'm not using or turn on the computer while I'm driving. So what is the problem? This is project is about the challenge of how to intergate a full computer system that runs Linux/Window OS into the space of about two Cracker Jack Boxes. It was never ment to show people the use of computer while driving. Cell phone is bad enough.

[jerbils @ Aug 8th 2007 5:48PM]

I love the Who reference, very nice.

[Paul McIntosh @ Aug 8th 2007 10:22PM]

I actually did something like this 4 years ago... well a prototype anyway (with GPS)
http://www.internetscooter.com/blog/2003_01_01_archive.html

Also an italian guy did a better version
http://www.epiacenter.com/modules.php?name=Sections&sop=viewarticle&artid=56

My experience was that it needs to be waterproof, visible in sunlight and the touch screen needs to work with gloves. My other experience was that the GPS told me how bad my speedometer read (10Km/hr too high) so I have now been spending time making me Vespa go faster :)

[Quang Nguyen @ Aug 9th 2007 1:09AM]

The thing about the Italian guy mod was that he mounted the screen and strap the computer between the vespa. My modded requirement is that the computer must intergraded inside the vespa and that I can use my bare finger the use the touch screen. The screen I use is a capacitive touch screen. It is a glass and it does not get damage if people scratch. Of course not saying that you couldn't damage the screen with a rock. For the future version, I might move away from using touchscreen and use small touch pad that mount on the dashboard. Much better to nagivate and much more accurate. There are a lot more features that I left out and did not show.

[Paul McIntosh @ Aug 9th 2007 1:20AM]

just a clarification - I meant the italian guys set-up was better than my set-up. Yours is by far the most polished looking one of them all. An XP machine is great too because you get a lot more software that will run on it.

I'll get around to finishing off mine one day :)

[craig @ Aug 9th 2007 7:24AM]

Brilliant!!!!! East Meets west meets retro meets mod meets jetsons.

[Ariel @ Aug 9th 2007 3:10PM]

Dang, someone has too much money on their hands. I got a scooter because I was poor. Seriously, you could be putting your cash to better and less ridiculous uses. I honestly much prefer having a glovebox there . . .where I can actually put useful things. I admit: it looks neat. But I can't see it being useful at all (or where one puts a cd/dvd in).

[Quang Nguyen @ Aug 12th 2007 1:11AM]

You can put a CD/DVD in by open the side door and push a button and the DVD tray holder will pop out. :)