# What is IT?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it/52449
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [January 30, 2001, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it/52449 "2001-01-30T20:35:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@curious\_george](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curious_george)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2001, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it/52449/1 "2001-01-30T20:35:42Z")
What is ‘IT’?
> [@](#):
>
> [http://www.theitquestion.com/](http://www.theitquestion.com/)
> This mysterious invention, reportedly created by National Medal of Technology Award winner, Dean Kamen, is on everyone’s lips and has captured everyone’s imaginations.
Some people are saying IT will be amazing:
> [@](#):
>
> [http://www.theginger.com/mainframe.htm](http://www.theginger.com/mainframe.htm)
> Credit Suisse First Boston, an investor in the project, expects the invention to “make more money in its first year than any start-up in history”, predicting the inventor will
> be worth more in five years than Bill Gates.
>
> Silicon Valley entrepreneur John Doerr who has invested millions in it expects “Ginger” to be as significant as the development of the World Wide Web.
Others are saying IT won’t be so impressive:
> [@](#):
>
> [http://www.theitquestion.com/news/kamen011301.asp](http://www.theitquestion.com/news/kamen011301.asp)
> Statement From Dean Kamen, President, DEKA Research & Development Corporation
>
> ```
> INTERNET WIRE -- Since speculation arising from an unfortunate, unapproved leak of a book proposal has not diminished, I feel compelled to comment further.
> DEKA is currently working on several exciting projects. The book proposal referred to one. However, the leaked proposal quoted several prominent technology leaders out of context, without their doubts, risks and maybes included. This, together with spirited speculation about the unknown, has lead to expectations that are beyond whimsical. We have a promising project, but nothing of the earth shattering nature that people are conjuring up.
>
> ```
What do you think about IT?
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### Author:  [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2001, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it/52449/2 "2001-01-30T20:43:55Z")
This has already been answered, mate. It was a jumped-up PR exercise over some kind of scooter.
Link: [The Register](http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/2/16098.html).
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### Author:  [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2001, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it/52449/3 "2001-01-31T00:29:52Z")
There’s also an earlier Great Debates thread about this very topic:
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=54696](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=54696)
---
### Author:  [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2001, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it/52449/4 "2001-02-09T23:03:07Z")
IT.
Hey, I read “A Wrinkle In Time” and I don’t want IT.