Dyson explains his bladeless fan

Sir James Dyson explains the technology behind his latest innovative invention, the bladeless fan.

Also, Dyson explains his backing of the Tories.

Dyson is one of three children whose father, Alec Dyson, died of liver cancer in 1956. Dyson was educated at Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk, from 1956 to 1965, where he excelled in long distance running: "I was quite good at it, not because I was physically good, but because I had more determination. I learned determination from it." He spent one year (1965–1966) at the Byam Shaw School of Art (now the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design), and then studied furniture and interior design at the Royal College of Art (1966–1970) before moving into engineering.

Dyson married Deirdre Hindmarsh in 1968. Her salary as an art teacher partially supported him while he developed his vacuum cleaner. The couple have three children: Emily, Jacob and Sam.

Dyson paid £15 million for Dodington Park, a 300-acre Georgian estate in Gloucestershire, close to Chipping Sodbury. He and his wife also have a £3 million chateau in France, and a town house in Chelsea, London. The Sunday Times Rich List 2008 estimated his fortune at £1.1 billion whilst Forbes magazine estimates it at £1 billion.

According to wikipedia, Dyson was chair of the board of trustees of the Design Museum, "the first in the world to showcase design of the manufactured object", until suddenly resigning in September 2004. The museum had "become a style showcase" instead of "upholding its mission to encourage serious design of the manufactured object", in his words.

In 1997 Dyson was awarded the Prince Phillip Designers Prize. In 2005 he was elected as a Fellow at The Royal Academy of Engineering. He was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the New Year's Honours December 2006.