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Inventive Genius Dean Kamen Profiled
Matt Leese writes: "Wired has a great article about Dean Kamen online. Information is available on the iBot by Deka Research, which was founded by Kamen. The iBot can go up and down curbs, climb stairs, and balance on a single set of wheels. There is also discussion of FIRST Robotics, an organization founded by Kamen for the advancement of science and technology in youth." Kamen is an interesting fellow, to put it lightly. Reading about his house and habits reminds me of my childhood-favorite biography of Thomas Edison.
I can't think of any audience better suited for plugging the FIRST competition to. It is a robotics competition that teams high schools with corporate sponsors. The teams build a robot in about 6 weeks from the time that they get the rules for the year's competition. My wife participated for two years and my own company sponsored a team for the first time last year. This could probably be called the Geek Olympics. It is intense and fun. If you get a chance to do it, grab on with both hands. And if you are on a first time team, find an older team that will mentor you. I know of at least one which has done exactly that.
The net will not be what we demand, but what we make it. Build it well.
I'd make two points in response to this thread. Please forgive me if I've flouted any of the conventions of posting to Slashdot; while I'm a regular reader, this is my first response.
I wrote the Dean Kamen profile in the September issue of Wired, for what that's worth.
First, to Hates, who writes, "...the only reason I can find where I'd want to be at eye-level with someone is if I'm in a fight with them." From what I understand, most people who are confined to wheelchairs quickly tire of looking other people in the belt-buckle, as opposed to looking them in the eye. Think about all the associations we have about looking down at someone, or looking up to someone. It's actually pretty important to bring wheelchair users up to eye level with the able-bodied. There's a Dateline video that you may be able to track down on the Web that shows how an iBot tester responds to this particular feature. As I recall it, she cries, because it has been so long since she was able to look her mother in the eye, on the same level.
Second, FIRST competitions are nothing like the robot wars on Comedy Central. They're not about professional engineers building destructive robots (which I agree can be fun.) They're about high school students who are having their first experience with engineering. Some of them are having their first experience with any kind of successful creative project. I had to tone down some of the uplifting aspects of my Kamen profile because Wired likes to be at least somewhat skeptical, but if you ever have a chance to see your local FIRST competition (usually in March or April), do it. It's one of those things that will restore your faith in human potential, etc. If you're an engineer and you can spare the time to work with a team - or get your company to sponsor a team - then do that. Info at www.usfirst.org.