Dean Kamen (placeholder)

I was part of the US FIRST program back in 1995 (HS in Southern NH, US), and met him at the national competition held in Orlando. Very nice guy, and willing to talk to all of the groups there (along with making speeches during the competition).

I first heard of Dean Kamen when his mysterious “Ginger” project was generating buzz. It was said to be revolutionary and a social catalyst. That really got my curiousity going. Then the segway was revealed and I was blown away by its simplicity in exterior design and intent.

Then I saw him with Isabella Rosselini on a cable show called Ikonoclasts. He talked more about his attempts to solve problems that we (currently) take for granted, such as lack of clean water in developing countries.

I want to invent as well.
Although so much of my work is on paper I know that it can manifest at least some of the works in their current forms.

I was working at Amazon and a group of us were heading to lunch. As we popped out of the elevator into the basement hallway, there was man perched atop a Segway, just hanging out.

This was still prior to the Segway going into full production, so they were still a bit of a fascinating novelty. We approached, and I immediately recognized Dean Kamen. We chatted with him a bit (although I can’t remember what he said), and he whirred and twisted the Segway, demonstrating its agility.

At the far end of the hallway, just outside, a taxi cab rolled up. Kamen spun around, said good-bye, and then raced out the door to catch his cab.

The irony of watching him dismount, throw the segway in the trunk of the taxi, and then speed off did not escape me.