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New York, 3:59 AM
Mon Nov 30
14 posts in the last 24 hours

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  • posts about #pod more →

    This is How the Segway/GM PUMA Pod Flies Down the Street

    Apple Sends Cease & Desist to Makers of Podium, Want Them to Ditch the 'Pod'

    Ovei is $100,000 Isolation Chamber for Gadgety Privacy

    The PoD: Poor Man's Media PC

    Transport Sleeping Pod Not for the Claustrophobic

    Virtual Communications POD: Best Invention of CES 2007?

    The Pod Replaces Tripods (And has Nothing to do with iPod, Thank God)
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    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of not_a_virus.exe.vbs not_a_virus.exe.vbs
    04/07/09

    In reply to This is How the Segway/GM PUMA Pod Flies Down the Street
    Sorry Toyota makes a better looking chair.

     Reply
    not_a_virus.exe.vbs was starred not_a_virus.exe.vbs was unstarred
    Image of fuchikoma fuchikoma
    04/07/09

    In reply to This is How the Segway/GM PUMA Pod Flies Down the Street
    It's like an electric tuk-tuk...
     Reply
    fuchikoma was starred fuchikoma was unstarred
    Image of Kaiser-Machead Kaiser-Machead
    04/07/09

    In reply to This is How the Segway/GM PUMA Pod Flies Down the Street
    Maybe we should just make killer urban patrol bots out of these. They can put the balancing and 360 turn capability to their advantage.
     Reply
    Kaiser-Machead was starred Kaiser-Machead was unstarred
    Image of Lite: hates Illinois Nazis Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
    04/07/09

    @Kaiser-Machead: Nah, we need hover drones for that.
     Reply
    Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was starred Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was unstarred
    Image of Erzengel Erzengel
    04/07/09

    In reply to This is How the Segway/GM PUMA Pod Flies Down the Street
    am i the only one scared because we are getting this close to become the fat useles meatballs from Wall-E?

    oh well, hamburguers on a cup may not be so bad.
     Reply
    Erzengel was starred Erzengel was unstarred
    Image of Kaiser-Machead Kaiser-Machead
    04/07/09

    @Erzengel: This is no different from anyone using a regular car in the city. Many people I know who live here could very well just go out and walk to the supermarket, but they don't. They'll drive 5 blocks just to get a few bags of groceries.


    In places where sidewalks are not afforded people, it's even worse, with stretches of fast food restaurants along the way.

     Reply
    Kaiser-Machead was starred Kaiser-Machead was unstarred
    Image of Kaiser-Machead Kaiser-Machead
    04/07/09

    In reply to This is How the Segway/GM PUMA Pod Flies Down the Street
    Lots of hate for this thing, I just don't get it. Personally, I'd love to see a city that's a bit friendlier for traffic for these sorts of smaller vehicles. They look a little goofy, but so what? It's better than having Escalades and countless Towncars squeezing themselves into heavy urban traffic.
     Reply
    Kaiser-Machead was starred Kaiser-Machead was unstarred
    Image of Gary_7vn Gary_7vn
    04/07/09

    @Kaiser-Machead: That's because people don't understand that gas is going to up again, and again, and again. They don't understand that everyone in teh world having 3000lbs of metal under their ass is unsustainable. They can't imagine how amazing a city would be would be without big gas powered cars polluting the air.


    But most of all they worry they won't get laid in this thing.

     Reply
    Gary_7vn was starred Gary_7vn was unstarred
    Image of Kaiser-Machead Kaiser-Machead
    04/07/09

    @Gary_7vn: And to think people were managing to get laid on their own two feet.
     Reply
    Kaiser-Machead was starred Kaiser-Machead was unstarred
    Image of Hello Mister Walrus Hello Mister Walrus
    04/07/09

    In reply to This is How the Segway/GM PUMA Pod Flies Down the Street
    This sort of thing is great, but would need lots of municipal support to become commonplace. You're not going to drive this on a normal road for fear of being plowed down by some SUV, so cities would need dedicated bike/electric sofa streets. Special parking/charging stations would also be necessary.


    I can't imagine why it would need to be as complicated as a Segway, though. Just give it 4-wheels, cushy seats, and an electric motor.

     Reply
    Hello Mister Walrus was starred Hello Mister Walrus was unstarred
    Image of Lite: hates Illinois Nazis Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
    04/07/09

    In reply to This is How the Segway/GM PUMA Pod Flies Down the Street
    Anyone else reminded of that movie w/ the kids who build that spaceship out of junk?


