Besides violin-playing robots and hybrid vehicles, Toyota is tinkering with personal transportation devices. The i-Real prototype is an intelligent, three-wheeled vehicle that strongly resembles a Segway. It is Toyota's stab at what urban transportation will be like in the not-so-distant future. The i-Real has two speeds (fast and slow) that affect how the machine runs - gearing, center of gravity, and lighting system.
Implications - The move towards futuristic technology is getting faster as companies tap into what transportation devices will look like in the future and create products that resemble these projections to the best of their ability. Consumers want to know what is projected for the future before it happens both to stay ahead of the game and to invest their finances properly in technology that will grow and be profitable. Hybrid technologies are a specific example of futuristic mechanisms that every industry should be tapping into in order to compliment the move towards simplicity and convenience that consumers are seeking.
Personal Transport Concept
Toyota's i-Real
Trend Themes
1. Futuristic Transportation Devices - Companies are creating transportation devices that resemble future projections, tapping into the demand for futuristic technology.
2. Consumer Demand for Future Projections - Consumers want to know what is projected for the future to stay ahead of the game and make profitable investments in growing technologies.
3. Hybrid Technologies - Industries should tap into hybrid technologies to meet consumer demand for simplicity and convenience.
Industry Implications
1. Automotive - The automotive industry can explore and innovate futuristic transportation devices to meet the growing demand.
2. Technology - The technology industry can provide consumers with future projections and invest in growing technologies to cater to consumer demand.
3. Renewable Energy - The renewable energy industry can leverage hybrid technologies to provide sustainable and convenient transportation solutions.