Segway CTO is riding away to Apple

(Credit: Segway)

Segway, the manufacturer of the scooter-like device that was supposed to change the world, is losing an early employee. Doug Field, the company's chief technology officer, is leaving the company to become a vice president of product design at Apple.

The announcement was made through a post on the Segway Chat forums by John Grohol, Segway's former "Web architect" who continues to help run Segway Chat.

"Doug has been the driving force in making the Segway what it is today and will be sorely missed at the company," Grohol wrote. "However, with every change comes good and bad. So while it's bad the rich history and experience of Doug is leaving, it's good in that perhaps the team will get a fresh perspective into possible engineering solutions for future versions of the Segway."

Official Segway representatives did not return a request for comment.

Meanwhile, after initial disappointment, the Segway keeps chugging--er, gliding--along. The company's latest big customer is the Chinese military, as security ramps up for the summer Olympics in Beijing. Inventor Dean Kamen, meanwhile, continues on his path to create life-changing devices.

This post was updated at 10:41 a.m. PT to correct John Grohol's relationship with Segway.

[sanenazok]

and I'm sure he's not using a segway to get away.

The only time I see one of these in Chicago is when a fat cop is writing traffic tickets while riding on it. I have not seen an actual tourist ride it, except they had a parade of them once. Hope the Chinese police use it to whack democracy demonstrators, that would really help its image!

[Perry_Clease]

"I have not seen an actual tourist ride it" I have seen tourists renting them in Coronado California. Otherwise I have mostly seen them being used by security guards at shopping malls.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Looks like Doug got called 'It'. :)

[someguy999]

they must be giving these away to security groups, because I agree they're they're the only people using them. I saw some airport security guys using them at our local airport and they looked absolutely rediculous and people seemed to almost chuckle as they went by like "look at the pet monkey on the tricycle". South Park had it right...

[mishmash0101]

Does anyone care about Segway anymore?

Segway was a complete failure both as a transportation device and as a company. Change the world? It barely was able to get out of its own way. This was a iBubble company that used millions of VC$ to create something that no one needed or wanted. May it RIP.

[sethum1]

I have an rolling platform that pre-dates the Segway. It's called a skateboard.