Machine Improvement:
Dean Kamen discussed the incorporation of a compact and affordable counterflow heat exchanger into the vapor compression distiller, reducing the machine’s expense and improving its efficiency. He emphasized the development of a custom-made 3D-printed titanium arm, offering lightweight strength without the need for manual machining.

3D Printing and Material Advancement:
Kamen showcased a 3D-printed titanium heater head for a high-performance Sterling generator, operating at extremely high temperatures while maintaining structural integrity. He highlighted the creation of intricate pin-fin heat exchange technologies using carbon electrodes, addressing the challenges of producing them in high volumes.

Dialysis Technology:
Kamen presented a medical device that combines thin, flexible plastic components with a rigid structure, enabling precise fluid flow control and measurement. This technology has been successfully implemented in home dialysis therapy, reaching 200 million treatments.

New Project Teaser:
Kamen hinted at a new project involving a stick of dynamite, piquing the audience’s interest and curiosity.

Blasting Cap Safety Demonstration:
Kamen emphasizes the low risk of a blasting cap without a clip. He initially plans to remove a cockroach from his pocket but decides against it.

Non-Invasive Brain-Computer Interface:
Kamen discusses the evolution of brain-computer interface systems. He highlights the development of a compact, non-invasive device using gyros, accelerometers, radios, and DSPs. This device is used to control a prosthetic arm.

Prosthetic Arm Control System:
Kamen showcases a finished version of the control system for the prosthetic arm. It consists of multi-axis gyros, accelerometers, radios, and a complete interface. The system requires activation by pressing a button.

Additional Topics and Conclusion:
Kamen mentions he will cover three subjects: the prosthetic arm, a water project, and a new topic. He acknowledges the importance of considering factors like cost in the medical field.

Solutions and Prevention:
Intellectuals solve problems, but geniuses prevent them.

Healthcare Costs and Chronic Diseases:
75% of all healthcare costs in the United States are for the treatment of chronic diseases. With precision but shortsightedness, analysts predict future bankruptcy due to healthcare costs, similar to the iron lung predictions during the polio epidemics.

Diabetes and Chronic Health Care Spending:
30% of chronic health care spending in the United States is related to diabetes and its long-term effects. Projecting future bankruptcy based on this data is flawed as it overlooks potential preventions.

Geniuses and Prevention:
History shows that geniuses like Jonas Salk can come up with preventions, like the polio vaccine, which negate predictions of bankruptcy. It is important to focus on prevention rather than just chronic treatments.

Arms, Dynamite, and Prevention:
The market for arms for soldiers and children is small, making it difficult to find companies willing to produce them. A new application for the arm technology is in gold mining, where it can be used to prevent accidents caused by dynamite. An engineer demonstrates using an exoskeleton to safely place dynamite in a gold mine. The arm technology is an example of prevention rather than just a solution to a problem.

New Arm Technology:
The next generation of the arm technology has a smaller shoulder and hand, improved speed, and other enhancements. Kamen hopes to have one to show at the next conference.

Water and Solutions:
The discussion moves on to water and solutions.

Introduction:
Water contamination poses a significant health risk, contributing to 50% of chronic human illnesses worldwide. Traditional water purification methods are often impractical in developing regions due to infrastructure limitations and high costs. Dean Kamen proposes a technological approach to address the water crisis by developing portable water purification and power generation systems.

The Problem:
Drinking contaminated water leads to various illnesses and premature deaths, particularly among children. Existing water purification systems are often complex, expensive, and inaccessible in developing regions. The lack of clean water hinders productivity and perpetuates poverty.

Technological Solution:
Kamen emphasizes the need for portable, decentralized water purification systems to reach remote and underserved communities. The proposed solution involves two portable devices: a vapor compression distiller and a power generator. The vapor compression distiller produces 1,000 liters of pure water daily, sufficient for 100 people, and requires minimal maintenance.

Challenges:
Securing support from large organizations proved difficult due to the perceived lack of scale and immediate impact. Implementing and distributing the devices required collaboration with local communities, governments, and international organizations. Addressing the electricity requirement of the vapor compression distiller necessitated developing a portable power generation system.

Field Testing:
The vapor compression distiller and power generator were successfully tested in Central America and Bangladesh, demonstrating their effectiveness in providing clean water and electricity. Local communities embraced the devices, highlighting the demand for accessible clean water.

