13# positron
"What I want to know is, why in 18 years of formal education, I didn't hear more about the great inventor, Nikola Tesla." ----这也正是Robin Chew想知道的,虽然你们的出发点可能不一样。
另外下面这段节自百度百科的内容有些好象和其它的说法不一样。
“他是一个被世界遗忘的伟人。交流发电机就是他发明的,而爱迪生钟爱自己发明的直流发电机,极力打压Tesla。如果Tesla不是被迫放弃了交流电的专利权供世人免费使用(每马力$2.53),那他会是世界上最富有的人。他的梦想就是给世界提供用之不竭的能源。特斯拉从不在意他的财务状况,于穷困且被遗忘的情况下病逝,享年86岁。虽然他是一个绝世天才,但很遗憾没有多少人记得他。......”
1888 Tesla sold the rights for his AC patents to Westinghouse Electric. Westinghouse company records show that Tesla received $60,000 for his patents, and was to receive $2.50 per horsepower of electricity sold. Four years later, Westinghouse was experiencing serious financial difficulties that required a company reorganization. George Westinghouse's investment bankers advised him to get rid of Tesla's royalty contract. Given little choice by his bankers, Westinghouse reluctantly called on his friend. After explaining his problem Westinghouse said, "Your decision determines the fate of the Westinghouse Company."
Tesla response was truly astounding (and in retrospect, perhaps foolhardy), "You have always been my friend...you have stood by me as a friend...You will save your company so that you can develop my inventions...I will tear [the contract] to pieces, and you will no longer have any troubles from my royalties." This unprecedented act of friendship and generosity was at the root Tesla's future financial difficulties. Had these funds been available, what might Tesla have accomplished? Cheney tells this side of Tesla's tale in tragic detail.
从上面的内容我们可以知道他是为了友谊而不要那每马力2.50美圆的。文章出处:http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/currentread/currentread04.html |