Pretty Small Revolution

I noticed today that Segway has issued a product recall for its "revolutionary" product that was going to "change the world", if I recall the vast hype correctly. How many of the "Personal Transporters" are included in the recall?

All 23,500 units that have been sold since the company began shipping in 2002.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is cooperating with Segway on the voluntary recall announced Thursday, said consumers should stop using the vehicles immediately.

Segway has received six reports of problems with the Personal Transporter, resulting in head and wrist injuries. The vehicles were previously known as the Human Transporter.

Segway is offering a free software upgrade that will fix the problem. The upgrades will be done at Segway's 100 dealerships and service centers around the world, according to Segway spokeswoman Carla Vallone, and the company based in Bedford, N.H., will pay to ship the devices to the appropriate center if need be.

It is the second time the scooters, which sell for about $4,000 to $5,500, have been recalled since they first went on sale in 2002. The 2003 recall involved the first 6,000 of the devices sold, and involved a problem that could cause riders to fall off the device when its battery ran out of juice.

Segway Chief Technology Officer Doug Field, who has been involved with the development of the device since its earliest days, said the problem that sparked the latest recall was found while the company was testing its new model. He said a very unusual and specific set of conditions can cause the problem.

The scooter's speed is determined by how far forward the user leans, and if the rider leans too far forward, a "speed limiter" pushes them back to keep the device at its maximum speed of 12.5 mph. The problem happens after the speed limiter tilts back, the rider steps off the device and then gets back on it quickly.

I think the company is acting in an extremely responsible and ethical manner here, despite the low probability of an accident of this type, they are the ones who identified it and initiated the recall. I remember the insane level of hype that surrounded the announcement of this product, though. I caught several promos about it on ABC news and so tuned in when it made a debut on Good Morning America. (Remember, this was shortly after 9/11 and the TV was on pretty much all the time).

When they unveiled the machine, I just stared and remember thinking, "That's it? That is going to change the world?" Judging by the number sold to date, a lot of people are thinking that way.

• 

  By Lars Walker, Thursday, 14 September , 2006 @ 9:16 am

  I suspect one reason for low sales in the north (did no one think of this?) is that the vehicles are worthless in snow, ice and cold weather.

Other Links to this Post