Treadway

After having played with a Segway for a week, my colleagues and I think the Segway personal gyro-stabilized transport is very cool. We all agreed that at 5000 dollars, the Segway comes across as an expensive way to get out of walking. Slowing sales of the device for non-commercial use might be due to its price and the stigma of looking like a person who is willing to pay to avoid exercise.

The Treadway combines a treadmill with a Segway to not only provide some beneficial exercise to the user, but also to impart a sense of accomplishment. Leaning forward and walking on the treadmill platform starts forward motion. One would get the same exhilaration as walking on a moving walkway. Human power is multiplied. Turning is done with handgrips as on Segway. Reverse is achieved by walking backwards. There would also be an idle feature where you continue to walk even though the Treadway is not moving forward.

For the non-commercial user, the Treadway enhances the act of walking rather than replacing it, and provides more sense of motion than a stationary treadmill.