Howdy!
Sticking with automotive technology, I want to talk this week about Toyota's personal mobility concept vehicle. They have designed this thing called the I-Real (sounds like it should've come from Apple, right?). It's kind of a cross between a wheelchair and a Segway. You sit in it and drive yourself with these little levers. It takes up almost no room, and it would probably solve a lot of transportation issues, such as parking problems.
I have a video of this vehicle from my favorite TV Show, Top Gear. By the way, if you're a gearhead you need to check out this show on BBC America.
So follow the links and take a look at this "vehicle." To get credit this week you will need to answer ONE of three questions:
1) What are the safety concerns that you have with this vehicle?
2) Would this decrease our fitness level as a nation?
3) Would you pick this over the Segway? (If you don't know what that is, please Google.)
Please wait to blog until Thursday.
Talk to me . . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_i-REAL
http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2007/10/toyota_ireal_concept_car.html
http://blogs.discovery.com/good_idea/2009/04/the-toyota-ireal.html
http://gizmodo.com/309614/toyota-i+real-concept-car
87 comments:
A good concept but even if it does only go 18.6 mph you could get seriously injured if you crash because of the lack of protection. You would have to wear full boby pads to stay safe, which would just be annoying.
Nicholas Morin - 7th period
This thing looks amazing but it has a safety hazard I would think they would put some protection all around the outside like cars have. I guess that’s why we don’t see these on the road.
Did you see how fast that dude was going on the road, 20 miles an hour, looks like we would need helmets and everything
I like the I-Real and would totally buy it over the Segway.
Miara~1st
This would definitely decrease our overall fitness level as a nation even more, and we're already fat. The first thing I thought of when I saw these was the chairs from Wall-e, that the people never get out of. As soon as stores start letting people come inside in their chairs, we'll all just get even fatter.
-Tobin, 1st
I would definitely pick the I Real over the segway. I feel like I would fall on my face if I attempted to ride a segway. Since you're sitting in the I Real, I would feel much safer and there isn't such a probability that I'd hit the ground. Plus I think the look of the I Real is cooler.
Ellen 1st
The safety concerns i have about the vehicle is that there is no seat belt and nothing around you to protect your face if your were to run into anything. I think this would decrease our fitness level because people are already lazy and giving them another way of not walking doesnt help. I would pick this over the Segway because i feel like if you are moving its safer to be sitting down than standing up.
K~Mac, 1st
I like the Segway because it seems more fun to ride on. On the segway you won't get fat as fast as the i-real beacuse your standing not sitting.
Ok a good concept but not very safe. Now when riding the thing what happens if someone hits you? there is no seatbelt to keep you from flying out of the thing. The fitness of people in out nation will drop. Think about the people who walk places they need to go and if they get this they won't have to walk anymore. Segway? or I-real, i would pick neither because the saftey on both are dangerous and wouldnt benefit to ride them. TUTT-1ST
mmeennn let me tell you about this machine. This machine is awsome! AND GREAT!! i would love to have one of does here in school. But then again not really. If people really start using does in the business world or the world start using does machines then we is gonna become FAT! & we is going to be lazy.
1st period HM
One of the safety concerns that I think may be an issue for some people is the speed. The I-Real can only go 18.6 miles per hour which is not the fast, however, the video makes it seem faster. Overall its a great vehicle, but due to the speed, the I-Real doesnt't seem like it will be able to hold up to the busy traffic that takes place in the big cities, like Houston for example.
Amanda-1st
I would pick the I Real over the segway, because I adore my face and I would not mess it up..The problem with both mobiles is that there is no protection for them, and I know the prices for them is out of control.
-Takarya 1st
I like the idea of the i-real, however, even if the design is quite a seller if nothing else, the way it is designed is such a safety hazard because its abnormal and it goes to fast for it to be easily controlled in a dangerous situation.
Were it a more cushy machine that looked like a super fast wheelchair i think it would have been cooler. ;)
Brittany D. 1st period
1. The saftey concer are:
What if you get hit by a car what protection does it offer you, youll be less alert ridding the chair
what happens When your crossing the middle of a busy street and your battery dies, is there a back up?
- Michael 1st period
The i-real is all nice and and shiny but what concerns me is that there arnt any safty mesures that the veicle has. No air bags, no roof, and no windsheld!!!! what the heck you can die!!!! ugg... ANother thing why does the ireal llok like the thing off of wall-e , we are going to get FAT IF WE JUST USE THIS VEICLE AND NOT WALK.
