Segway CTO Joins Apple As VP Of Product Design

from the interesting-choices dept

Mon, Jul 7th 2008 6:31am — Mike Masnick

Given the way that Apple tries to push the boundaries of product design in so many ways, it takes a unique talent to run product design at the company. Both Jonathan Ive and Steve Jobs get much of the credit for the designs of products like the iPod, iMac and iPhone. Still, it's rather interesting to find out that the original CTO for the Segway is leaving Segway and joining Apple as its VP of Product Design. Coming from a Dean Kamen company is probably a pretty good background for thinking out of the box -- though, the Segway never was the mass market success story that was predicted. So who wants to start up rumors about the iScooter? Or the iCar?

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Filed Under: doug field, jonathan ive, product design
Companies: apple, segway

15 Comments

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Chuck Norris' Enemy (deceased), 7 Jul 2008 @ 7:01am

Hah!
On my short 8 minute drive to work today I saw someone actually using a Segway for the first time...
...I laughed!
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Evil Mike, 7 Jul 2008 @ 7:24am

Segway
So the Segway isn't a "runaway hit" at the moment... but they're still being made and sold; and everybody knows what it is.
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- PaulT (profile), 7 Jul 2008 @ 7:53am
  
  Re: Segway
  Apparently, the Chinese military are liking them:
  
  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1031298/Wheel-scary-Chinese-anti-terror-police-prac tise-killing-drills-scooters.html
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Jul 2008 @ 7:49am

On Weeds..
The star of Weeds used one as her getaway mobile after shed torched her growhouse. Is that consider being a "Green Crime"
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- Kevin, 7 Jul 2008 @ 8:31am
  
  Re: On Weeds..
  She torched her actual house, not the grow house.
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  - Anonymous Coward, 7 Jul 2008 @ 9:02am
    
    Re: Re: On Weeds..
    Thanks for the korrex, I obviously was in a different dimension at the time.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 7 Jul 2008 @ 8:02am

Dramatic scene from "Redmond Soap Opera"
[SCRIPT]:

Somewhere in Redmond, there's a man listening to a zune while riding their Segway. He realizes he has to make a decision today- to drop the zune in lake wash or remove the people transporter from his day to day life.

The man realizes that either way, Jobs wins. The man has a single tear coming out of their left eye, for the man is sad when he realizes this. He makes it to Building 35 where the large banner hangs about Paid Search. He realizes that too was a dumb idea. The rain pours down, as he wonders if he'd be happier in Cupertino...
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Improbus, 7 Jul 2008 @ 8:15am

Apple Next Product
I predict that Apple will be coming out with a white colored green transportation solution called: iRoll. [eye roll] *rim shot*

Thank you very much. I will be here all weekend. Try the fish.
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- Anonymous Coward, 7 Jul 2008 @ 8:24am
  
  Re: Apple Next Product
  Buhaha! Now, THAT just made my week.
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- Anonymous Coward, 7 Jul 2008 @ 10:52am
  
  Re: Apple Next Product
  Ok, golf clap on that one. Very nice.
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Alimas, 7 Jul 2008 @ 8:59am

Segway LOL
A friend of mine worked with Dean Kamen before he publicly revealed the Segway. I always gave him such a hard time, saying that his motorized scooter would be a massive flop.
And it was! lol
I still give him a hard time about it. Fun times, fun times.
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Newshound, 7 Jul 2008 @ 9:11am

Some ideas?
I just saw this news report-

To capitalize on the Heros craze, Apple today announced a robot based on the TV series. Also departing from the previous prefaced "i" craze, Apple has decided to call it the "aHero". No body knows what it does for sure, but the internet blogosphere was awake with ideas throughout the day.

Comments on one website said "aHero allows regular people to do a Barrelroll safely".

Link- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBGIQ7ZuuiU
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justin, 7 Jul 2008 @ 9:37am

More Segway sightings
Here in Los Angeles I have seen rental segways for use on the beach path.
I also noticed US Customs in LAX Airport also has begun to use them. It was a matte black customized version, looked very policey.
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Future Predictor, 7 Jul 2008 @ 10:54am

iCar
* You can buy gas/energy from only certain vendors
* You cannot do any maintainance by yourself
* Need to "upgrade" to next version every year
* First version will be buggy an stop every 100 feet

I have work to do.. anybody want to continue??
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Danny, 7 Jul 2008 @ 6:20pm

pun warning
Maybe this segway guy will build an Apple roller-coaster. They can call it the "iScream"
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