    The Explorers I think?

     Reply
    Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was starred Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was unstarred
    Image of Kaiser-Machead Kaiser-Machead
    04/07/09

    In reply to This is How the Segway/GM PUMA Pod Flies Down the Street
    I think this actually looks sort of cool, but I'm pretty sure I'd prefer 4 wheels, or two wheels in tandem a la scooter or motorbike.
     Reply
    Kaiser-Machead was starred Kaiser-Machead was unstarred
    Image of Lite: hates Illinois Nazis Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
    04/07/09

    @Kaiser-Machead: Technically it has 6 wheels yo.
     Reply
    Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was starred Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was unstarred
    Image of Thud Thud
    04/07/09

    @Kaiser-Machead: I'm with you there. What is the point of introducing the complexity of the two wheel system in this application? Seems to add a lot of potential for faceplants and related catastrophes, but I can't see what it gains you... I understand the two wheel thing for the Segway itself--the idea of maneuverability and a small footprint given the pedestrian environment its designed for, but those constraints don't exist on the road. Why not 4 wheels? What am I missing?
     Reply
    Thud was starred Thud was unstarred
    Image of Kaiser-Machead Kaiser-Machead
    04/07/09

    @Lite: has Voodoo Doughnuts: Meh. I could say the same for street and strip dragsters, which have tiny wheels on struts to keep the tail end from hitting the ground during takeoff.
     Reply
    Kaiser-Machead was starred Kaiser-Machead was unstarred
    Image of Kaiser-Machead Kaiser-Machead
    04/07/09

    @Thud: Agreed. The GEM e4 is a more versatile and stable design, and is already out on force today.
     Reply
    Kaiser-Machead was starred Kaiser-Machead was unstarred
    Image of Lite: hates Illinois Nazis Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
    04/07/09

    @Thud: Greater urban density?


    The 2 wheels means you can make the overall vehicle footprint smaller. Even a Smart Car is almost 9 feet long.

     Reply
    Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was starred Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was unstarred
    Image of LastAndLeast LastAndLeast
    04/07/09

    @Kaiser-Machead: I have to agree with you. I don't understand WHY the whole segway style wheels are so awesome. It seems that 3 or 4 wheels would be 10x simpler. I'd guess they'd be cheaper too.
     Reply
    LastAndLeast was starred LastAndLeast was unstarred
    Image of Lite: hates Illinois Nazis Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
    04/07/09

    @LastAndLeast: The platform stays (mostly) level even on inclines for one.
     Reply
    Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was starred Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was unstarred
    Image of Lite: hates Illinois Nazis Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
    04/07/09

    In reply to This is How the Segway/GM PUMA Pod Flies Down the Street
    You know, I'd happily take this to work and back... Except that I have to cross bridges w/ 45 mph minimum speed limits.


    But for say, cruising to the pub/grocery store and back. I'm all for it.

     Reply
    Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was starred Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was unstarred
    Image of GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid
    04/07/09

    In reply to This is How the Segway/GM PUMA Pod Flies Down the Street
    All it needs now is a system which fills the interior with foam in the event of an accident.
     Reply
    GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid was starred GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid was unstarred
    Image of Lite: hates Illinois Nazis Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
    04/07/09

    @Oligarch_GitEmSteveDave: But does it know how to use the 3 sea shells?
     Reply
    Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was starred Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was unstarred
    Image of GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid
    04/07/09

    @Lite: has Voodoo Doughnuts: I do!
     Reply
    GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid was starred GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid was unstarred
    Image of Sol-Corp Sol-Corp
    04/07/09

    In reply to This is How the Segway/GM PUMA Pod Flies Down the Street
    i dont like cars that can be totaled by a bike messenger crashing into the side.... like those damn smart cars
     Reply
    Sol-Corp was starred Sol-Corp was unstarred
    Image of Lite: hates Illinois Nazis Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
    04/07/09

    @Sol-Corp: Actually, SmartCars are extremely durable. They're just ridiculously expensive here in the US.
     Reply
    Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was starred Lite: hates Illinois Nazis was unstarred
    Image of N@tedog N@tedog
    04/07/09

    @Sol-Corp: Research FAIL:


    [www.msnbc.msn.com]

     Reply
    N@tedog was starred N@tedog was unstarred
    Image of Duff-Lad Duff-Lad
    04/07/09

    @Sol-Corp: Most cars will be totalled by a bike messenger crashing into them.


