It seems like half of the content was about some cool problems and solutions, and the other half about the man. I'd have preferred more time spent on the science and story. It's not like we're going to miss out on the guy's story, and in the end it's what you do that matters.
shareI think their main focus starting this documentary, was supposed to be about Dean, the inventor. I think midway through shooting it, the focus shifted to be about his inventions and how they would transform the world. I really liked this documentary, but it would have served them better, if they had one main focus in mind. It's still very good though. Just my thoughts on the subject.
sharePersonally I like to see what drives a person to do what they do and our environment, family, friends and experiences are such things. Kamen was interested in electronics but his relationship with his doctor brother took him into that field and gave him the niche that funded everything else. Then came the Segway, followed by the Slingshot. All the gadgets and inventions in his home are intriguing to me and shows the kinds of things that interests him. It's all what drives him. Knowing what some might consider insignicant that he is a slow reader is inspiring to me. I too suffer from the same problem and like him, the desire to learn things, keeps me plugging along no matter what. I can relate to a lot of things he went through in life.
shareHaving seen other documentaries about Dean Kamen, I am not sure it is possible to separate the man from his projects. While this film description said it was about a clean water machine (a concept that convinced me to watch it), I thought the complex narrative they wove--while still covering his 15 year obsession with clean water--was very fulfilling, challenging and inspiring. My guess is that it's hard to not focus on the inventor when you are hanging out with someone so unique.
I was delighted to learn all the other ventures he has had a hand in developing as the past works I have seen basically said he was an "eccentric" inventory who make the Seaway. Obviously he has done much more than that.
In the end I suppose people tend to be at least as deeply curious about people as the things they create, and I just didn't get that gene. I'd much rather have my creations be useful, helpful, and appreciated, than have personal fame. When I find a beautifully created thing that that perfectly suits a need of mine, I think "What a wonderful thing, I'm so glad it exists." I might be curious about the inventor, but I don't really care what the person was like. I simply appreciate what they created and feel that's a high compliment. I project onto them the satisfaction I feel when thousands of people get value from something I created. If this movie were about a creation of mine, I'd be embarrassed to be such a prominent part of it.
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