Victor - 1st
Justin 1st Period:
I think that this 3 wheeled vehicle is a good vehicle but the only downfall would be the lack of safety rateing. If you crashed or bumped something a little bit to hard, it looks like you body would tske a short joyride through the air. So as for safety I give it a 2 out of 5. Me personally would choose something other than this vehicle. I would rather be safe and secure than not safe and secure, as would most people I imagine.
I like the Segway because it looks more fun to ride on and you won't get as fat as the sittting on the I-real beause when your on the segway then your always on your feet making sure you don't off right?
Nhi #1
pazita
The idea of a vehicle that can go 20 mph without seatbelts is terrifying, at least on a motorcycle you can get knocked away from the crash. As Wall E has shown us this would quickly decrease the fitness level of our nation. I'd rather walk than have either of these.
Blake 4th
I think that that the Toyota iReal is like a supped-up wheelchair. At least with a segway you dont look like granny from the block.
Alejandra Diaz 4th Period
Well as safty goes it really isn't that good... but it's like a street bike..... AND HECK YA I WOULD PICK THIS OVER A SEGWAY!!!!
Gavin 4th
the toyota car or wagon is great but only for the future cause it doesnt look like a wheel chairfor old people but it cool for a car only needs weapons.
- johnny 4th
Its a good idea for people that cant really walk but for the fat people its a great idea but people know that they are the ones that realy need to excrise and not to be lazy.
jacques4th
i think that this needs more safety in it. you will need to wear a helmet and body pads to protect you just in case you like crash by not looking where you are going or even by not paying attention. But either way you wouldnt wear so whats the point for it.
yoana 4th period
WOW.... okay my first thought when i read the article and saw the video i thought of Wall-E like @Tobin said. I didnt really like the IReal because of the fact...ITS A MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR.. we already have one!! And even if it is just to go through town, what if its raining and you have to go somewhere nice?? you gonna stink and get wet. BUT.. i have to say, the design was cool looking and i loved the colors that were presented and it lookes like something the old mad off of Back To The Future would design. lol
Meagan McG-4th
As far as the nation's fitness: if this came to be as common as bicycles, I can see many people basically forgetting how to walk and turning into gigantic jell-o blobs with wheels. Hopefully it won't come to that. In one of the articles it said that the vehicles would be perfect for when your destination is too far to walk to, but driving is a little excessive... I think they need to learn how to walk more than two hundred feet at a time.
-Brittany Wells, 4th
As far as the nation's fitness: if this came to be as common as bicycles, I can see many people basically forgetting how to walk and turning into gigantic jell-o blobs with wheels. Hopefully it won't come to that. In one of the articles it said that the vehicles would be perfect for when your destination is too far to walk to, but driving is a little excessive... I think they need to learn how to walk more than two hundred feet at a time.
-Brittany Wells, 4th
I think its a cool car but there is a hole bunch of problems with this let me explain.First it doesn't have some thing to cover your body like what if it rains or snowinf or windy.Second its made of plastic plastic!So that means if you get hit or you crashed its bye bye my friend.Third it only goes 20 mile per hour not fast it enough for me.So do you get my concerns so i'll give it a 50/50.
Marsilo-4th
I prefer the I-Real over the segwag because it has more futuristic features than the segwag.You also can sit down in it instead of standing up. It also looks like it goes way faster than the segwag. You ar more safer in the I-Real than the segwg.
This is a good concept but its very dangerous because if you get into a car wreck you more and likely will die instantly, and you will get fat really quick, if you take this thing everywhere you go.
Samantha-4th(:
Saftey concerns for the IReal no seat belt and for the fitness level as a nation i dont think it would decrease because no everybody can afford one, and i prefer the IReal over the Segway because on the Segway you're standing up the whole time while on the IReal you can sit down and relax
Jeron G. 4th Pd.
not to good of an idea. it looks cool but it might not sale. secially if its top speed is like 20-something. maybe if the person is rich and has a huge house and a big yard. then im sure they'll buy it. but other than that i wouldnt expect people to buy it.
L. Meza-4th
safety concern of mine is i dont really have one it seems pretty safe and secure as long as your not reckless. yes i do think or fitness would decrease if everyone had these. i would rather this than the segway.
curly 4th
I believe that the invention of the I-Real will not affect our fitness. I think it will just replace other things like wheelchairs or the baskets you can drive like the ones at walmart.
It seems big now but in the future it will jus seem like any other thing we will take for granted.
