New rebreathers introduced at show.

 Dave and I recently attended a trade show for diving retailers in Los Vegas. It was a chance to visit with old friends, visit with the inside sales staff from our manufacturers and see what products will be coming out over the next year.
We found it interesting that two rebreather manufacturers have introduced semi-closed rebreathers targeted at the recreational diver. The unit available from Jetsam Technologies, makers of the KISS retbreathers, is a fairly simple rebreather while Technology in Depth, manufacturers of the Oroborus and Sentinel rebreathers have approached the unit with a lot of electronic sophistication. Both units use a Micropore cartridge

Innerspace systems, manufacturer of the Megalodon series of rebreathers, have been working along the same lines but sticking with a fully closed model and introduced their Pathfinder rebreather. Like the other manufacturers, this unit is built around a Micropore cartridge. LeoScamahorn, CEO of ISC, talked about their new rebreather during a video interview.
I am not sure why manufacturers are revisiting the semi-closed rebreather.  Fully closed rebreathers offer a number of distinct advantages and flexibility that are not present in a semi-closed model which is why ISC has chosen to go that route.  
Perhaps one driving force is that in 2011 PADI is scheduled to introduce a rebreather course.  It appears the semi-closed rebreathers are geared to this program.  In talking with Kim Smith of Jetsam and Kevin Gurr or Techhnology in depth, it appears they are hoping to find a unit that appeals more to less sophisticated or technical minded divers.  They are also trying to keep the price point for these units lower than their other offerings which may broaden their appeal to a more recreational user.