# Whatever happened to IT? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 29, 2001, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885 "2001-11-29T06:25:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sdimbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sdimbert/32/20204_2.png) [@sdimbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sdimbert)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/1 "2001-11-29T06:25:15Z")
Wasn’t that supposed to “change the world?” Whatever happened? Did I miss it? It was a scooter, right? ---
**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/2 "2001-11-29T06:58:28Z")
No official confirmation that it’s a scooter yet. Apparently, it will be unveiled on _Good Morning America_ this Monday: [http://www.ginger-chat.com/](http://www.ginger-chat.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/3 "2001-11-29T06:59:21Z")
As far as I know, IT will be unveiled in January or February. I think that most people have lost interest by now, and there’s no advertising for it, so there’s no more hype. IT’s inventor holds a patent for a new kind of scooter, but that doesn’t mean it’s a scooter. I wouldn’t expect a scooter to change the world; would you? ---
**Author:** ![Reuben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/54ee81/32.png) [@Reuben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reuben)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/4 "2001-11-29T10:54:57Z")
There’s one very revealing quote on that site, from a Dr. Wise Young who has supposedly seen a prototype : “Dean’s two-wheel balancing device is really cool… It zooms around like lightning just by standing on it and leaning forward or backwards. The battery is the platform. Using it is totally intuitive. It will require reorganization of sidewalks because there will be people zooming all over cities with it.” A battery-powered personal transporter that follows where you lean? I reckon it’ll be absolutely huge. Can’t bloody wait! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2001, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/5 "2001-11-29T13:32:39Z")
It became so successful that it was causing the airlines to lose too much money, so the government came and took them and told Mr. Garrison he’d be thrown in prison if he sold another one. Geez, don’t you people watch _South Park_? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Roger\_the\_Shrubber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@Roger\_the\_Shrubber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_the_Shrubber)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2001, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/6 "2001-11-30T01:11:59Z")
I was actually just about to ask this question. Is it really going to be revealed on good morning america? I haven’t seen any ads. I would think, if it has so much impact, it would have its own special or something. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/7 "2001-12-03T02:56:39Z")
Meet the Segway. [http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,186660,00.html](http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,186660,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/8 "2001-12-03T03:08:38Z")
> [@](#): > > “Now, stop,” Kamen says. How? This thing has no brakes. “Just think about stopping.” Staring into the middle distance, I conjure an image of a red stop sign–and just like that, Ginger and I come to a halt. Uh huh. Professor Hill, anyone? (If they want to get me to buy one, first of all they’re going to have to learn to spell _segue_ correctly.) ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/9 "2001-12-03T03:16:40Z")
Professor Hill? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/10 "2001-12-03T03:19:12Z")
_I_ want one! C’mon, it’s a pretty cool gadget. Has anyone ran this by _snopes_? Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Redboss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8baadc/32.png) [@Redboss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redboss)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/11 "2001-12-03T03:42:11Z")
(Professor Harold Hill of “The Music Man”, proponent of the “think” method of musical instrument education.) From that description I definitely want one, but will it be light enough for me to carry three flights up to my flat? I do think it has the ability to make big changes to our cities, and changes for the better. If what Time says is correct. Redboss ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/12 "2001-12-03T04:06:20Z")
Full size picture of “it” in action just posted at [http://www.drudge.com](http://www.drudge.com) ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/13 "2001-12-03T04:19:31Z")
astro, I believe [this](http://www.drudgereport.com/) is the link you meant. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/14 "2001-12-03T04:20:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astro \* > \*\*Full size picture of “it” in action just posted at [http://www.drudge.com](http://www.drudge.com) \*\* Well thanks, **astro** , but I looked at about half of the links and didn’t find a thing about this marvel. 😕 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![bafaa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@bafaa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bafaa)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/15 "2001-12-03T04:25:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Klaatu \* > \*\*astro, I believe [this](http://www.drudgereport.com/) is the link you meant. \*\* That’s better! I was going nuts over here trying to find it at **astro’s** link! ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/16 "2001-12-03T04:57:07Z")
I sure hope something like this becomes popular. But no specific specs announced yet? It sounds like a heavy machine - it would have to be if it carries enough batteries for a decent range. ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/17 "2001-12-03T05:01:49Z")
Umm, its one of those old ass push lawnmowers it took 100 million dollars to make it? ---
**Author:** ![RAWisSYDNEY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4491bb/32.png) [@RAWisSYDNEY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RAWisSYDNEY)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/18 "2001-12-03T05:15:17Z")
didnt they say it hovered? what about affordability? ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/19 "2001-12-03T06:15:48Z")
I read something today - supposed weight is approx. 65lbs, and expected initial cost, 3000$ (US, I’d assume). Not a cheap gadget, that’s for sure. And not practical to carry around/lock up like a bike. Yet. It’ll get there, though, you can be almost certain. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2001, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885/20 "2001-12-03T06:21:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bafaa \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Klaatu \* > > \*\*astro, I believe [this](http://www.drudgereport.com/) is the link you meant. \*\* > > That’s better! I was going nuts over here trying to find it at **astro’s** link! \*\* Oops! Sorry about that! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-it/95885.md?page=2)