In the early 1990s, I created a mixed metallo-organic/cermet silver to be used as the conductors in the plasma screens for the television technology that was being developed in Japan. Interestingly, the different parts of the technology (tuners, screens, etc.) were doled out to the various companies to develop - it was a collaborative effort for the Japanese government/electronic industry. I discovered something by accident that made everything click, and was told by Fujitsu/Asahi (who were responsible for the screens) that it was truly a worldwide breakthrough.
It was fully expected that they would simply have my company do the R&D, formulation, testing, and scale up, only to have them steal it - which they did. It was their M.O. (for those who complain about China, it's nothing new). I worked on it for a good while, and I guess my company made enough money on it to go along with it all. Like many Americans at the time, my resentment for the Japanese was quite real, this episode only added to things.
From what we were told at the time, the technology was already viable, they were just assembling the materials, suppliers, and components. We were given literature and demonstrations, and it was quite impressive. For a guy who was brought up thinking the 25" television was a destination in life, to see 41" (actually became 42" in production) and 61" screens of such quality was something akin to one's first audiophile moment.
The feeling of being part of the movement was absolutely thrilling and I wouldn't trade the memories for anything.
It was fully expected that they would simply have my company do the R&D, formulation, testing, and scale up, only to have them steal it - which they did. It was their M.O. (for those who complain about China, it's nothing new). I worked on it for a good while, and I guess my company made enough money on it to go along with it all. Like many Americans at the time, my resentment for the Japanese was quite real, this episode only added to things.
From what we were told at the time, the technology was already viable, they were just assembling the materials, suppliers, and components. We were given literature and demonstrations, and it was quite impressive. For a guy who was brought up thinking the 25" television was a destination in life, to see 41" (actually became 42" in production) and 61" screens of such quality was something akin to one's first audiophile moment.
The feeling of being part of the movement was absolutely thrilling and I wouldn't trade the memories for anything.