Today in Technology History
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December 3
In January of 2001, rumors surfaced on the Internet that the inventor Dean Kamen had developed a remarkable new invention -- one that would transform the world. Unfortunately, nobody knew what the invention was.
Over the years, Kamen has made a fortune from his inventions -- which include several important medical devices, like the first portable kidney dialysis machine. In the 1990s, he invented a wheelchair capable of climbing stairs.
Reports in the media said that the secret invention wowed high-tech luminaries Steve Jobs (co-founder of the Apple computer company) and Jeff Bezos (founder of Amazon.com). They reportedly believed that the invention would change the way ordinary people live, and that it would revolutionize the design of cities.
The Internet was soon aflame with rumors about the invention, which was called "IT" or "Project Ginger." Because of Kamen's recent work with wheelchairs, many people guessed that the invention was related to ground transportation. Some people instead thought it would be a flying vehicle. Others believed it was a new kind of water purifier. Still others believed the invention used a Stirling engine (an external combustion engine common in the nineteenth century).
The true nature of the invention was revealed to the public exactly one year ago, on December 3, 2001: it was a high-tech scooter called the "Segway Human Transporter." According to a press release, Segway is "the first self-balancing, electric-powered transportation machine. With dimensions no larger than the average adult body and the ability to emulate human balance, the Segway HT uses the same space as a pedestrian, and can go wherever a person can walk. The Segway HT will allow people to go farther, move more quickly, and increase the amount they can carry anywhere they currently walk."
Now you can judge for yourself whether the reality lives up to the hype: you can pre-order a Segway from Amazon.com -- if you have $4,950 to spare, that is.
Related links:
Click here for the homepage of the Segway company.
Click here to read last year's New York Times article about the Segway announcement.
One of the first people to ride around on a Segway was U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney -- already an admirer of Dean Kamen because the inventor was responsible for the stent used to repair Cheney's heart. You can read about Kamen's other inventions on his homepage.
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