Dean Kamen Says His Latest Project Is Not 'Earth Shattering'
1/13/01 8:32:00 AM
Source: Bloomberg News
Manchester, New Hampshire, Jan. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Dean Kamen, the inventor whose latest device was reportedly called world- changing by well-known technologists, said it's ''nothing of the earth shattering nature that people are conjuring up.''
Kamen said he felt ''compelled to comment further'' because of ''speculation arising from an unfortunate, unapproved leak of a book proposal,'' according to a statement distributed by Business Wire.
''The leaked proposal quoted several prominent technology leaders out of context, without their doubts, risks and maybes included,'' Kamen's statement said.
The project, code-named ''IT'' or ''Ginger,'' has been described in reports as a type of scooter. It came to light this week when Web site Inside.com reported that Harvard Business School Press paid $250,000 for a book by journalist Steve Kemper about the invention, without knowing what it is.
The proposal quotes Apple Computer Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs as saying people will design cities around the invention; venture capitalist John Doerr comparing its significance to the World Wide Web; and Amazon.com Inc. Chief Executive Jeff Bezos giving a ''loud, honking laugh'' when the unit was turned on, Inside.com reported.
Neither Kamen nor officials at his company, DEKA Research & Development Corp. of Manchester, New Hampshire, could be immediately reached for further comment. |
