It's not your typical laboratory. Besides electricity meters and lots of cold and impersonal equipment, two extra pianos have recently been brought into Instructor's Tang Pei-chung's lab at the Institute and Department of Control Engineering at National Chiao Tung University. A burst of music every now and again gives a good startle to professors and students engrossed in engineering control.
Music from a stereo piano: Having followed the music to its source in Tang's Lab, second-year student Chen Yi-che is banging out a tune on one of the pianos. Simultaneously, the other piano begins to play the notes.
This fascinating on-line synchronous performance system for pianos has been called "a network on-line automatic piano," but Yang Tai-ho, the original patent holder, calls it "piano in stereo."
Research and production of the "stereo piano" at the control engineering department of National Chiao Tung University is already nearing the end of its first phase. In concept, an on-line network of pianos will be linked together. Just one piano needs to be played, and all the others, whether next door or around the world, will play out the same notes by themselves.
The stereo piano system at National Chiao Tung University is not the world's first, but its functions are better than those of the "automatic single machine performance piano" designed by Ya-maha two years ago, and it has higher fidelity. Yamaha's stereo piano uses the method of recording before transmission. Only two pianos can be used for the parallel performance and there is a 0.6 second delay. The National Chiao Tung University's system directly transmits from sensors, and the delay time is less than 0.04 seconds. The human ear simply can't hear the difference, and many pianos can be used at the same time to add to the richness of the performance."
He reveals, moreover, that because stereo piano can faithfully replay the original flavor of the music, it has attracted the attention of a manufacturer in Europe, where the piano was invented. That company is interested in future cooperation with Yang Tai-ho and National Chiao Tung University to proceed with commercialization.
The best is yet to come! Successful research on a stereo piano that has received the affirmation of a foreign piano manufacturer sounds exciting. But for Yang Tai-ho, who designed the stereo piano ten years ago and acquired a patent for it five years ago, it's just one of 200 patents. To quote him, the stereo piano "isn't something of excellence." The best is yet to come!
The 45-year-old Yang Tai-ho has been inventing for 20-odd years, and he's not exactly certain about how many patents he holds but estimates that he's filed over 200 here in the R.O.C. and in the United States. The European Patent Commission describes him as "unprecedented" and says that over 60 of his patents "are for things that make a contribution to humanity." If you stack up all of his patent certificates, the pile will be twice his height of 170 centimeters, truly a case of a man's accomplishments being the equal of his stature.
Intrigued by the cutting edge: Most of Yang Tai-ho's inventions are for technological products that can be regarded as "comprehensive" in nature--such as machinery, electrical machinery and electronics-- products that require an extremely broad range of technical competence. He has interest in "anything that makes a positive contribution to people's lives" and is willing to give anything a try, confident that he can make it better than others. Take the great interest being displayed around the world in electric cars as a result of the energy and pollution crises. Yang Tai-ho perceived the importance of electric cars and has spent great energy researching them. According to our sources, his four-seater electric car already has road test results. It can go 400 kilometers without refueling, which puts it among the world leaders.
And as for the Servo-Action Precision Machine Vise he invented in 1984, it has been produced by the Swiss manufacturer Dixi and is being used on boring lathes to make precision parts. When they are used to clamp things, workers aren't needed to adjust their angles, thus resolving the last shortcoming of automated production lines. And in breaking through the limitations of pliant materials, he used bevel gears of different angles in the hard harmonic drives of mechanical arms. Then there is the automatic gear structure that is used by a renowned German crane company.... These are all examples of his "good stuff" pleasantly surprising people.
But as shown by how he quietly researched and developed his stereo piano, Yang does not exalt his own products. The Chinese Society of Inventors was interested in giving him an award for his extraordinary work, but Yang politely refused it as being "too much trouble." Once when selected one of the ten most outstanding inventors in the nation, he had the chance to meet the president, but he declined, mentioning a dislike of "standing in the spotlight." About refusing opportunities that most people would long for, Yang Tai-ho laughs and says, "I'm very shy. "
Driven for the answer: Yang Tai-ho was born in the Hsihu Rural Township of Changhua County. He graduated from Changhua Vocational High School and did not have an outstanding record as a student. "Ever since I was young, I have loved to think." Yang says that he would often think about what it would be like to be put in a place with virtually nothing, and he would speculate about how he would deal with the problems he would face. When he actually did confront problems, he was even more driven to get to the bottom of things, and he ceaselessly searched for answers.
