Who is Dean Kamen, Visionary Scientist, Mentor, Inventor

Dean Kamen (above left, on a Segway personal transporter) is an inventor and entrepreneur who lives and works in southern New Hampshire. Kamen in probably most well known for his innovative gyroscopic two wheeled people-mover, the Segway introduced in late 1990s and now in wide use across cities, suburban campuses, theme parks and public areas.

The Segway is a revolutionary electric scooter-type personal transporter that along with its more recent cousins - the P.U.M.A. transporter prototype vehicle and the iBot stair climbing wheelchair (above, right) - is helping provide safe, green, personal mobility to citizens, security officers and tourists worldwide. While these inventions are innovative, not to mention popular with geeks and grandmas, they're only three of many helpful inventions to spring from ideas developed by Kamen and/or his team's (DEKA) research and development in robotics and medical devices. Dean Kamen also invented the first wearable insulin pump, the portable dialysis machine and a low-cost water filter for underdeveloped countries.

Kamen's patents actually number more than 400, and he's logged so many other accomplishments and credits worth cheering about it's difficult to pinpoint which ones to highlight in this profile lens. One of his most recent achievements is a revolutionary robotic arm, a prosthetic appliance that will help thousands of disabled people.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/redjar/ / CC BY-SA 2.0

Read just a brief excerpt about Dean Kamen, taken from a profile written for the 5th Heinz Awards :

"His crusade on behalf of science and technology began in 1984 when he created Science Enrichment Encounters, an interactive science learning center in Manchester, New Hampshire that is visited by 40,000 children each year. His idea was to help young people see science and technology as fun, exciting, accessible, and rewarding. This idea was the genesis for US FIRST, an organization that Mr. Kamen views as an opportunity to both teach children and to motivate them. He wants them to view engineers and scientists as role models and heroes."

The Segway was introduced a decade ago - billed as "the next big thing." It's still a novelty in some areas, but in many urban areas and theme parks where walking can take the joy out of getting around, the Segway is a welcome friend. In Bethlehem, PA and many other historic communities you can take Segway tours. Sure saves on the shoe lever and feet.

Until recently, an amputee missing an arm has had few prosthetic options beside the basic hook, but a $100 million government-funded project may change all that. One high-tech prosthetic arm, created by the inventor of the Segway, could allow amputees to have the kind of dexterity that was inconceivable with other prosthetics. Scott Pelley reports.

60 Minutes - The DEKA Arm (April 12, 2009)