They've actually been around for a few years now. I have a friend who is an insane pot head. He's a "wake and bake". Been so for almost all of the 15 years I've known him. He had a vaporizer at least 5 years ago. It was kind of a crude device - looks like a crystal ball, with a hose coming out of the bottom. I think there are newer devices.
I wonder if this is anything like those smokeless cigarettes they tried to come out with a few years ago. Vaporizing the tabacco might be a lot healthier for addicted smokers. Maybe the nicotine will still cause other complications like heart disease... but at least the lung risk might be reduced, as well as second hand smoke issues.