Dear Michael,
Not everyone likes to be the center of attention like, . . . uh, you? Just because somebody steps up and wants to demonstrate feasibility, doesn’t mean they are looking for personal attention. In fact, this is a very quiet, private individual who doesn’t need to impress anybody. How about you? Who are you trying to impress by throwing in the part about Phillips. As for your insights, you say, “so far the visions–a scooter and a new style community–have let me down.” You need to read a bit more. Have you heard of the insulin pump, or Kamen’s water purification equipment, the iBot, or his Sterling engine hybrid, or his work with kids in FIRST?

BTW, are you a 14 year old kid who still thinks it’s fun to make snide remarks about technologies you obviously know nothing about, hoping that your following will pile on the laughter? I just have to wonder what motivates people like yourself. Tell us about any invention you’ve come up with that has sold 40+ thousand units, each saving fossil fuel and reducing pollution.

and a helicopter landing pad. share the wealth, deano.

and he has an elevator in his house.

How dare you! Dean Kaman, annoying?! Aside this being a clear case of the pot calling the kettle black, you should realize that people like Kaman are the innovators that develop the ttechnology that enables breakthroughs.

What’s your beef, did he steal your girlfriend in college or something?

why is everyone so fired up about dean kamen?

Wow. What a pleasant article and a pleasant place to be. What’s the point?

its not often when reading a article does the word “asshole” pop into my mind, and I’m sorry to use it, but You sir, are the above mentioned word. A man as brilliant as Kamen is not ‘annoying’ only people who pontificate and who sit back and write articles and DREAM of being that brilliant are annoying. The success or failure of a invention doesn’t indicate the beauty of that invention. Remember the public has often gone after the lesser of something (I think Beta vs VHS as a start)
Mr. kamen is thinking WAY out of that box, or in your case.. The litter box

Jonathan Gleich

Jonathan,

Remember the Segway? Brilliant, eh, dude?

JC

I think the issue here isn’t whether Kamen is annoying, brilliant, or whatever.  The issue here is Michael’s writing style. 

Michael, seriously, I generally love your writing and really appreciate your insights. I like the occasional humor and sarcasm you put into your articles, but here I do think you’ve gone a bit too far.  Please try to keep the reporting a bit more factual and more respectable.  Thanks!

Kamen is a brilliant visionary.  He has helped millions with his medical inventions, will continue to improve the life for millions more with is many other projects, like his water purifier, and stirling engine generators…  Because he can see the world through eyes that solve problems instead of eyes who are overcome by them, he may project as different from others…  He is an inspiration to those who have any intelligence and ability to see beyond their own ego.

The world is full of examples of small minds who cannot see what the giants are able to see.  It is no wonder that negatives were directed at Kamen from the gutter.  It has always been that way, and will continue to be so for some time…  I wonder if this author will refuse the heart stint invented by Kamen, or refuse to use the artificial limb he is developing, or deny himself the wheelchair that climbs stairs.  I think not.

Actually, I believe the iron elevator is from a famous building that was demolished, and was used in a movie.  He saw it, and while it did not work on the movie set, he took it home and made it work.  At keast, that is how I heard the story.

I also do not believe he has a helicopter landing pad at his home.  He lands them on the lawn, or in the driveway in front of his hanger which is part of his house.  He has them because of some of the inovative inventions he added to their navigation systems.  This is one smart guy.

He also does share the wealth.  He shares his love of science and engineering with many thousands thru FIRST as others have said.  He shares the wealth of health and the ability to stay alive thru his many medical inventions.  He shares the wealth with mobility for tens of thousands who would not have it without his devices.  He shares the wealth of improved standard of living, improved condition of living, improved outlook on wanting to stay alive with millions daily.

I personally do not believe that he cares much for publicity, and the North Dumpling Island thing is not so much a publicity stunt as a simple sharing of his vision.  I believe he is actually a humble man.  He just sees thing differently.  He sees a need, and tries to fill the need.  And he does a damn good job of it.  He sees a need for renewable energy, a need to consume less and be more efficient.  Then he creates it.  He has done this thing, and if the troglodytes cannot see the value, it matters not.

I’m trying to be respectable, but doesn’t this whole thing—building a nation off the coast of Conneticut—scream out as a publicity stunt. How practical is this going to be? Is it really going to awaken the world to energy efficiency or is it going to be like Pauly Shore’s Biodome? I mean, there are a lot of LED trials out there already.

