Nissan and AIST partner up to make foot-sized Segway shoes, enable first tracks all year

For the northern half of the world it's almost ski season, and thus a curious time to debut a pair of devices that allow skiing in the summertime. Nevertheless Nissan and Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology are introducing this pair of two-wheeled, self-balancing devices. Lace up your fresh New Balance kicks, grab onto the handlebars, then hop on to go for a ride. Each one detects weight shifts and motors itself in the direction you want to go -- or at least the direction you're leaning. They don't look particularly stable nor safe, but they could enable some sweet concrete hot doggin' in the summertime -- and some sick splits if you don't have your snowplow perfected.

[Bublik25 Posted Oct 27th 2009 7:37AM]

with those thing you will be even more fatter...
c'mon people use your legs be healthy...

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 8:10AM]

i'm with you on that, after seeing wall-e this is one step towards that....this should only be used for people with handicaps...

[TikiTeko Posted Oct 27th 2009 9:15AM]

Totally agree. We have not gotten really stronger, without our technology we will ALL die in 3 months. We are weaker, lamer, more self-centered than before. Technology is not bad at all, but when you rely so deeply on it, it can really bring problems. (On the opposite it can also help. For example: ambulances, online conferences to save on plane fuel and fares, etc.)

But, we have enough with the cars, c'mon people, like t was said, use your legs (if you are a person who suffered an accident, this is something really great where technology shines though)

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 11:06AM]

hahahaha, I agree too. I keep thinking of Wall-e. All the people got fat because the technology did it for them. I guess we are still on course...in regard to engineering our own demise. :)

[MJGAMER 1991 XBL Posted Oct 27th 2009 2:28PM]

Look mah, no hands!

[Bublik25 Posted Oct 27th 2009 2:46PM]

more sounds like look mah with out using my legs...

[musback Posted Oct 27th 2009 7:51AM]

Man, I want to give that to my grandma and see what happens, to share it on Youtube

[TikiTeko Posted Oct 27th 2009 9:15AM]

You don't deserve love or grandma's cookies...

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 8:06AM]

I always thought gyro technology could be used to get rid of the wheelchair, and develop some device that will make people not able to walk able to interact with the environment and other people in a better fashion. Seems like they're onto something here, they'll just have to change their target group.

[conscious Posted Oct 27th 2009 8:09AM]

I'd prefer buying just one and using it as a scooter.

[dledet Posted Oct 27th 2009 8:11AM]

Granny...downtown New York...can't find the brake...yelling

[egghead Posted Oct 27th 2009 8:47AM]

I just noticed the shoes, New Balance, coincidence...?

[Danni3 Posted Oct 27th 2009 9:10AM]

hurray :D now we can finally have those skates in AirGear manga

[Takashi Omoto Posted Oct 27th 2009 10:20AM]

Lose the handlebars, put some real power in those wheels, and you have motorized rollerblades you can do some pretty impressive stunts in. There's a really futuristic xtreme sport hidden in there somewhere. I think it involves flametrowers, too.

[fastharryDOTcom Posted Oct 27th 2009 9:21AM]

Still not as cool as the shoe I own, of which is is handmade and one of 10 in the world..

http://fastharry.com/?page_id=80

[COCOViper Posted Oct 27th 2009 10:00AM]

Yea there had better be a software condition that doesn't allow each unit to drive more than 2-3 feet from each other or everyone using this will occasionally find each leg motoring away from each other...and that would be unpleasant.

[erh Posted Oct 27th 2009 10:20AM]

What's the point of balancing on one wheel? Roller-blades work fine.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 10:37AM]

Things can go wrong when things split apart...

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 10:46AM]

I had to create an account just to comment on this. Stop milking this technology. Think of something new. Where are our flying cars. There are 100 iterations of a segway, and this was the worst. Please go back to the drawing board with lame ideas like this. I'd rather see another cellphone review(laugh) than this.

[wiserocz Posted Oct 27th 2009 10:48AM]

First Segway splits in 3...2....1....

[Blore40 Posted Oct 27th 2009 10:49AM]

Professor Cuthbert Calculus's invention!

[Kuyper Posted Oct 27th 2009 12:58PM]

Almost stolen straight from the drawing! Ah, what memories this brings back!

[nrb Posted Oct 27th 2009 10:58AM]

What's the point of a balancing act at this point? I don't see any advantage of this over motorized roller skates.

[EdgeOne Posted Oct 27th 2009 1:01PM]

Wait, I've done this before; a pair of in-line skates with a good sense of balance.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 27th 2009 3:22PM]

Reminds me of Air Gear... (o_o)

[HektikLyfe Posted Oct 27th 2009 2:14PM]

Submit obligatory but hilarious America's Funniest Home Videos "My shoes each have a mind of their own street lamp accident nutcracker" clips NOW!

[Giroro Posted Oct 27th 2009 4:01PM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSB5NM3rWtc#t=7m36s

[Giroro Posted Oct 27th 2009 4:03PM]

damn this comment system. damn it to hell.

[Giroro Posted Oct 27th 2009 4:03PM]

Wheels for feet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSB5NM3rWtc#t=7m36s

[kingu Posted Oct 28th 2009 10:02PM]

AT-AT leader standing by.