There was no small amount of hype involved before the introduction of the Segway. Inventor Dean Kamen grew up with a father who was an illustrator for comic magazines, including MDA, Weird Science and EC Comics. The son, however, took another career path as an inventor and entrepreneur. He is the developer of many different medical devices, among them “Luke,” a prosthetic arm replacement that offers its user much more find motor control than traditional prosthetic limbs. He invented water purification systems, portable dialysis machines, insulin infusion pumps and many more important and useful devices. His rolling iBOT mobility system allows wheelchair users much more stability and mobility than previously thought possible. The iBOT can climb stairs, glide over curbs and mount other obstacles.

What made Kamen famous, however, was the Segway personal transportation device. The two-wheeled platform with a single post with a handlebar is stabilized by gyroscopes in a similar manner to the technology used on the iBOT. After a lot of hype and promotion without specifics, the Segway was introduced in 1999 as the device that would transform society.

I think it is safe to say that the Segway failed to live up to some of the expectations. I, for one, have been nonplussed with the idea. I haven’t ever ridden one, and I’m not inclined to do so, either. I am an overweight person living in a society filled with overweight people. We don’t need devices that enable us to walk less. Walking is good for us and is an excellent way to get around a city or town. A vehicle designed to get us around at just over the speed of walking, that carries only one person, and that moves effortlessly just doesn’t appeal. Various models of the Segway sell for $2,500 to over $6,000. I’m pretty sure I can live without one.

I have, however, watched some of the video footage of the Segway Polo World Cup and it was, for the moment entertaining. Yes, there is an International Segway Polo Association (ISPA) and it really holds matches and tournaments around the world. The game is played on Segway models that have been modified to produce more speed. They can make up to 12 miles per hour, resulting in some rather dramatic crashes and falls for the players.

I’m not a fan of polo and don’t even know the rules. Basically it is a process of two teams trying to get the ball into their opponent’s goal while defending their own goal at the opposite end of the field. They use mallets to hit the ball and because they are in motion as they swing their mallets, it takes a bit of skill - and perhaps a bit of luck - to get the ball to go in the desired direction. The mallets offer other possibilities for action, including contact with other players or with their vehicles. It doesn’t appear that there are any major injuries, but I’m thinking that the players are a bit stiff and sore after a match.

The UK Segway Polo Tournament was a week ago, featuring 16 teams including teams form Sweden, Germany and Barbados. Speaking of Barbados, that is the site of the 2016 tournament at the end of April next year. If you combine a Caribbean beach vacation with an opportunity to watch a match or two of Segway Polo, it might be an interesting week.

It is, I assume, possible that one could get a bit of exercise from playing Segway Polo. But probably not as much as from a full soccer match.

And, face it, the scooters look silly and those riding them seem a bit foolish.

A few years ago there was a company that was renting Segway scooters for riding on the Mickelson Trail. I’m not sure how that worked, because the trail is not for motorized vehicles except for powered wheelchairs. At any rate, the business wasn’t a long-term success and has disappeared. The trail remains as a great place to ride bikes, cross country ski, and just go for a pleasant walk.

I’m a bit of a technology junkie, enjoying the brilliant engineering and the creative ideas of those who create some of the modern hi-tech electronic gadgets. I’ve been carrying a smart phone since the term was invented, and I use my computer every day. These days I have a work computer and a home computer and I carry a computer with me whenever I travel. Susan and I have been known to both take our computers on trips - something we never thought would happen. We can share the same tube of toothpaste, but we have individual computers these days.

I’m thinking, however, that I won’t be taking up Segway polo as a retirement sport.

There is another invention by Dean Kamen that hasn’t gotten the promotion afforded to the Segway. I don’t even know the name of the device, but it is a machine that works on compressed air that can launch a human into the air. The device is supposed to be capable of quickly launching members of SWAT teams or other emergency workers onto the roofs of all, inaccessible buildings. It seems to be a variation on the old human-shot-from-a-canon routine.

Now, there’s an invention that I’d like to try. Stand on a platform and WHAM! you’re flying through the air. When you reach the height of your arc and start downward, you gently descend to a rooftop. Pretty neat, if the device is aimed properly. And if the amount of compressed air is right to get you to exactly the correct height. Too low and you miss the building. Too high and you’re going too fast when you get back down. Ah, but they’ve got computers to work out the trajectory and velocity. At least I hope they do. It seems like something that I might want to try.

Maybe there is a form of 3-D human pinball that could be invented if I could get my hands on one of those devices.

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