Segway Fest
Encyclopedia
Segway Fest was an annual convention of Segway PT
users and enthusiasts held in varying locations each year, sponsored by members of the Segway Enthusiast community with assistance from local Segway dealers and Segway Inc. Segway Inc. employees have always been invited to attend, and many give technical or instructional seminars on topics such as the design process of the machine, tips and tricks related to care and maintenance, and legislative issues. In addition to talks, seminars, and meet-and-greets, large groups of Segway rides (known as "Glides") also are scheduled.
, this was the first large scale gathering of Segway enthusiasts. Notable attendees were Dean Kamen
, Steve Wozniak
, and Make
magazine's Phillip Torrone. Approximately 150 Segway users and enthusiasts from around the country attended.
Segway Fest 2004 was held in Bonita Springs, Florida
. Also organized by Jim Reynolds, Segway Fest 2004's less centralized location led to a slightly decreased turnout, with approximately 130 attendees.
In 2005, SEG America (formed in 2004 as the National Segway Enthusiast Group) took responsibility for organizing Segway Fests. With this change of hands, SEG America embarked on an ambitious plan to host three regional SegwayFests with leadership support from John Grohol at Segway Inc. The first of these regional events was organized by Laura Knight, and was held in Sacramento, California
. Here, attendees were among the first members of the general public to have an opportunity to ride Segway's Concept Centaur.
Manchester, New Hampshire
would see the next regional event, organized by Kelsey Frasier. Manchester was chosen as an event location due to its proximity to Segway Inc.'s factory and headquarters, which were graciously opened to attendees of the Fest. Other notable events included a barbecue dinner at Dean Kamen
's house, and a private screening of a near final cut of the film 10 MPH.
The final event, organized by Will Hopper, took place in Washington, DC. This event proffered numerous glides, and included a presentation by Steve Kemper, author of the book Code Name Ginger.
In 2006, SEG America decided that it would return to the tradition of a single, centralized Segway Fest. Fred Kaplan organized Segway Fest 2006 in Long Beach, California
. This Segway Fest has the significance of being the first Segway Fest to occur after the introduction of the second generation Segway PT
s, and as such many of the seminars discussed the technical challenges in re-engineering the Segway PT user interface systems.
In 2007, SEG America announced no plans for Segway Fest, and in fact, SEG America disbanded due to lack of interest.
For 2008 SegwayFesT 2008 was held in Indianapolis Indiana from August 8 to 10, 2008, by the Indiana Segway Enthusiast Group, with 154 registered attendees. Organizers William West Hopper, Sal and Nora Kulkarni, Florin van Slingerland and representatives from Segway of Indiana produced this event at the Indianapolis Downtown Marriott Hotel. SegwayFesT 2008 also included the playing of the 2008 Woz Challenge Cup of Segway Polo on the lawn of the Indiana State Museum.
For 2008 a Segway Show as well as a Segway Swap Meet were added to the glides, seminars and social events that have made up SegwayFesTs in the past. Awards were given out at the Segway Show, the Best of Show when to Funky-Move.de for their crystal encrusted Segway, Segway of Orange County won the award for best modifications by a professional, Karl Ian Sagal won for best modification by a non-professional, Dan and Nancy Mattausch won for the oldest Segway at SegwayFesT 2008. The People Choice Award went to Funky-Move.de.
The 2008 event included seminars from leading experts in the field, glides and a scavenger hunt around the city of Indianapolis as well as numerous social opportunities.
The large T at the end of SegwayFesT represents the handlebar on the Segway, a tradition that has carried on since the first SegwayfesT in 2003.
Smaller regional events are planned around the country for Segway Enthusiasts.
Segway PT
The Segway PT is a two-wheeled, self-balancing transportation machine invented by Dean Kamen. It is produced by Segway Inc. of New Hampshire, USA. The name "Segway" is a homophone of "segue" while "PT" denotes personal transporter....
users and enthusiasts held in varying locations each year, sponsored by members of the Segway Enthusiast community with assistance from local Segway dealers and Segway Inc. Segway Inc. employees have always been invited to attend, and many give technical or instructional seminars on topics such as the design process of the machine, tips and tricks related to care and maintenance, and legislative issues. In addition to talks, seminars, and meet-and-greets, large groups of Segway rides (known as "Glides") also are scheduled.