Bonifilio Soto 4th
Safety concerns for the IReal no seat belt and for the fitness level as a nation i dont think it would decrease because no everybody can afford one, and i prefer the IReal over the Segway because on the Segway you're standing up the whole time while on the IReal you can sit down and relax
Jeron G. 4th Pd.
I prefer the I-Real over the segwag because it has more futuristic features than the segwag.You also can sit down in it instead of standing up. It also looks like it goes way faster than the segwag. You ar more safer in the I-Real than the segwag.
D'Ante Riggins-8th
Having no seat belt would scary me to death. I have to have something to hold me to the seat. Im just saying that if this thing flips what happens to you?
Zach-4
ok this 'automobile' looks like a advance motorcycle... i mean it has almost nothing of high tech not even a roof! it dint amaze me at all if this is the future type of cars then i rather stay with my bicycle.
PAZ-4th put that last comment ^
i think that toyata thing is nice but its gonna make us so lazy! why not just walk to places. its neat for awhile but i dont think they should sell it.
well to me its the same as a wheelchair...bt its a good concept...other than it only goes 18 mph you can get hurt...or if it rains your seriously going to get wet...it still has to be thought through a bit more
norma 5th
2) Would this decrease our fitness level as a nation?
ummm...YES! You know the movie Wall-E? Yeah that's what i predict will happen if everyone sat on their butts and drove eveywhere. I can see it now year 2030, the modern marathon will be who's little motorized chair will cross the finish line first. Everyone will be fat, and lazy. Yay for technology??
Elizabeth Turner
5th Period
this would definitely make us superrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr fat and lazy. you could definitely get in a wreck in one of the i reals and you could probably get hurt too, since it has to covering, seatbelts, etc. i like the idea of the i real more than the segway because its newer and more futuristic.
Caroline Kingham-5
I think this is a good concept, but it will decrease the fitness activity in today's society. Today, there is already a major debate on the health issue, and this would only add to the hype. It would prevent users from using their muscles to move, causing them to become dependent on it, which would make them less likely to be active.
Jameika-5th
1) Safety concerns for me would be the stability. It goes twenty miles an hour which i know doesnt seem that fast but what happens when you hit a sharp turn on it?
2) I think that this will make mobility too easy and i think it would increase the amount of obese people and people would get more unhealthy by not getting enough excercise.
3) Yes i would because on the ireal you get to sit and a segway makes you stand. and the ireal also looks easier to use.
-LANDON-5th
The safety concerns with this concept vehicle are many. What if its raining? No windshield no protection from the rain. What if it slips D:? No airbags. It also looks like it has no seatbelt. Ehh i don't think so!
-Ivette Flores P5
I would pick the I-Real over the Segway. The Segway you have to stand up and that can get tiring after a while. With the I-Real you can sit down. Plus the I-Real just looks a lot better anyway. I don't know if I would ever buy either of them but if I had to choose I would pick the I-Real.
-Meleah 5th
its nice but what if it rains, is it water proof.the style is nice but its not for me.
david b.-5th
I feel that there would be a safety concern, but it only goes like 18 mph. So you wouldnt be too damaged. Also i think the iReal would decrease the exercise and fitness of America because you would never need to walk or anything. You could drive these machines inside so no need to walk and thats not such a good thing. I would buy this over a segway though because you dont have to balance it,like you would a segwey. So I'm guessing it would be easier to drive, which i like.
Ellen Ash, 5th
The safety of the vechicle is very bad because, you could get electricuted or if you crash into a car then you possibly die.
Darian 4th
some safety concerns i have for this chair is the screens on the back and the messaging device in the chair. the screens can cause distractions to drivers in the area and can cause accidents. the messaging device allows others to find you and you them, and this is bad for obsessive people and stalkers!
michi-7
The safety concerns about this vehicle would be that there is no airbags so if you crash you could severely get hurt. I think it wouldn't decreased the fitness level but actually increase since the people would try to use it all the time instead of walking. No, because i didn't like either one of those.
Eric 7th
This would decrease our fitness level, people don't want to exercise anymore and now people come up with ideas like this? People would chose this to not walk, so yes it will decrease our fitness level.
-Diana 7th
I think that this would definitely make for a lazier nation if it were to be affordable and even if it was pricy, those who could afford it would most likely end up becoming lazier due to the ease of using the machine rather than using their perfectly capable bodies to travel the short distances that the I-Reals are made for.
-Ashley R. 7th
the safety concerns i have with the seat belt..if the drivers somehow crashes how will they be protcted and would they have to wear safety gear when operating this on the road??!!
