I caught up with Dean Kamen at CES 2012. Kamen, inventor of the first wearable infusion pump, the Segway and founder of the FIRST family of robotic competitions, gives a shout out to the sponsors of FIRST and tells me why he’s passionate about supporting the next generation of innovators. Says Kamen, “this world we live in of exciting growth of science, technology, and electronics doesn’t happen for free; we all have to be committed in making sure the next generation of kids has a passion for innovation.”
Tekla S. Perry is a senior editor at IEEE Spectrum. Based in Palo Alto, Calif., she's been covering the people, companies, and technology that make Silicon Valley a special place for more than 40 years. An IEEE member, she holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University.