- In what may be a sign of things to come, postal workers
will be zipping past palm trees on Segway Human Transporters as they go
about their appointed rounds today in Tampa, Fla.
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- The Segway - a two-wheeled, scooter-like device known
simply as "IT," before inventor Dean Kamen unveiled it Dec.3,
on ABCNEWS' Good Morning America - has began its first public trial run.
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- Kamen said he approached the postal service for tests
because he expects it will make a great partner in showing off the Segway
as an activity tool. "We are excited to be working with the postal
system because they are in everybody's neighborhood, on everybody's sidewalk
and they are very well respected," he told GMA.
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- A few other cities may soon follow Tampa's lead in putting
Kamen's invention to work. The Segway's first postal test runs in Tampa
will continue through Feb. 8, and more are planned in Fort Meyers and Concord,
N.H. Police officers in Boston are scheduled to give the Segway a test
run in February.
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- Kamen said plans for other trials are in the works: "We
are working with a couple of large corporations who are using it internally
- factories and warehouses - and a few others I don't want to announce
until they are done."
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- President Bush Rides Segway
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- Meanwhile, the Segway caught the attention of the Commander
in Chief last week when Kamen joined about 100 friends and backers of President
Bush who were invited to a pre-speech reception at the University of New
Hampshire.
-
- Kamen was riding a Segway outside the university library,
giving rides to a few guests, but Secret Service agents wouldn't let the
inventor bring the Segway up to where the President was giving his speech,
according to the Union Leader of Manchester, N.H.
-
- During his speech, Bush cited Kamen after he noticed
him at the back of the crowd, and later the president chatted with the
inventor, who told him he had a Segway downstairs. Secret Service agents
quickly brought it up to the floor, and the president rode it around. He
picked up how to use it right away, Kamen said.
-
- Kamen said he has also taken the Segway on a test run
on his own in downtown New York City. "I was in your city and I went
down to ground zero with this device and I spent a couple of hours waiting
in line, nudging along with people," Kamen said. "It was no problem
at all."
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- Putting IT To Work
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- Tampa Postmaster Rich Rome says he looks forward to finding
out whether or not the Segway will help postal workers deliver more mail
in less time.
-
- And Chris Pesa, one of five Tampa postal workers testing
out the new transportation device, says he is more than ready for some
technical assistance on his route: "It will save me so much wear and
tear on the walking and carrying the mail."
-
- The Segway will give workers the ability to carry a 125-pound
mail bag instead of the standard 35-pound bag.
-
- But there may be disadvantages in using the Segway as
well. Workers will have to load the device on and off a truck using a special
ramp. And, while postal workers typically sort the mail as they walk along,
it remains to be see whether they can do this while riding the Segway.
-
- Kamen, however, says workers will have special gear that
will hold their mail and allow them to sort as they 'Seg' along.
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- The scooter-like device, designed to mimic the human
body's ability to maintain its balance, allows riders to control speed
and direction by shifting their weight and using a manual turning mechanism
on one of the handlebars. (Take a closer look at IT)
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- The 80-pound transportation devices have a top speed
of about 12 miles per hour, and can go about 15 miles on a single battery
charge from a regular outlet. Segways can carry a single rider up to 250
pounds, with cargo of up to 75 pounds.
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- Initial production of the Segway is aimed at industrial
and commercial users, like the U.S. Postal Service. Those units are expected
to sell for about $8,000, while Kamen hopes to offer less expensive consumer
models next year.
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