Although it is a very ingenious contraption I am not interested in getting one because i do believe it will decrease our nation's overall fitness level. Sooner or later we're all gonna end up like those fat people in Wall-e
Gage Green-7
2) Would this decrease our fitness level as a nation?
Absolutely. People would use it to walk their dogs, to take trips to the zoo, and to do anything that requires any kind of mild sweating. People would become so dependent on this, it reminds me of the people movers in Wall-e.
http://www.plugincars.com/files/wall-e-610.jpg
-Rye
this doesnt seem safe at all. you hit a bump going too fast its all over for you. i think it would make americans fatter becausepeople would stop making those walks that they do to go to the store of to go get something to eat. i would rather have a segway ovre this because a segway is cooler than this.
Shaq 7th
This invention would make us super lazy. people would get fat because they would be to lazy to even walk. This is why america has a lot of fat people no offense to anyone.
huesca-7th
I would pick this over the segway, because this design looks a little more confty then the Segway because your not standing the whole time. The I-real is also faster which can come in handy on some situations.
Dylan-7th
2) Would this decrease our fitness level as a nation?
I think this would decrease our fitness level as a nation, because if the I-Real is used more than regular exercise, then people may begin to be more obese. However, this has been said when the Segway came out. Other than that, I'm sure people know when they need to get out and do something before they die. Even though some people will most likely prefer the I-Real, I am sure statistics would prove that people have began to be even more obese than before.
~~Matthew DeWard Period 7
I think that this is a very dangerous vehicle, no seatbelt= being thrown out. No dome type protctor or glass= possible fatality for the "driver" the I-Real has so pretty big flaws that they need to change before it comes out on the market
-Luke Sowell 7th
One concern I have is the safety issues. Where are the seatbelts at!? I know the seat will lower when you choose to go at a faster speed, but there are still potential scenarios where a seatbelt could help. What if we lose control and hit the curb? Could the i-Real tip? Or would it launch us out? also, the idea of the i-Real warning us if we are to collide with something is pretty dumb. It's warning me, but WHAT WILL I DO!? I MIGHT AS WELL ACCEPT THE FACT THAT I AM ABOUT TO CRASH AND BRACE FOR IMPACT. Just sayin'.
Neil Baquiran - 7th
I'm not quite sure if this wheelchair/car thing would affect people's health or not. I mean, large people can't really fit in them anyways so it's not like they'd be able to use them. But I could see the same thing from Wall-e starting like this
-Katherine :) 7th
1)my main safety concern is that i would look like a geek on this thing(a cool geek),but honnestly it has no seatbelts,or safety features i can see.
2)yes if these were supplyed to all house holds we would all gain weight and die misirably
3)yes because this looks cooler
-XD matt c,7th
1) What are the safety concerns that you have with this vehicle?
im concerned about what would happen if you were going top speed and you fell out.is there something that keeps you in it because i do not trust those things that squeeze around you...
and what about crashing? youd die if you got ran into. they would not be good for everyday use. especially not on days when it isnt good weather. these should only be used for touring.
-jasmine 7th
This is no doubt an amazing peice of machinery but it is unsafe as heck. A collision with just about any size car/truck would almost undefiably kill its driver. Also, I am a little leery of no window. The air/wind constantly pounding your face would definately make it harder to see and react. It probably wouldnt be that hard to slip out of your vehicle either. Nope, not safe...
Ross Culpepper - 7
This will completely decrease our fitness level as a nation because of the laziness everyone has and lack of excersize in result of this machine.
Savannah 8th
i think its kool but what happens if u crash at 20 mph u gonna fly out and u dont even have seat belts. i think that if a bunch of people started useing this then they will get fat and lazy and america alreayd got that problem. i wouldnt buy this or the segway cuz thats for people who dont wanna walk with there lazy selfs.
placido 8th
It's a good idea for an electric wheel chair, coming from a person who are able bodied, I think I'll stick to walking. I live in out of town anyway, so even if I had that it would take forever to get to the city, and what about other cars on the road, some places don't have good sidewalks, and it's to slow to just merge in with traffic.
Trenton Birdwell 8th
I think this would effect the nations health big time its basically a wheel chair for anyone to use so we might expect to see people with these in public like the mall or any store making way more lazier then before.
Raul 8th
I dont really like the whole idea mainly because it would make lazy people even more lazy. The fact that most people hardly excersice would be complete if this vehicle went out for sale.
