PASSING through Seapoint in Cape Town this past week I was amazed to see some of our police force astride Segway machines. In case you didn't know the Segway has a motor instead of muscles; a collection of motorprocessors instead of a brain plus a set of sophisticated tilt sensors instead of the inner-ear balancing system that we possess, I believe.
A COUPLE of years ago the media PR host for Jaguar and Land Rover, hit on the idea of providing some real cool relaxation for motoring journalists who were attending the launch of the new Jaguar XK sports car in and around Cape town.
Hotel guests, motoring scribes and the general public were able to witness the sight of half a dozen “Segway” experts demonstrate their product. Now I don’t know if you much about Segways – because I certainly didn’t. The sight of grown men (and women) balancing on what looked like one of those old-fashioned lawnmowers from the fifties where “push” power was all that was required to keep your postage-stamp size lawn in check for at least three weeks, proved rather comical, to say the least. But titter you not, because the “Segway” is one serious bit of equipment – and maybe it cuts grass as well. For all I know, anyone who intends buying the new Jaguar XK gets one thrown in for free!
This is how the Segway appears to work (by taking most of its cues from the human body, incidentally.) if you stand up tall and lean forward quite a bit the chances are you won’t fall flat on your face because the brain tells you to fight the “incline.” Your brain, nevertheless, knows you are likely to topple because fluid levels in your inner ear tells it so. The brain then instructs that you put your leg forward to stop an imminent fall to keep you upright. Instead of falling, you walk forward, a step at a time.
Like your brain the Segway knows when you are leaning forward. To maintain balance, it turns the wheels at just the right speed, so you move forward. Segway calls this behaviour “dynamic stabilisation” and patented the unique process some years ago allowing the Segway to balance on just two wheels . . . no ifs or buts.
I was once told: “If at first you don’t succeed then skydiving is not for you.” Well, somebody should have mentioned that fact to one of the advanced driving instructors who came flying off at 11 kilometres per hour! His face must have been a picture!
• The Segway is available at the Waterfront in Cape Town to buy/test ride/or for promotional purposes. R38,000 (the price two years ago) affords you the privilege of owning something very, very different!
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