The 2 wheeler challenge

Segway® is a rather remarkable product. A mobility device that seeks to redefine the way we do short distance commuting like walking. Some argued Segway® can replace in-city driving. Inventor Dean Kamen  aims to redefine the way we get around to cut down congestion and carbon footprint. Segway® is also pretty intuitive and usable. In all, it has the hallmarks of a successful product.

Question is why no mass adoption yet? Sentosa had some to allow tourist to move around but more as a tourist thingy. Vivio City had even demonstrated this inside their mall. Paul Blart made it fun in Mall Cop.

I believe there are two challenges which Segway® has to overcome. 

Fundamental consumer behaviours take a long time to interrupt. Humans are hardwired to walk though significantly reduced due to modern conveniences. Walking is harder to interrupt because of how fundamental and subconscious it is to us. Compared to gaming like Tap Tap Revenge, the challenge for the game developer to interrupt you to play it is a lot easier. Reason being gaming does not potentially interrupt any major behaviour of ours. 

Lack of category association. New products in new categories get consumer confuse. What is it? Where and how shall I use this? Will I look stupid on it? The first cars were called horseless carriages for this reason. A hybrid Honda is still a car, it is easy for us to buy into the idea of a modified, green car. Hybrids are still in our car category which we can make association quickly. 

However, that is not the case for Segway® where associations are missing. Segway® needs to help consumers out. Probably, they should try ‘standing electric bike’ (at least I gave it shot). Probably easier than the official; 'self-balancing, zero emissions personal transportation vehicle: the Segway® Personal Transporter (PT)'. A standing electric bike is easier for me to spread the Segway® idea. Take a cue from followformation which is for twitter newbies to get them started on the concept of online following; an intermediary step might be needed here.

Sure hope to use one of these in the near future. I still hear how cycling is bad for men's health.     
 

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