Dyson Airblade: 400mph, No Hot Air October 3, 2006

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James Dyson, billionaire inventor of expensive vacuum cleaners, has time on his hands to worry about bathroom bacteria, so he created the Dyson Airblade, a supercharged hand dryer that pumps room-temperature air through a tiny slot at 400mph. Dyson claims the device uses a "windshield-wiper" effect, drying both hands in 10 seconds. Since it doesn't use any hot air, he says it uses 83% less energy. Must be noisy, though. To go on sale in the UK next month, Dyson's reverse vacuum cleaner for hand drying will cost £549 (around $1027), and will also be available for lease.

This might be a great device for those of us who really don't want to touch anything in a public bathroom, and don't much like standing around for 30 seconds at a noisy hot air blower waiting for the hands to dry. – Charlie White

Dyson goes 400mph in toilet [The Sun]