-Juanita 8th
Saftey issues being is it waterproof? With all that fancy technology all over it what if it started to rain, or if it went throgh a puddle. Plus it'd suck either way if it started to rain. also what if you hit something i feel as though it would send you flying. I do think that if it was used for people who had no handicap then it would affect how lazy we got and our fitness level. But yeah I would definately choose this over the segway any day just because it looks super baws.
Sam 8
I don't think that something like this would decrease our nation's fitness level. At first glance, the idea is a little scary because it is so reminiscent of the automated chairs in the movie "WALL-E" that people have ridden in for centuries and over time become amorphous blobs of humans. But these are cars. They are meant for use on the road, not indoors. It's no less healthy to ride one of these to work and around town than to drive a traditional car. That's not to say I think this is a viable option for the future; I don't. There are too many shortcomings for it to be realistic in the near future, but I don't believe increased obesity is one of them.
3) when you are on a segway you have to stand up, with the personal transportation vehicle you can sit. the vehicle also has the potential for greater speeds, and potentialy it could protect us from the weather.
@ReidPerry14 -8th
the only safety concern i have is that its really fast and if u fall off of it, it might run over you,and yes this would decrease our fitness; i would choose the I-Real over the Segway.
-Andrew 8th
safety illustrator uhm, HELLO no safety belt ! im qoinq to flyinq off that mini car lol
this would decrease because us american are already lazy enouqh and this would take out walkinq completly (if the thinqs were cheap)
too me both are pretty emberresinq i wouldnt be catched dead ridinq in them buttttttt ii mean if your all into this "futurstic" thinq than this is the thinq for you ;D
p.s there is a reason why the seqway didnt hit off
-eli 8th <3
I think this would decrease our fitness level as a nation. We are already lazy as it is and this will only make it worse.
becca-8
My main safty concern for the I-Real is that there is no seatbelts, nothing to cover your head and face, and no airbags.
I am also concern that this will decrease fitness levels and we would just end up giant balls of lard on wheels.
I would preffer the I-Real over the Segway because I get to sit down instead of standing (because im lazy)
~Tyler S. 8th
I dont like it at all. Its cool for like a office chair or sume like that but not really for a way of transportation... Its doesnt seem safe has no seatbell ant ther no kind of cover to protect you from the enviroment. This would surely decrease our nations fitness it would make ovisity level rise.
i wouldnt buy none of them but if i have to choose i would go with the Segway
Miguelito
8th
Althought I think this is a pretty nifty idea! This would decrease our fitness level! If we had the option between walking or using this IReal, almost everybody would choose the IReal.
Kacy-8th
look like fly and car to totyota have all it road beacase that fast and slow and sit and sleep to that very cool i love future
lucasjardon
11/17/2011
8prideo
i personaly, dont think this is a "safe" idea. what if it rains? wheres your protection? what if you get in a car wreck? apparently the person who designed this didnt think about all this. tho this is a cool invention it isnt safe for us
jasmine-8
ok my oponion on this is that it is cool but not cool. i did like that it had the thing that you could talk to the other people that have one too. Somrthing i dont like id that what if rains obviously your not gonna want your to get messed up (for girls), and no belt what kind of safety is it that it doesnt have no belt. i wouldnt buy it! nelis Bonilla 8th
i like the back up idea for when the battery dies what happens then good thinkin
Miara 1st
I think the whole toyota I-Real is a great idea, for doing short errands if you live near where you're going, like me to the high school, but in place of a car, just be kinda pointless. I feel like this thing would make everyone, like the people of our Wall-E, and I'd rather not be living on a cruise ship my whole life. Cool idea, to replace a bike, but not to take over your own feet.
-The Boss; David Radnitzer
-5th
The safety concerns that I have with this I-Real is that when your driving outside then when it starts raining you could get wet and electicuted!(electricity) Or when your driving a full speed then something can hit you in the face or a car can run you over is it not dangerous!! I think you can fat too because your sitting down. Another dangerous thing is you can be eating and you drop some cheese on the controller then it malfunctions and instead of going left you could right! Maybe it would not be dangerous to the driver but it can be dangerous to someone else that is walking, like say an old lady walking with a cane is crossing the sidewalk and you happen to be texting and going full speed you can run her over!!!
I think this I-Real is very dangerous!!!
Nhi #1
I would pick the segway instead beacuse you would not get fat and your always looking a head of you!! Because your looking a head of you then you won't someone over and you can't be eating when your standing!! I like the Segway more it seems more athlectic!!! Hahahaha
Nhi #1
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