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]

[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