When he was seven, some rocks piled on the rails by naughty children in Yingko of Taipei County led to a major train accident in which some people were killed and others seriously injured. After he saw a news report about the accident, he spent his time trying to think of a way to prevent future accidents of the same kind, hoping that a broom could be installed at the front of the train to sweep away all obstacles. In order to solve the food shortage, he hoped to invent a pill that would shrink people. He went on thinking about this or that until in 1967, when he began three years of effort in an international competition to develop an electronic control system. Under the guidance of seven of his school's teachers, he set up a laboratory in his house in Changhua to bring his conception to fruition. He read numerous specialized books. Relying on his aggressive passion to actively search out the answer, he finally found his place in the world.
While Yang did not have a brilliant record as a student, the spirit with which he seeks after knowledge is truly moving. In his drive to cultivate his talents, he has won the respect of the academic world.
A working spirit that wins respect: Tang Pei-chung recalls that some 10 years ago, when he was doing his military service at the National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology, he would go take classes at a Mitac computer school three nights a week. At that time, micro-computers were still in their beginnings in Taiwan. His classmates were all specialists of some sort or another. Tang Pei-chung did fairly well in the class, and his classmate Yang Tai-ho frequently sought him out for discussions. Only after they became close did Tang learn that three times a week Yang made the trip north from Changhua to attend class and after class immediately hurried back to Changhua. This in itself made Tang admire Yang very much. After Tang went to Changhua to see Yang's lab, Yang's working fervor impressed Tang even more, and this led him to become the partner he is today.
Liu Ting, an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering at National Taiwan University, who is working with Yang to research and develop a hard harmonic drive, says that when he first took apart a harmonic drive Yang had designed, he was startled to find how simple it was. But when he saw that it was superior to traditional soft harmonic drives both in its efficiency and in its method of production, he was greatly amused. "Yang Tai-ho could think of what we couldn't," he says. Another scholar who has known Yang for more than ten years and established a cooperative relationship with him, National Taiwan University Professor of Mechanical Engineering Lu Hsiou-hsiung, jokes that the more you study, the more expert--but at the same time inflexible--you become.
Invention without study? Yang's success is no accident, but when many young people learn that he "makes good stuff" without impressive academic credentials, they think, "I don't want to go to school; I want to learn how to invent." He thinks that this way of thinking is extremely impractical. "The era of invention through 'trial and error' is over," he says. "You can't 'learn' how to invent without hitting the books." It's the unusual amount of energy he spends in thinking about problems and collecting and studying research materials that has brought him his success. "The young only look at things on the surface," he says. "This can harm them."
Though Yang Tai-ho believes that "creation" is of the highest value in pushing forward human progress, he doesn't think that this means that all invention is of value.
More than 100 years ago, an American woman accidently bent some wire to invent the paper clip. The invention made the woman rich, and "invention fever" swept America. Everyone hoped that they could become an inventor through some simple invention, but this burst of enthusiasm did not lead to any great result, and it may have even led to some hazardous side effects. Yang gives the example of a device to peel the skin of asparagus, which brings with it the problems of energy consumption, noise and disposal. Only by raising the quality of the species, by cultivating asparagus with tender skins, can one bring about completely positive results.
The academic elite come in support: Yang is confident that most of his products all meet the ideal of being beneficial. In order to strengthen their impact, he recently proposed a comprehensive product invention plan, which is called the Tien-Shaped Cooperative Channels Plan, named after the Chinese character for field (田). It is hoped that foreign and domestic research centers as well as powerful private firms will be able to have exchange and cooperation. In the plan, the four corners of (田) are made up, on the domestic side, from the elite group of scholars at National Taiwan University, National Cheng Kung University, National Chiao Tung University and abroad, by the researchers at a technological research village in the Hanover area assisted by the German government. Domestic and foreign firms are also being targeted to join and are already starting to sign up. It is predicted that in three years, when these contracts expire, products will start to be brought to market.
"I help Yang look for suitable partners because he wants to do good," say Lu Hsiou-hsiung, who met Yang several times at machinery exhibits more than a decade ago and has now become a principal partner in the plan. "He has too many ideas, but he doesn't have enough time to get them all completed, so the academic community has got to help him out." Liu Ting, another participant in this plan, points out that Yang's contributions are not great from a purely academic standpoint. "But by cooperating with him, I get greatly stimulated from the technical side of things, and in this way get great training in how to match theory with practice."
Liu Cheng-liang, an instructor in NTU's department of Mechanical Engineering, says, "Yang Tai-ho is full of ethnic pride. He's not willing to see his own products be only used abroad to increase the industrial competitiveness of foreign companies. Because of this, I was willing to join his charge."
