It is clear that the challenge is to find a way to give free reign to the intellectual curiosity while studiously ignoring the lurid temptation of discussing the faux-irony of his death.

Ok, I'll bite. How about using GPS to make a safety feature where the Segway will not ride within a certain distance of "dangerous" features like sea cliffs? An override such as turning a master key would be required.

Such a feature could also help deter theft: Segways designed to be used on a single property would not operate outside the property, something like the locks on shopping carts.