‘ IT’s the new sensation, across the nation…’ Nobody, it appears, knows what IT is… “All they do know: IT, also code-named Ginger, is an invention developed by 49-year-old scientist
Dean Kamen, and the subject of a planned book by journalist Steve Kemper. According to
Kemper’s proposal, IT will change the world, and is so extraordinary that it has drawn the attention
of technology visionaries Jeff Bezos and Steve Jobs and the investment dollars of pre-eminent
Silicon Valley venture capitalist John Doerr, among others…. A
venerable press pays $250,000 for a book on project cloaked in unprecedented secrecy.”
Some clues as to IT’s nature can be gleaned from the proposal:
IT is not a medical invention.
In a private meeting with Bezos, Jobs and Doerr,
Kamen assembled two Gingers — or ITs — in 10
minutes, using a screwdriver and hex wrenches from
components that fit into a couple of large duffel bags and
some cardboard boxes.
The invention has a fun element to it, because once a
Ginger was turned on, Bezos started laughing his “loud,
honking laugh”.
There are possibly two Ginger models, named Metro
and Pro — and the Metro may possibly cost less than
$2,000.
Bezos is quoted as saying that IT “…is a product so
revolutionary, you’ll have no problem selling it. The
question is, are people going to be allowed to use it?”
Jobs is quoted as saying: “…If enough people see the
machine you won’t have to convince them to architect
cities around it. It’ll just happen.”
Kemper says the invention will “sweep over the world
and change lives, cities, and ways of thinking.”
The “core technology and its implementations” will,
according to Kamen, “have a big, broad impact not only
on social institutions but some billion-dollar old-line
companies.” And the invention will “profoundly affect
our environment and the way people live worldwide. It
will be an alternative to products that are dirty,
expensive, sometimes dangerous and often frustrating,
especially for people in the cities.”
IT will be a mass-market consumer product “likely to
run afoul of existing regulations and or inspire new
ones,” according to Kemper. The invention will also
likely require “meeting with city planners, regulators,
legislators, large commercial companies and university
presidents about how cities, companies and campuses
can be retro-fitted for Ginger.”
” The inventor himself is as interesting as the invention may prove to be.
Kamen —’a true eccentric, cantankerous and
opinionated, a great character,’ according to the proposal
— dropped out of college in his 20s, then invented the
first drug infusion pump; he later created the first portable
insulin pump and dialysis machine.” [Inside] Wired profiles Kamen here.
As someone commented on Metafilter, “I’m really hoping for this to be either for real or a complete and total hoax. If it’s just some overhyped
invention I’m going to be so disappointed.” It seems hard, if one believes the ‘hints’ above, not to draw the conclusion that IT is a new form of personal transportation device; maybe IT stands for “individual transport” or something similar. And I’m not talking about anything resembling a Star Trek matter transporter as much as something like a motorized personal scooter.
