We’re almost done, kiddies. This is what you’ve all been waiting for. I had a great time at Dyson learning about dust mites, chatting with James about the iPhone, watching him bash a DC24 and getting an overview of the history of Dyson. But my main objective while in Malmesbury was to design and build a prototype attachment for one of the vacuums in the line up. I own the Root 6, so I decided to build an attachment for that. Before my trip, I asked all of my friends what they thought I should build. Their answers were amusing, revolting and thought provoking. I thought about updating the Flowbee or making some animal grooming attachment, but time was limited and we needed to get something done in less than 24 hours.
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While at Dyson HQ, I had the pleasure, once again, of interviewing the man himself. I had to ask what his thoughts were on the iPhone, and James’ answers were both entertaining and interesting.

I have an iPhone and a BlackBerry. And I have to confess that I use the BlackBerry more. But I really wanted to like the iPhone because it’s thin—one of the clever things about it—thinner than any other phone, and fits easily in your pocket. I find that a nuisance if you’re going to a function or whatever it is. I really like that about it.

I hate the touchscreen. That’s my biggest complaint. I love the weather, really good. Maps are brilliant. The way you are supposed to use it, I really like. I’m not sure about having to slide that thing across every time you answer a phone call. As a way of locking the screen, I accept that because it’s important.
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Today, I’ll be wrapping up everything Dyson from my trip to Malmesbury. You’ll never believe what James considers his favorite gadgets. I know you’re excited to see the prototype I designed. And you’ll be privy to a short video of stress tests that all the products go through. Stick around. In the meantime, enjoy a small gallery of photos I was allowed to take on the premises.
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And I had to sleep in a hotel bed after this. Eww.

The ‘drop test’ machine wasn’t working on my first day at Dyson, so I asked James to simulate what I might see, had the machine been running. What followed was absolutely hysterical.

This is all based on conjecture, but I did ask a few of the engineers if they were working on an air purifier and they neither confirmed nor denied the claim. It only makes sense considering the fact that the Airblade actually sucks in the surrounding air and purifies 99.9 percent of it before spewing said air 400MPH onto your hands. Why else would Dyson have an in-house Microbiology lab? It can’t possibly be there for just the Airblade, right? Right?!

You may or may not have noticed, but I wasn’t around all that much last week and, no, I was not on vacation like our fearless leader, I was trekking ass across the Atlantic for a visit to Malmesbury, England. Yeah, I had no idea where that was until I arrived at Heathrow airport and hopped into a car for a two-hour drive west. I awoke from my slumber to a quaint little town in Wiltshire at the front entrance to Dyson’s HQ. Yes, that Dyson, the folks who make the vacuums that never lose suction.

Now, vacuums typically don’t jump out at me as must-have gadgets, but Dyson’s are unique in that they’re a perfectly balanced blend of style and engineering. They look really cool. A heck of a lot cooler than your mom’s old Hoover, at least.
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