Collaboration and Expansion:
Kamen sought partnerships with organizations capable of scaling up production and distribution of the devices. The goal was to replicate the success of cell phones in developing regions, where decentralized, portable solutions have proven effective.

Instruction Sheet:
Kamen developed a simple one-page instruction sheet for the vapor compression distiller, emphasizing the ease of use and maintenance. The instruction sheet aimed to attract attention and encourage adoption of the technology.

Instruction Sheet for Municipal Water Company:
The Slingshot water purification system is designed for use in villages without access to clean water. It requires no pretreatment, delivery systems, or other complex infrastructure. The system is easy to operate and maintain, requiring no specialized personnel or expertise.

No Need for Complex Infrastructure:
The Slingshot system does not require pipelines, pretreatment facilities, or distribution networks. It can be easily transported and set up in remote locations, making it ideal for underserved communities.

Water Quality:
The Slingshot system produces water that meets the US pharmacopeia standard for water for injection, the highest standard of purity. It removes contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, and heavy metals, making the water safe for drinking, cooking, and medical use.

Challenges in Scaling Up:
The Slingshot system is still in its early stages of development and faces challenges in scaling up production and distribution. The lack of a local entrepreneur to sustain and maintain the system presents an obstacle to its long-term success.

Distribution Challenges:
The Slingshot system requires a robust distribution network to reach the communities that need it most. Existing global organizations lack the mindset and resources to effectively distribute the system to 2 billion people without access to clean water.

Conclusion:
The Slingshot water purification system has the potential to revolutionize access to clean water for billions of people. However, challenges in scaling up production and distribution need to be addressed to ensure its widespread adoption and impact.

ADD as an Asset:
Dean Kamen’s ADD has been a valuable asset in his career, allowing him to see connections and possibilities that others might miss.

Coca-Cola’s Sponsorship of FIRST:
Kamen moved FIRST’s finals to Atlanta, home of the 1996 Olympics and Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola is known for its support of sports and is a major sponsor of the Olympics.

Kamen’s Meeting with Coca-Cola:
Kamen approached Coca-Cola seeking support for FIRST, hoping to leverage their marketing and PR expertise.

Coca-Cola’s Fountain Business:
Coca-Cola expressed a desire to update their fountain business, which had not changed much since the 1880s. They wanted to create a fountain or vending machine that could dispense a wide variety of their products.

Kamen’s Expertise in Fluid Delivery:
Kamen’s experience in developing medical devices for mixing and delivering small amounts of fluids made him a suitable partner for Coca-Cola’s project.

Coca-Cola’s Recognition of Kamen’s Capabilities:
Coca-Cola understood Kamen’s value and his potential to contribute to their project. They agreed to support FIRST in exchange for his assistance in developing the new fountain system.

Coca-Cola Partnership:
Coca-Cola is a global beverage company with a vast distribution network, making it an ideal partner for Dean Kamen’s water purification project. Kamen approached Coca-Cola to collaborate on a vending machine that dispenses clean water and various beverages. The machine allows users to customize their drinks by choosing different flavors and sweeteners. Coca-Cola agreed to test the machine and was impressed with its performance and customer reception.

Monte Carlo Meeting:
Kamen presented the water purification machine to Coca-Cola’s partners at a meeting in Monte Carlo. The machine was well-received by the partners, who expressed interest in helping to distribute it to regions in need. Coca-Cola agreed to assist Kamen in conducting trials of the machine in various locations.

Collaboration with Medical and Pharmaceutical Companies:
Kamen reached out to his long-term partners in the medical and pharmaceutical industries to assist in building and distributing the water purification machines. Several companies agreed to contribute to the project, recognizing the importance of providing clean water to underserved communities.

Prevention through Clean Water:
Kamen emphasized the importance of clean water as a preventive measure against diseases and improving overall health. He believes that providing access to clean water can reduce healthcare costs and improve the quality of life for millions of people.

Weapons of Mass Construction:
Kamen proposed a shift in focus from weapons of mass destruction to “weapons of mass construction.” He envisioned building small, portable boxes that provide clean water and electricity to communities in need. By providing these essential resources, Kamen believes that conflicts and wars can be prevented.

