Are we humans looking at a future in which we won¡¯t need to use our legs? It looks like it when you consider Toyota¡¯s Winglet, Japan¡¯s version of the Segway.
The Winglet Challenge at Mega Web in Odaiba, Tokyo, offers visitors the chance to rest their legs and try out the battery-powered standing vehicle. The ¡°challenge¡± is to complete a course on a Winglet after a little instruction from the experts. There are actually a few types of Winglet: One with a handle, and two, which unlike the Segway are hands-free. For the challenge, though, it¡¯s no surprise that visitors have to try the handled one ¡ª though the instructors notably still stand a safe distance while you practice being legless.
Once confident enough, you¡¯re let loose to race through an LED-lit floor that illuminates and tracks your path and gives you points for good moves. The faster and more precise your ¡°driving,¡± the higher the score, which appears on a screen so you can compare it against your friends.
We¡¯ve tried it, and it¡¯s surprisingly easier than you may think to maneuver. This a rare opportunity to be among the first to give it a try, since the Winglet isn¡¯t actually for sale yet.
The Winglet Challenge is taking place, 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., at Mega Web in Odaiba through September and is free of charge. For more information, visit .
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