Segway inventor's next endeavor

&#60;pedantry&#62; David did not kill Goliath with a slingshot[1], the weapon of choice of Dennis the Menace. He killed Goliath with a sling[2], a weapon capable of hurling stones 400+m and one which was regularly used by ancient armies. &#60;/pedantry&#62;<p>[1]<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slingshot" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slingshot</a><p>[2]<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sling_(weapon)" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sling_(weapon)</a>

I sure hope Dean Kamen will not be remembered as the guy who invented the Segway but as the guy who came up with AutoSyringe and his work on dialysis pumps.

"Kamen believes that the program could have 5 million women entrepreneurs running businesses by 2020."<p>So they're only hiring women? Why? Seems like a pretty sure way to violate local anti-discrimination laws.

I think that localization and distribution of these types of processes like making water drinkable is going to become a huge trend, just because it makes a lot of sense.<p>For one thing, its easier to scale out in smaller chunks. Its also more robust to have lots of small production going on than to centralize. And technology tends to miniaturize.<p>I think that there may be other small but incredibly capable devices for producing things like food and goods. This leads to less reliance on more centralized traditional 'economic' distribution systems and greater security for local groups and individuals.

I don't understand. What happened to his Stirling Engine that was supposed to provide low-cost energy and <i>also</i> produced potable water as a side-effect?

It creates drinkable water, which is valuable in the absense of drinkable water. But its a stretch to think everybody should use one, to 'save water' somehow. It takes energy to run; that energy comes at an ecological price. In fact, energy and water have been called analogous in ecological calculations (reference?). So it may be a net loss, greenwise, to use this machine to recycle wastewater from your house for instance.

Interesting move from Coke, especially after their criticisms by countries such as India after abusing the water supplies in rural cities.<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Coca-Cola#Water_use" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Coca-Cola#Water_us...</a>

I want one of these hooked up to my house - all outbound water should be run through it and i would like to be returning/recycling the water I receive.<p>At 8K in its current form, that's worth every penny.<p>They should get the cost to 4K and charge everyone in the developed world 8K for it - get one give one fashion.

"Coke has the distribution channels to get the Slingshot into the hands of those who need it."<p>I think this is the key .. as long as it's not anther profit venture, this might just work.

I'd like to know how much water this makes in how long. A hair dryer is no 60w bulb, that's for sure.