Department of Peace:
Kamen suggested the creation of a Department of Peace to promote peace and prevent wars. He believes that investing in clean water, electricity, and education can lead to a more peaceful world.

Education and Incarceration:
Kamen highlighted the unsustainable trend of increasing prison spending and decreasing education funding in the United States. He emphasized the need for preventive measures, such as education and skills development, to address the root causes of crime and incarceration.

Lord Rutherford’s Quote:
Kamen concluded his speech with a quote from physicist Lord Rutherford, urging people to think creatively and find solutions to global challenges.

Dean Kamen’s Inspiration for FIRST:
Dean Kamen believes that instead of focusing on solutions like more prisons and low-paying jobs, we should prevent problems from happening in the first place. He believes that inspiring kids to pursue science and technology is a critical part of this prevention.

FIRST’s Growth and Impact:
FIRST, a not-for-profit organization that promotes science and technology education, was started 20 years ago. It has grown to involve 46 cities holding regionals, 92,000 volunteer mentors, 2,250 corporate sponsors, and teams from 56 countries. Data shows that FIRST has had a profound positive impact on kids’ attitudes, particularly women and minorities.

The Need for a Fundraising Program:
Kamen believes that FIRST needs a program to help kids spread the word about the organization and attract more participants. He wants to create a program similar to the Girl Scouts’ cookie sales, which are a successful fundraising and awareness-raising mechanism.

Connecting FIRST to Environmentalism and Money-Saving:
Kamen believes that FIRST kids should focus on fundraising through activities related to environmentalism and money-saving. This would align with FIRST’s mission of using technology to solve world problems and would appeal to people’s interests in protecting the environment and saving money.

Environmental Concerns and Innovative Solutions:
Kamen recognized the urgent need to address environmental issues and inspire people to adopt sustainable practices.

Collaboration with Cree for LED Bulbs:
Kamen approached Cree, a renowned LED manufacturer, to develop a special deal for energy-efficient light bulbs.

Creating a Cost-Effective and Environmentally Friendly Product:
The goal was to create a 60-watt bulb replacement with a 50,000-hour lifespan and ten times the efficiency, making it economically viable and environmentally friendly.

Partnership with Google for Cost Reduction:
Kamen sought Google’s support to reduce the cost of the LED bulbs, allowing FIRST teams to sell them more affordably.

FIRST Kids’ Involvement in Selling the Bulbs:
FIRST kids would be tasked with selling the LED bulbs to their communities, promoting awareness about FIRST and raising funds for their teams.

Benefits of the Initiative:
Increased awareness about FIRST and its mission. Financial support for FIRST teams to run their programs. Creation of a generation of leaders and innovators capable of solving global problems.

Preventing Problems versus Curing Them:
Kamen emphasized the importance of preventive measures rather than relying solely on remedies for existing problems.

Encouraging Innovation and Vision:
Kamen highlighted the need for individuals with resources and vision to drive positive change in the world.

Involvement in FIRST:
Dean Kamen, the founder of FIRST, encourages people to get involved in the organization to make a positive impact on the future. FIRST competitions inspire excitement about science and technology in kids and teach valuable skills like discipline, teamwork, and self-respect.

Comparison of Healthcare Costs and Lifestyle Choices:
Kamen argues that the pharmaceutical industry’s revenue is dwarfed by the collective spending on tobacco, alcohol, soft drinks, and professional sports. He emphasizes the need for individuals to take responsibility for their health and make informed decisions about their healthcare, rather than relying solely on politicians.

Healthcare Costs and Family Budgets:
Kamen presents data showing that the average family in the United States spends approximately $40,000 per year on healthcare, before accounting for basic necessities like food and shelter. He highlights the unsustainability of this trend and calls for a realistic approach to addressing healthcare costs.

National Debt and Social Security:
Kamen mentions the issue of the national debt and states that a significant portion of it is not officially recognized, including social security and other obligations. He warns that the debt servicing costs will soon exceed the amount that can be generated through taxation.

Addressing Problems Realistically:
Kamen emphasizes the importance of facing problems with real data and dealing with the truth. He criticizes the lack of sophisticated analysis and calls for a realistic approach to problem-solving, using basic arithmetic and algebra to understand complex issues.