Image by : Museum of Failure
8/27
Segway
2001
This is a first-generation Segway, and it was a marvel of technology. Since Segways are still being sold, you may wonder what the Segway is doing here at the Museum of Failure. A failure is defined as a deviation from expected and desired results. The expectations for the Segway were huge: ‘Segway will be to the car, what the car was to horse and cart.’, ’Segway will be the fastest product in history to reach $1 billion in sales.’, ‘City infrastructures will be planned around the Segway.’, ‘The Segway will be more important than the Internet.’ As a means of transport, the Segway was a complete flop. It became a commercial failure, since it was far too expensive, heavy and also silly. Today, it is most used as a fun group activity or by security guards in shopping centers.