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July 7, 2008 7:55 AM PDT

Segway CTO is riding away to Apple

by Caroline McCarthy
(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.

Caroline McCarthy, a CNET News staff writer, is a downtown Manhattanite happily addicted to social-media tools and restaurant blogs. Her pre-CNET resume includes interning at an IT security firm and brewing cappuccinos. E-mail Caroline.
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by sanenazok July 7, 2008 8:46 AM PDT
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!

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by Perry_Clease July 7, 2008 8:55 AM PDT
"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.
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by Vegaman_Dan July 7, 2008 10:14 AM PDT
Looks like Doug got called 'It'. :)
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by someguy999 July 7, 2008 11:03 AM PDT
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...
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by mishmash0101 July 7, 2008 2:44 PM PDT
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.
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by sethum1 July 7, 2008 3:05 PM PDT
I have an rolling platform that pre-dates the Segway. It's called a skateboard.
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About The Social

CNET News' Caroline McCarthy is a downtown Manhattanite who believes that, despite popular opinion, the Web can actually help your social life. She's happily addicted to fun social-media tools from Twitter to Yelp to Facebook, sends an inordinate number of text messages, and has a tendency to waste time at the office reading restaurant blogs. Here, she explores all facets of the Web's gregarious side, as well as the unique tech culture in her home city of New York. (Don't call it Silicon Alley.)

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