Tokyo Motor Show: Toyota's unreal i-Real
by Damon Lavrinc on Oct 25th 2007 at 3:50AM 
Toyota's i-Real answers the quintessential question: "How can I let my legs atrophy, while simultaneously looking sillier than someone in a Segway?" Here's your answer.Toyota's president, Katsuaki Watanabe, rolled onto the stage in complete control of the amped up wheelchair and although his stiff demeanor carried over from the operation of the i-Real to his speech, we understand it's relatively easy to operate. Two joysticks fall to hand, controlling forward motion, braking and turning, and once the speeds increase – up to 30 km/h – the seat tilts back to stabilize the i-Real.
We've added a few live shots of the i-Real to our gallery and you can take a gander at our original post for more details.
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg "2011 Audi A8: Live from Miami")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sam 4:13AM (10/25/2007)
does it have an i-pod audio jack?
is it also i-phone compatible?
Reply
reader 4:15AM (10/25/2007)
More importantly, does it have an optional ass jack?
Reply
axhoaxho 6:21AM (10/25/2007)
Huh? It is like pimp-my-wheelchair...
Reply
Ric Kaysen 8:09AM (10/25/2007)
My initial reaction was mirrored in the lead in. We're doomed as a species if physical inactivity is encouraged by devices like these. The proud look on the face of this enabler is truly creepy as his body withers to the point where it wont support it's own weight.
Reply
FLR 8:11AM (10/25/2007)
Didn't Professor Charles Xavier use that in X-Men?
Reply
Alex 8:24AM (10/25/2007)
is there even a market for something like this?
Reply
AlexP 8:33AM (10/25/2007)
We could ask the same thing about the Segway, but apparently it worked.
kld04g 8:31AM (10/25/2007)
Oh there's a market.. can we say Murderball?
Reply
Ric Kaysen 9:06AM (10/25/2007)
The only legitimate market for something like this would be for quadriplegics. I guess there's a market for Segways too, but have you ever seen an able bodied person using one who didn't look absolutely ridiculous?
Reply
DJ 9:17AM (10/25/2007)
Isn't it funny that it's car enthusiasts that criticise this? How do you know that the distant future doesn't have something like this as our mass transit solution? And don't we already plunk our fat asses into our 4-wheeled personal transportation devices?
Reply
Ric Kaysen 9:32AM (10/25/2007)
You can't equate this thing with a car. A car gets you from point A to point B when those points are to far away to walk. This is essentially a motorized wheelchair that allows people to avoid any physical participation in their mobility. It allows you to get from room to room or between shops, but with a theoretical top speed of 30 km/h, venturing onto the freeway would turn it into roadkill. If this is the future of personal transportation, no thanks, I'll walk.
DJ 9:45AM (10/25/2007)
Think big picture here, it doesn't have to even remotely look like this, it’s a concept, an idea. Technology will improve, it can be made more aerodynamic, think smart highways and roads crossed with a GoogleMaps type interface -- just input where you want to go, your optimal route is plotted for you, it takes you there automatically, merges you with traffic and all the other networked vehicles and you just sit back on your fat ass, sip your latte, etc.
psarhjinian 12:32PM (10/25/2007)
Repeat after me:
Toyko. Auto. Show.
Toyko. Is. In. Japan.
Japan. Is. Different.
It's all well and good to criticize these (and other JDM offerings), but it's important to remember that Japan is an entirely different market. I'm sure the Japanese find the Hummer H1 equally foolish.
Reply
Kai 1:07AM (10/27/2007)
Not going to say that it'd actually be purposeful, but as a gadget-geek, I would want one of these, just because. Just like with the Segway.
Reply