This is topic "IT" IS REVEALED! in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Matthew Bailey (Member # 601) on 12-03-2001, 07:51 AM:
Just saw the unveiling of IT on GOOD MORNING AMERICA.
It is a two wheeled scooter that is battery powered & uses
gyroscopes to keep itself from falling over.
Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 12-03-2001, 11:55 AM:
I've seen this hype for months. I dont really care about it. It's cool the way that it stays balanced, but for $3000 it should have cruise-control! 
Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 12-03-2001, 02:18 PM:
Is that the same "It" that was on South Park a couple of weeks ago?
Owch------------------
Greg Mueller
Amateur Astronomer, Machinist, Filmnut
http://www.muellersatomics.com/
Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 12-03-2001, 06:47 PM:
Greg, that was what I was thinking. My first thought was, "Dude, you watch way to much South Park." But then I overheard something about it on my roommate's TV. So what's up with this "IT" thing, and how did Trey Parker at Matt Stone know about it before it was "revealed"?
Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 12-03-2001, 07:30 PM:
Great.....another stupid device I can do without. 
Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-03-2001, 11:28 PM:
I just don't get it. This is called "The invention of the decade". Why? What does it do? Why would anyone want it? The ONLY use (and I mean ONLY) I can see for it is for elderly people to use instead of canes, etc. There's no way to carry stuff on it or to take a passenger, it looks absolutely lame. You can get a motor for your moutainbike that straps onto the frame and also lets you go 17mph and it only costs $400. Only yuppies will pay the $3000 tag for this. I don't see how anyone could be stupid to buy one of these when it comes out. Hopefully no one will. I just don't get it!
Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 12-04-2001, 01:25 AM:
The next logical step... 
...Extreme Segway competitions on ESPN!
Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 12-04-2001, 04:28 AM:
I see that they are Testing to see if the Posties can use these , Imagine your mailman zooming around on these.
Posted by Bob Maar (Member # 763) on 12-04-2001, 07:36 AM:
They have al-ready outlawed the use of this "scooter" winthin the City Limits of New York. It is too bad as I think they would be great for getting in to work on most days. I used to use a City Bug that was made by Sharper Image ( Cost $600.00) to get around the City. From my apartment on East 63rd Street to my office on Fifth Avenure at 55th Street:RUSH HOUR.Walking 20 minutes.
Bus 30 to 45 Minutes
Car 20 to 25minutes
City Bug Scooter 5 Minutes.
Most Streets have a bicycle Lanes. They should permit the sale with a Bicycle lane restriction in Manhattan.
They do look like a lot of fun.
Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 12-04-2001, 09:16 AM:
I guess as long as they have rules to follow, like cars do (and bicycles don't) it could work. I have always had this feeling that wacky transportation devices would be a really bad idea. Like....jet packs. The idea being you could just put on a jet pack and fly anywhere you want. Free....to fly like a bird....how nice. But what happens when you get a few thousand people with their jet packs (etc) all heading for a ball game. Man, it would be raining body parts. I mean look at freeways and the stupid things drivers do trying to get ahead of everyone else, and they are at least are confined to 2 dimensions with lines and streets to follow. Imagine addind a 3rd dimension and no guidlines. I think it might be the end of civilization as we know it. But anyway, these scooter things look like they might be interesting to try, but I don't think it's going to be quite as big as they are hoping. I could be wrong------------------
Greg Mueller
Amateur Astronomer, Machinist, Filmnut
http://www.muellersatomics.com/
Posted by Evans A Criswell (Member # 381) on 12-04-2001, 09:52 AM:
quote:
they are at least are confined to 2 dimensions with lines and streets to follow. Imagine addind a 3rd dimension and no guidelines.
Well, one of the main problems with street traffic is the confinement to two dimensions. On a two-lane road, all it takes is one slow driver and no place to pass to block everyone behind. Adding a third dimension increases the amount of space by an order of magnitude and gives two more degrees of freedom (actually 4 since most street and road travel is confined to one dimension most of the time) for navigation and avoiding accidents. Like you say, the problem would be organizing the traffic where a large number of people are going to one spot. Out in the open, the probability of collision goes down an order of magnitude from 2D travel. I agree that there would have to be some guidelines and restrictions, but adding a third dimension would do away with nearly all traffic jams.
Interesting exercise in 3D: Draw out and render three "limited access freeways", all orthogonal to each other, one north-south, one east-west, and one up-down, coming together at one place, needing an interchange capable of allowing motorists to exit any freeway and get onto either other freeway in either direction without requiring any stops or signals. (The 3D analogue of the "cloverleaf")
------------------
Evans A Criswell
Huntsville-Decatur Movie Theatre Information Site
Posted by Dave Bird (Member # 490) on 12-04-2001, 03:51 PM:
How did they do it on the Jetson's? Hovering guideposts wasn't it?I'd like to see the "extreme" skateboarders get "brained" as the gyroscope kept them level going into the halfpipe!
Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 12-04-2001, 07:51 PM:
I have a feeling this invention will have other applications than the scooter. The NYTimes article indicated the inventor was a medical researcher who invented something used by a U.S. President--artificial heart or something--and was interested in the interaction of the human body and nervous system, with the mechanics of balance and locomotion. Apparently it's not only the application of the gyro that is new, but the control of steering and balance by almost unconscious movements of the human musculature. "It seems to anticipate where the rider wants to go."
Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 12-04-2001, 09:06 PM:
Now that is interesting. Maybe something along the lines of the bionic man eh?. I once read a scifi short story where these guys were working on Jupiter and had to use these "helper" suits so they could standup and work etc. The suits reacted to the minute movements of the operator. Not to mention Starship Troopers (the book). I like it------------------
Greg Mueller
Amateur Astronomer, Machinist, Filmnut
http://www.muellersatomics.com/
Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 12-05-2001, 10:34 AM:
Here's how it was introduced on "Good Morning America:
http://more.abcnews.go.com/sections/gma/goodmorningamerica/gma011203what_it_is.html
Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 12-07-2001, 09:58 AM:
"It" is ingenious, but "It" would make a mess out of your face if the gyro failed!
Mark @ GTS