Nutty 'iShoes' Electric Roller Skates
We're not sure what's more groan-inducing, the terribly unimaginative name, or the idea of riding around on a pair of 16-pound motorized roller skates.
These ridiculous, battery-powered, "transportation devices" will make sure you never have a girlfriend or boyfriend (though if you think these clunkers are cool, you probably didn't have much hope anyway). Availability and price are unknown since the product -- to be called iShoes -- is still in testing, but a promo site promises a 5-7 mile range and a top speed of 15 miles-per-hour.
The whole contraption is controlled by a wired hand-held power and breaking system, which presumably runs up inside your pants or some such -- otherwise, seems kind of dangerously tangle-prone. The iShoes fit over your own kicks, as long as they happen to be between sizes 8 and 12 for men or 7 and 10 for women.
Alas, the oh-so-tired name has absolutely nothing to do with either iPods, iMacs, or the Internet. Perhaps you could make the claim these shoes are interactive, to use the mid-'90s catch-all description for anything remotely technological, but our money's on insane.
Then again, the Brodway musical version of 'Xanadu' is a hit, so maybe the iShoes peeps are on to something....
From Boing Boing Gadgets
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ma @ Oct 30th 2007 8:23AM
OMG! How lazy can we get? I thought the purpose of going outside and roller skates was to get excercise....Its no wonder why this country sucks
bubbabma @ Oct 30th 2007 8:30AM
Hey, I think these 'roller skates' are pretty cool! And yes I have a hot man and I myself am pretty hot, so the comment about being a dork loser if you like them is pretty much wrong pal!
Fran @ Oct 30th 2007 8:40AM
So whadya do? Work for Ford or GM? What a great idea. You vicious people are so self absorbed that you don't see the potential for this? OMG! Get me a promo pair so I can sell the car and tell the oil and insurance companies to take a hike. Get them to me now so that they don't become legislated into the same "privilege" that cars,and phones remain, generating the extra expenses incurred by being a "privilege" not a "human right". Mobility and communication, yep, the powers that be still consider them both "privileges"...ain't that somethin'?
Big E @ Oct 30th 2007 9:00AM
L LIKE PIE!
Greg @ Oct 30th 2007 9:13AM
I don't know if they could ever really be a success of any kind. 16lbs. That's 8 lbs per foot, kind of heavy and probably due to the battery and motor being so large for the range. Who would strap an 8lb bowling ball to each foot, even to go 100 miles? It would not be very comfortable. Lifting each foot could cause problems as well. As far as "car replacement ideas", yes we need a replacement, but for most urbun trips you need 30 miles of range, one passenger with luggage (going to work alone), and some kind of protection from the elements, especially in Winter. Cars are inefficient, but safe compared to much more efficient forms of transportation. Cars weigh a lot for comfort and safety. Bikes are much more efficient, but not safe and you can't ride in the winter on bikes comfortably or in the rain safely. What is needed is an efficient one person car, perhaps a car that can expand. Some pod car concepts come close to the idea "car replacment" or at least a more efficient car. Think about it your moving 2000 lbs or more of steel to move a 200 lb body. That's not very efficient in energy usage. I could plow a field and produce a years worth of food for my family in the miles I drive to work and back each day. So I'm about 300 times less efficient energy wise just by driving to work that I'd need to be just to drive to work and back. (20 miles of driving to work and back). We waste way to much energy on transportation in this country, but it's often for safety and comfort reasons. (Peak oil is arriving, what's the answer?)
Tammy @ Oct 30th 2007 9:14AM
Do they come with a charger?
Kezia @ Oct 30th 2007 9:37AM
These skates remind me of those motors you can buy to attach to your mountain bike. Wonder why so many in our country are obese and unhealthy???
lizzie @ Oct 30th 2007 11:24AM
xoxoxo I agree... I think these would be cool. I am disabled and do not have the ability to "skate" for more then a few minutes... but if I didn't need to propel myself forward, I could throw these bad boys on and go around the park a few times xoxoxo yeah for electric skates, but since everone is going green, they may want to make them solar powered lol
stew @ Oct 30th 2007 11:24AM
breaking system???!!!is that for when you fall and brake your neck?? where do they get these writers??????
Denny @ Oct 30th 2007 11:42AM
Greg: I really don't think you would use them like regular skates, I would assume they would always be in contact with the ground or why would they have motors? That's a nobrainer!
Big Al @ Oct 30th 2007 12:05PM
Umm, I don't know what a "breaking system" is exactly, but a nice BRAKING system would realy be good to have.
Rocknroll @ Oct 30th 2007 12:26PM
Remember, George Plimton said Men will come and go, but rollerskates will rink on forever. Keep you panties on! It's obviously just another novelty. Nothing will ever replace the traditional rollerskate, If you want to see how real skates work, check out my site.
iMan @ Oct 30th 2007 1:22PM
So, what's wrong with the name?
Lmedei8443 @ Oct 30th 2007 2:05PM
where can I buy a pair?! me and my hot fiance would have fun in these flying by the joggers in the park...hehe
jim @ Oct 30th 2007 2:27PM
You go Fran!!
jim @ Oct 30th 2007 2:33PM
It's is good because you got no handlebars to go over and my doctor told me not to hold it,.
Keith @ Oct 30th 2007 2:50PM
Go, go gadget skates!!!
Keith @ Oct 30th 2007 2:52PM
Go, go gadget skates
r bien @ Oct 30th 2007 3:14PM
hey ma
if u dont like it, leave
there are plenty of mexicans to take your place
george @ Oct 30th 2007 3:27PM
I'll wait for the gas powered skates that get 15 mpg