If he were a marketing guy I’d say fine. But he’s praised as a visionary and so far the visions—a scooter and a new style community—have let me down.

“and a helicopter landing pad. share the wealth, deano.” 

Sure, why not.  Typical low-life moocher trying to get something without earning it, like far too many in our society.  Why on earth should he have to share?  He is already doing more to raise the standard of values for youth throughout the world with programs like FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).  If you had taken more than a moment to research your subject, you would find that his prior inventions have saved the lives of millions, improved the lives of millions more, and he is currently developing a water purification system that could eliminate the cause of 75% of the world’s deaths from disease—polluted drinking water.

Of course he should certainly conduct his life within the guidelines that you feel are mandatory—after all, you have done so much more for humanity than he…

Give me a break!  Sit down, shut up, and actually try to learn about the subject before you proclaim to the world:  “Hey, I’m a stupid fool who knows nothing of which I speak”!!!!

hey six flags great adventure, did i touch a nervey nerve?

Kamen went to Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

There were no girls there.

Without bothering to graduate he’s done pretty well for himself.

Last I saw he was flying Isabella Rossellini around in his private plane.

Sorry dude, even at 60 she’s hotter than any chick you ever went out with.

“doesn’t this whole thing–building a nation off the coast of Conneticut–scream out as a publicity stunt.”

the “nation” is a private island, and his being ceceeded from the union is a joke. of course it is a publicity stunt, but it’s done to bring attention to the benefits of going green. i refuse to hear another word against mr kamen until you do some serious research on who he is and what he has contributed to the world. you have every right to exercise your freedom of speech, but i suggest you avoid speaking down on your betters.

North Dumpling Is. going energy-independent a publicity stunt?

Of course it is. Why should he be faulted from trying to get people’s attention to the possibilities, just because he’s not a “marketing guy”? It worked. It got me going out again and tracking down lighting LEDs for my house, this time successfully! (And the prettiest Christmas tree lights ever, as well!)

Still pricey, but better than continuing to buy all those mercury-containing CFLs that are slow to turn on, and don’t last all that long.

So to answer your question, “How practical is this going to be?”—Very! Given that he has to supply all his own energy now. Each lighting LED system saves about 1/2 in power over a CFL (a savings of about 12W), but costs roughly $90 more. Each watt of generator capacity costs about $160 per watt, so you can see it makes extremely GOOD economic sense. (Do your own math for solar; it still works out to save money to use less power!)

Dean Kamen’s inventions have changed my life twice. He invented the insulin pump, and then when my walking became too difficult, I was able to turn to the Segway, rather than the far more debilitating wheelchair.

And you know what? It’s a load of fun, too. It, and its predecessor, the iBot wheelchair, have changed thousands of people’s lives. The insulin pump, millions. His work on the heart stent?

More than anything, Kamen’s career has been about come up with solutions to real problems. Maybe if you set your sights high enough, you can change people’s lives for the better in your role as annoying blogger!

You’ll need to be more focused on achieving positive results, however, than just cheap shot criticisms.

“What’s the beef, did he steal your girlfriend in college or something?” Genius, technology philanthropist, dead-end inventor, whatever he may be, the one thing I doubt he has the capacity to do is steal anyone’s girlfriend.

JC

I don’t see why Joo Catcat claims that Mr Kamen is a “dead-end inventor,” or why Mr. Kanellos keep claiming that Mr Kanellos says that “the visions—a scooter and a new style community—have let me down.”
First of all, as has been pointed out, the Segway is only one of Mr Kamen’s inventions, and although it is decidedly less commercially successful than his heart stint or insulin pump, does not nor can not constitute or characterize his achievements.  He is on record for saying that the thing he is most passionate about is FIRST, which helps get kids involved in science and math, and he has always dedicated his work to improving peoples’ lives.
On the issue of North Dumpling Island, he calls it an independent nation as a joke, which stems from a series of disagreements with government bureaucrats around energy issues.
Lastly, if JC and Mr Kanellos are disappointed that Mr Kamen hasn’t contributed more to cleantech, please familiarize yourselves with his stirling work and his water purifier before you pass judgement, or even better yet, read this and weep: http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/philips-acquires-energy-control-company-teletrol/