Segway invented 15 years ago in Japan

[dense]

From what I've read, the segway was invented 15 years ago by a japanese robotics professor in Tokyo.

http://www.techtv.com/news/culture/story/0,24195,3368026,00.html

So what's all the hype about a brand new revolutionary technology invented by Dean Kamen?

[Stephanie]

that's an interesting article... i found it strange though, that the japanese guy said:
"It is a matter of pride for me, not money... I would hand over my patent for $1 if Mr. Kamen admitted that we were first."

is he saying, if dean kamen paid him $1 mil, and admited they were first, or, the patent cost him $1 mil, and he just wanted to point that out?

[cyanutopia]

all the Japanese researcher is saying that the money isn't important to him---he would hand over the patent if Kamen would give him acknowledgement that he indeed invented the concept for the Segway first.