----- Original Message ----- From: "Dale Botkin" To: Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 5:57 PM Subject: Re: [OT]: Did someone think? > > > I don't even understand why people think the technology is so innovative. > > > Do people not realize that controls engineers have been stabilizing > > > unstable systems with feedback for a long time? > > > > Maybe it marks the first application of ordinary aviation engineering to > > ground transport. Anyway, I can see it is definitely going to replace cars > > in the cities within a few years. > > Not any cars in any cities anywhere near me. I don't think most people > around hre, for example, would use an open 12MPH scooter for a year-round, > 10+ mile commute -- and that's in a medium-small city. We have snow, > rain, winds, traffic, and I haven't noticed my house moving any closer to > my office (or anywhere near my office suddenly becoming a viable pace to > live). A lot of people around here (Montreal) actually live in the city and use the subway and buses, which are generally a pain to use if you enjoy freedom of movement. They also learn to deal with extreme weather as pedestrians. I suppose the rich will continue to insist on their right to breathe everyone else's air but what can you do? > > Maybe food delivery in LA or someting, but... well, those people already > use mopeds and such that cost one heckuva lot less to own and operate. Price will inevitably drop in time after development costs have been covered and monopoly profits must decline when/wherever competition is allowed. Think ten years or a hundred instead. > What do you think those fancy flat NiMH or NiCd batteries are going to > cost to replace every year or two? I have already had the idea ( as have many others no doubt ) for a network of battery stations that would replace your flat battery in 10 seconds or less or your money back. All it would take is a big enough consumer base and a standardised battery pack. But what can you do? These are the sort of things that require government subsidy (financed e.g. via tax on petroleum products) to get off the ground because the entrenched interests are already making quite enough money from the way things are now. /\/\/\/*=Martin -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.