Segway CTO becoming VP of Apple product design -- yes, really

Yeah, we're surprised to hear it too. Nevertheless, word coming out of the SegwayChat forums has Doug Field, Chief Technology Officer at Segway, heading to Apple as VP of product design. What makes the move oh so interesting is the history between Jobs and Field. See, back in the early days, when Segway was still Ginger and Dean Kamen was harvesting pre-launch industry reactions, Kamen brought the people mover to Steve Jobs. El Jobso's reaction to Field's design is the stuff of Harvard Business school legend:

"I think it sucks," said Jobs, "Its shape is not innovative, it's not elegant, and it doesn't feel anthropomorphic."

How times do change.

Read -- Doug Field joining Apple
Read -- Steve Jobs' thoughts on Segway design

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 8th 2008 5:38PM]

It seems like many of you are missing the point of Jobs' criticisms of the pre-production Segway. He did not think the Segway itself was a piece of junk, he thought the design of it was. The idea and capabilities of the Segway, he loved. If you read just a little of that Harvard Business School article, this is obvious.

"You have this incredibly innovative machine but it looks very traditional." - Jobs

His whole stance what that a brilliant idea was never going to have a chance in the market because it looked like ass. whatever you think of the Segway, you have to admit that it's technically impressive.

Jobs didn't hire the industrial designer of the Segway, so there is no contradiction about Field joining Apple.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 8th 2008 12:38AM]

As I remember "It", Steve Jobs was the primary proponent of the Segway. All the enthusiasm that surrounded "It" was born from Jobs.

People should get their facts straight.