Apple hires Segway engineer

Posted on 7 Jul 2008 at 10:25

Apple has appointed the former chief technology officer for Segway as its new vice president of product design.

Doug Field is credited with being the driving force behind the success of the personal transporter, but as the announcement notes, "what can be better than a gig at Apple".

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs was associated with the Segway in its early days, once having reportedly said that the machine then known as Ginger could be as big a deal as the PC.

But an alternative account has him describing it rather less glowing terms.

"Its shape is not innovative, it's not elegant, it doesn't feel anthropomorphic," he told Segway inventor Dean Kamen. Of course that does not necessarily reflect badly on Fields, who has headed the engineering team since day one and overseen the launch of several new models.

[photo: Segway Polo a the Golden Gate Park by Franco Folini]

Author: Simon Aughton

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