Segway Fests
The first Segway Fest was organized and put on by Jim Reynolds in August 2003. Held in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, this was the first large scale gathering of Segway enthusiasts. Notable attendees were Dean Kamen
Dean Kamen
Dean L. Kamen is an American entrepreneur and inventor from New Hampshire.Born in Rockville Centre, New York, he attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute, but dropped out before graduating after five years of private advanced research for drug infusion pump AutoSyringe...
, Steve Wozniak
Steve Wozniak
Stephen Gary "Woz" Wozniak is an American computer engineer and programmer who founded Apple Computer, Co. with Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne...
, and Make
Make (magazine)
Make is an American quarterly magazine published by O'Reilly Media which focuses on do it yourself and/or DIWO projects involving computers, electronics, robotics, metalworking, woodworking and other disciplines...
magazine's Phillip Torrone. Approximately 150 Segway users and enthusiasts from around the country attended.
Segway Fest 2004 was held in Bonita Springs, Florida
Bonita Springs, Florida
Bonita Springs is a city in Lee County, Florida, United States. The population was 43,914 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Cape Coral–Fort Myers Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is located on the southwest coast of the state....
. Also organized by Jim Reynolds, Segway Fest 2004's less centralized location led to a slightly decreased turnout, with approximately 130 attendees.
In 2005, SEG America (formed in 2004 as the National Segway Enthusiast Group) took responsibility for organizing Segway Fests. With this change of hands, SEG America embarked on an ambitious plan to host three regional SegwayFests with leadership support from John Grohol at Segway Inc. The first of these regional events was organized by Laura Knight, and was held in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. Here, attendees were among the first members of the general public to have an opportunity to ride Segway's Concept Centaur.
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
would see the next regional event, organized by Kelsey Frasier. Manchester was chosen as an event location due to its proximity to Segway Inc.'s factory and headquarters, which were graciously opened to attendees of the Fest. Other notable events included a barbecue dinner at Dean Kamen
Dean Kamen
Dean L. Kamen is an American entrepreneur and inventor from New Hampshire.Born in Rockville Centre, New York, he attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute, but dropped out before graduating after five years of private advanced research for drug infusion pump AutoSyringe...
's house, and a private screening of a near final cut of the film 10 MPH.
The final event, organized by Will Hopper, took place in Washington, DC. This event proffered numerous glides, and included a presentation by Steve Kemper, author of the book Code Name Ginger.
In 2006, SEG America decided that it would return to the tradition of a single, centralized Segway Fest. Fred Kaplan organized Segway Fest 2006 in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. This Segway Fest has the significance of being the first Segway Fest to occur after the introduction of the second generation Segway PT
Segway PT
The Segway PT is a two-wheeled, self-balancing transportation machine invented by Dean Kamen. It is produced by Segway Inc. of New Hampshire, USA. The name "Segway" is a homophone of "segue" while "PT" denotes personal transporter....
s, and as such many of the seminars discussed the technical challenges in re-engineering the Segway PT user interface systems.
In 2007, SEG America announced no plans for Segway Fest, and in fact, SEG America disbanded due to lack of interest.
For 2008 SegwayFesT 2008 was held in Indianapolis Indiana from August 8 to 10, 2008, by the Indiana Segway Enthusiast Group, with 154 registered attendees. Organizers William West Hopper, Sal and Nora Kulkarni, Florin van Slingerland and representatives from Segway of Indiana produced this event at the Indianapolis Downtown Marriott Hotel. SegwayFesT 2008 also included the playing of the 2008 Woz Challenge Cup of Segway Polo on the lawn of the Indiana State Museum.
For 2008 a Segway Show as well as a Segway Swap Meet were added to the glides, seminars and social events that have made up SegwayFesTs in the past. Awards were given out at the Segway Show, the Best of Show when to Funky-Move.de for their crystal encrusted Segway, Segway of Orange County won the award for best modifications by a professional, Karl Ian Sagal won for best modification by a non-professional, Dan and Nancy Mattausch won for the oldest Segway at SegwayFesT 2008. The People Choice Award went to Funky-Move.de.
The 2008 event included seminars from leading experts in the field, glides and a scavenger hunt around the city of Indianapolis as well as numerous social opportunities.
The large T at the end of SegwayFesT represents the handlebar on the Segway, a tradition that has carried on since the first SegwayfesT in 2003.
The future
For 2009 the SegwayFesT organizing committee is currently scouting locations around the United States to hold the event.Smaller regional events are planned around the country for Segway Enthusiasts.