Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 19:53:04 -0700
Reply-To: John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Confused owner?
In-Reply-To: <a06002001bf7b42816c03@203.167.171.142>
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Unfortunately it appears you've inadvertently swerved into exactly what
causes Japan-bashers to think they're only mimics:
How about V-Tec (1984),
Well, since "V-Tec" is a Honda Trademark, the answer is "Honda". If you mean
Variable Valve timing, then you'd have to include early experimental
attempts by GM in the 60's and a semi-successful hydraulicly controlled
system by Fiat in the 70's.It wasn't truly useful until Honda did it though.
the compact
> cassette,
Philips (Netherlands) in 1962
CD
James Russell (US) in 1965, first mass produced by Philips (Netherlands) in
1980.
, 8mm video camera...
Sony, mid 80's. But 8mm is only one in a series of many video tape formats
for camcorders by many companies. The camcorder was "invented" by Kodak, but
it too is merely a combo of two previous inventions, the VCR (Charles
Ginsburg (US) - 1951) and CCD camera (Bell Labs - 1969)
and who invented the LCD? (I don't
> know who, but would be far from surprised if it was the Japanese).
The modern usable LCD was invented by James Fergason (US) in 1971
Not saying that the Japanese don't invent anything, quite the contrary--
it's just that their inventions tend to be subtle and evolutionary rather
than radical and revolutionary. Japanese industry and government have spent
millions over the last forty-odd years trying to figure out what it is about
the US that spawns so much innovation. The best explanation I've heard is
that the US is a very new country with very little established history or
tradition, and young snot-nosed kids who think they know better than their
elders are often hailed as visionaries. Japan has tended to be the opposite.
Now, I'd never deride them as "jap imitators", as some might; that implies
that they can only make cheap knock-offs. This ain't the 1950's anymore!
They've got their act together. You could probably select versions of any
one of the above "American inventions" made by Sony or Matsushita and find
within it DOZENS of truly remarkable inventive improvements, many of them
patented. They're not any less ingenious than "'mericans"; they just have a
distinctly different focus. 8mm video and V-Tec are perfect examples:
innovative, USEABLE versions of decidedly lackluster "first tries" invented
elsewhere.
