the buzz log

When the Segway Human Transporter was introduced, its supporters swore that the goofy-looking, yet technologically advanced vehicle would change the world. Yet despite the hype, the self-balancing Segway became more of an expensive oddity than a revolutionary shot heard around the world.

Still, in the five years since it debuted, plenty of people have fallen for (and off) Segways—from presidents, to police departments, to guided tours. And whenever something happens on (or off) a Segway, the Buzz feels the impact.

The latest installment in the saga is speculation about a public stock offering of Segway, Inc. Based on this recent news, searches for "segway" rolled up 750%, transporting the human transporter into the top 2,000 searches. A Segway IPO could be years down the road. But who knows? If Search trends offer any kind of road sign, Segway may have a shot at joining the high rollers on the stock exchange. Here's hoping the thrills outnumber the spills for investors.