    A Smart however, with it's safety cell chassis, probably wouldn't.

     Reply
    Duff-Lad was starred Duff-Lad was unstarred
    Image of Kaiser-Machead Kaiser-Machead
    04/07/09

    @Sol-Corp: Some damage to the side panel? Yes. Totaled? Nah. Anyway, this thing doesn't look very fragile. If a bike messenger slammed into the side, the he'd just hit his head on one of the bars and you can zip away while he's unconscious :P
     Reply
    Kaiser-Machead was starred Kaiser-Machead was unstarred
    Image of Kaiser-Machead Kaiser-Machead
    04/07/09

    @Duff-Lad: Any car that can be totaled by a 150-200 lb human being on a 40-50 lb bicycle traveling at around 20 mph should probably not be on the road.
     Reply
    Kaiser-Machead was starred Kaiser-Machead was unstarred
    Image of phryed phryed
    04/07/09

    In reply to This is How the Segway/GM PUMA Pod Flies Down the Street
    200MPG? i'm down.
     Reply
    phryed was starred phryed was unstarred
    Image of A Snake a Snake... OH it's a Snake! A Snake a Snake... OH it's a Snake!
    04/07/09

    @phryed: 200 MPG of electricity? How could they convert the coal power used to make the electricity to gallons of gasoline?
     Reply
    A Snake a Snake... OH it's a Snake! was starred A Snake a Snake... OH it's a Snake! was unstarred
    Image of Hello Mister Walrus Hello Mister Walrus
    04/07/09

    @A Snake a Snake... OH it's a Snake!: These technologies are designed for long-term payoffs. The electricity to power electric vehicles might be produced by fossil fuels now, but developing electric vehicles means that eventually, we can power them with any kind of power source. In contrast, if we only had the internal combustion engine, than no matter how sophisticated solar/nuclear/hydro power generation becomes, we will always be reliant on oil.
     Reply
    Hello Mister Walrus was starred Hello Mister Walrus was unstarred
    Image of A Snake a Snake... OH it's a Snake! A Snake a Snake... OH it's a Snake!
    04/07/09

    @Hello Mister Walrus: Yeah I understand that and I'm completely for it. What I meant with my question was that I was wondering how they came up with 200mpg. How do they compare Kwh to mpg of gasoline to come up with the 200mpg figure?
     Reply
    A Snake a Snake... OH it's a Snake! was starred A Snake a Snake... OH it's a Snake! was unstarred
    Image of Hello Mister Walrus Hello Mister Walrus
    04/07/09

    @A Snake a Snake... OH it's a Snake!: Sorry for misinterpreting. I believe that electric vehicle mileage is expressed in terms of cost. 200 mpg would mean that the electricity bill to power this car would be 20% the cost of gas to power a 40 mpg car. So, indeed, the amount of actual pollution produced is dubious.
     Reply
    Hello Mister Walrus was starred Hello Mister Walrus was unstarred
    Image of lolgreg lolgreg
    04/07/09

    In reply to This is How the Segway/GM PUMA Pod Flies Down the Street
    Pick you up around 8?
     Reply
    lolgreg was starred lolgreg was unstarred
    Image of PyrateKitteh PyrateKitteh
    04/07/09

    In reply to This is How the Segway/GM PUMA Pod Flies Down the Street
    Maybe it's just the fact that I have crappy balace, or I didn't know what to expect, but the first time I stood on a segway it thrashed back and forth and cracked me in the nuts.


    I don't see that happening with this one. Also the more "lardassity" members of society prefer to sit rather than stand.

     Reply
    PyrateKitteh was starred PyrateKitteh was unstarred
    Image of GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid
    04/07/09

    @PyrateKitteh: There are limiter wheels in place, so that doesn't look like it would be a problem.
     Reply
    GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid was starred GitEmSteveDave_DefinesTurgid was unstarred
    Image of origamimavin origamimavin
    04/07/09

    In reply to This is How the Segway/GM PUMA Pod Flies Down the Street
    i like it, although it looks like he's driving around in a glass refrigerator.
     Reply
    origamimavin was starred origamimavin was unstarred
    Image of frigg frigg
    04/07/09

    @origamimavin: ...Or a mailbox. I'm wondering what happens when people start throwing their letters in these things and then complain when they're not delivered? Or is the person driving it responsible for delivering all mail received while using it? That could take a toll on battery life.
     Reply
    frigg was starred frigg was unstarred
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