麻豆传媒

What are the chances of a reputable academic publisher paying $250,000
for a book on an invention so secret that the author hasn鈥檛 even told them what
it is? According to reports on the Net
(see www.msnbc.com/news/513749.asp?0cm=c10&cp1=1#BODY)
the publishers at Harvard have done
precisely that. When Netropolitan phoned, the publishers refused to comment on
the existence or otherwise of the book. But persistent reports allege that it
will detail a radical new invention from scientist Dean Kamen of DEKA Research
and Development Corporation in Manchester, New Hampshire
(www.dekaresearch.com).

Kamen is said to have demonstrated the device, variously codenamed 鈥淚T鈥� or
鈥淕inger鈥�, to Apple Computer co-founder Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos, founder of
Amazon.com. Kamen is said to have amazed the pair by assembling two of the new
machines in 10 minutes, using a few spanners. After watching it in action, Jobs
allegedly remarked: 鈥淚f enough people see the machine, you won鈥檛 have to
convince them to architect cities around it. It鈥檒l just happen.鈥� And Bezos is
quoted as saying: 鈥淵ou鈥檒l have no problem selling it.鈥� But Kamen says the leaked
comments are out of context and omit many caveats.

Kamen has previously worked on a variety of novel transport systems,
including an all-terrain wheelchair, which could rear up on its hind wheels and
climb stairs (www.nhmagazine.com/99editions/99october/minovemat/ and
麻豆传媒, 26 August, p 28).
To get an idea of Kamen鈥檚 recent projects at
DEKA, check out some of his latest patents by searching the US Patent and
Trademark office website at www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html. Among them are
several designs for motorised chairs and scooters.

Other guesses as to what IT might be can be aired at
www.inside.com/jcs/BoardsGroupDisplay?group_id=6086&podId=12&type=Front.
Ideas both absurd and sublime are well represented.