Not an eccentric: The image of the inventor that is etched in most people's minds is of the eccentric cooking a watch in a pot or digging a hole for a cat. Even tempered and mild mannered, Yang Tai-ho, to the contrary, is always laughing and has the heart of a child. He affirms a love for children. Sometimes, if he dials a wrong number and a child answers, he grabs the chance for a good long chat. "Children are a major reason why I invent. When I think that I am creating a future for them, life has meaning," he explains. "On the other hand, there's no meaning in creating for adults without consciences--like those ever-brawling politicians."
Other than this compassion for children, his marvelous inventive creativity does not seem to follow any particular pattern.
Once he saw his younger sister's child choking slightly as he was having his bottle lying down. He thought that a mother holding the child for breast feeding must be the most natural position. Furthermore, breast feeding can strengthen the bond between mother and child. But as he thought about it further, it seemed unfair to men that only mothers had the opportunity to have this kind of intimacy with their children. He thus invented a breast feeding device that men carry on the front of their bodies to give their babies milk. With this design, men can also "experience the joys of breast feeding," Three years ago, the device obtained U.S. and European patents.
Dictating 8 million words: A lot of ideas occur to Yang Tai-ho. At any time and any place, one might come. But there's simply not enough time. He usually dictates these thoughts to his wife, Chen Ching-hsiou, who writes them down. Married for 17 years, Chen has kept a written record of over 8 million characters. Although she feels honored by her husband's accomplishments, she can't help but complain that he "invents too much."
Those who know Yang all regard him as "an exception," someone not suitable to be held up as "a model." "Creativity is something extremely difficult to teach," says Tang Pei-chung. "He's the only person I've ever met with such an unending flow of it."
"Yang has very special qualities," says Liu Ting. "I definitely do not encourage my students to follow his lead and focus all their energies on invention."
Establishing the nation as Asia's leader for sci-tech creativity: And what does Yang himself want out of life? He has his own view of the ancient adage about three kinds of immortality: achieving virtue, rendering distinguished service and leaving behind worthy writings. He believes that his father, who was a public servant for his entire working life, was nearly without flaws in both his public work and private life and thus achieved immortality through virtue. Leaving writing for the writers, Yang says that working on behalf of humanity has been his mission--just the rendering of a little service.
In line with what he calls rendering service, Yang's biggest desire is to establish a creative science and technology research center, an Asian equivalent to Europe Battery College. When there is a need for something, the center will have people with the talents to make it. "During the Gulf War, the American Army commissioned EBC to make chocolate that wouldn't melt in high-temperature environments. Within a short period, they were successful." In conversation he often reveals his high regard for research institutes of this kind and his envy of their being given the opportunity to constantly take on new challenges.
Frank and sincere, Yang can't hide his pleasure in his own inventions. But for the laurels the world wants to bestow on him, he offers a polite "no thanks." You could say he's an oddball out of his mind, but it's not really fitting. It's better to say that he's a "sincere oddball." In the quest for truth that characterizes the creative world, more of his kind are needed.
[Picture Caption]
Yang's greatest aspiration is "to invent." This ideal is displayed in this graphic he has designed, which symbolizes "the great value of invention for humanity." The border is full of Chinese inventions, and an inner circle of Western inventions revolves around the earth. (provided by Yang Tai-ho)
Yang holds the "thermal recovery fan" he invented, explaining its function in the recovery of heat.
The stereo piano is playing itself.
The Servo-Action Precision Machine Vise has sparked the interest of many, including General Motors of the United States.
Let men also enjoy the moving intimacy of breast feeding! This "breast feeder" is one of the schemes Yang has concocted to realize this goal.
This is a photo of Yang with a stack of half of his patents. Is it not a case of a man's "inventions being equal to his stature?"
This electric car, which has a range of 400 kilometers, has undergone road tests. It is expected to attract interest far and wide after being formally unveiled.
Yang holds the "thermal recovery fan" he invented, explaining its function in the recovery of heat.
The stereo piano is playing itself.
The Servo-Action Precision Machine Vise has sparked the interest of many, including General Motors of the United States.
Let men also enjoy the moving intimacy of breast feeding! This "breast feeder" is one of the schemes Yang has concocted to realize this goal.
This is a photo of Yang with a stack of half of his patents. Is it not a case of a man's "inventions being equal to his stature?".
This electric car, which has a range of 400 kilometers, has undergone road tests. It is expected to attract interest far and wide after being formally unveiled.
