What is IT?

2001/05/27 Urresti, Igor - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa

• Garraioak
• Internet

You've heard something about a new invention that might be revolutionary. Here and there it has been talked about in many media, but what we know so far is: IT is an invention that no one knows.

The whole story began with an article that appeared on inside.com. It was said that the American inventor Dean Kam, protected by a confidentiality agreement, showed his new invention to a group of investors. And not of all kinds: Steve Jobs, founder and director of Apple, author of Macintosh, and Jeff Bezos, director of the largest online store Amazon.com were part of this small but important group.

In this article it was said that Kamen said that his invention will have a great influence on "outdated companies that move billions of dollars" and that it will be "an alternative to dirty, expensive and sometimes dangerous products in cities."

It seems that Kamen mounted the new gadget in 10 minutes with a simple screwdriver and all the IT gets into a couple of travel bags.

Soon the rumors began!

The comments have been surprising. According to Credit Suisse, head of the First Boston bank, the growth of the new device in five years will be higher than any other technology. According to him, within five years, Kamen will have more money than Bill Gates.

According to Apple creator Steve Jobs, "when people see the gadget, you won't have to convince cities to design cities according to the new tool.

Only so."

Bob Metcalfe, creator of the Ethernet protocol, says that the influence of IT will be "the same as cold fusion can have."

The new invention changes the world we know! Less bad than Kamen did not want to give him importance. In his opinion, speculation has been too big and he has asked no one to expect anything to "shake the earth." Kam fears there has been too much expectation.

Why so much revolt around IT? The main reason is the prestige of its inventor. Dean Kamen has just received the National Medal of Technology, the highest recognition in the United States. His previous invention has changed the lives of many people. Among those made to date, the insulin pump and portable dialysis machines and the iBot, an electric wheelchair able to circulate through irregular terrain and able to climb stairs.

What can be an ST? What do we know?

What IT is about to clarify, but the new invention has served to launch the imagination of at least some.

It seems quite clear that this is a transport tool. In the patent registration the company DEKA of Kamen has made several patents in the form of moped and scooter. His latest invention is the iBot electric wheelchair. The iBots can go up and down stairs, run through the sand and even climb the shelf. It uses the gyroscope and the latest processor technology. Eight years of research and a $50 million budget

DEKA also suspects that it is developing Stirling engines. In Stirling engines one part of the gas-filled chamber remains cold and the other is heated. As one side heats up, the inner gas expands and the piston that separates the two sides moves toward the cold end.

The main advantage of Stirling engines is its performance: 50% compared to 35% of internal combustion engines. Also, as the heating is progressive, the Stirling engines work very sweet and quiet. However, so far no engines have been developed suitable for use in cars. To achieve good performance they need a radiator too large to keep the end cold enough cold. Also, before you start, the Stirling engines warm up a few minutes and that is not practical.

DEKA's have also patent an engine that uses nitrogen or hydrogen and that, without a doubt, if it developed a clean and cheap engine for use in normal uses, the change would be huge.

IT can therefore be a substitute for cars or at least a major change in cars, as, according to Steve Jobs, "new cities will be designed according to the new IT." IT can be an iBot-based vehicle adapted for all weather conditions and common uses. The most important innovation would be in the engine, probably based on a hydrogen powered Stirling engine. As for the use, taking into account the small size of the engine, it would not be suitable for long walks, but yes to move comfortably within the city. The advantage can be clear, if you do not need parking and if possible take it to the office.

However, everything is only speculation, but if something has made clear about IT, it has been the influence of the Internet on the dissemination of news. Imagine reader, Harvard Business School Press has already paid $250,000 (46 million pesetas, almost £2 million) for the copyright of its book on IT. And although until 2002 we will not see IT in the market, thousands of people have already bought it on the Internet amazon.com without knowing its price. Where will we get?

Obviously, if IT does not exist, it will have to be invented!

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