Nexus - 0703 - New Times Magazine-pages

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but lack the entrepreneurial skills to fund stopped running out. He gota phone call the fruits of their inventiveness. to say that "someone big" was interested in MORE INVENTIONS AND Like composers and artists of the past, _ his turbine. INNOVATIONS 21st-century inventors need patrons. At "I can't tell you who it is, because I have Meanwhile, Cuthbert's current mission is present, Cuthbert's most powerful supporter signed a confidentiality agreement," he to follow up an initial spark of interest is Michael Laughton, Professor of apologises, "but let's just say that a branch from DERA (the UK equivalent of the US Electrical Engineering at London of the British Government has provided the Defense Advanced Research Projects University and a member of a major UK _ funds to build and test a ‘proof of principle’ Agency, or DARPA) in his clutchless gear- Government energy advisory committee; prototype. And that particular version of ox/brake system. It's yet another stun- he is doing his best to put the struggling __ the turbine will be fully covered by patents, ningly inventive concept, which again he inventor in touch with anyone who can _ I can assure you." oo cannot afford to patent. The potential help. rewards are so high that he dare not let the Part of Professor Laughton's motivation About the Author: secret out, and a mere mention of its princi- is sheer Christian charity, but there's also a | Tony Edwards is an award-winning British le in these pages would put it in the public more fundamental message he wants to _ television producer and writer on science domain and lose him his intellectual prop- convey to his academic colleagues. "The 2d medicine. He is best known for his erty rights forever. The same goes for his industrial revolution happened because of 1994 BBC series, Heretic—film portraits of Rainfall Enhancer, which he successfully craftsmen-inventors like Tony Cuthbert, the ete cae Seats fou of demonstrated last week in his bath, using James Dyson and the inventor of clock- dent’ research He is at present directing a salt water, floating balls and a floodlight. work radio, Trevor Bayliss," Laughton . But that's probably already saying too points out. "It did not spring from the the current ne covery channel the much. minds of university-educated people. For biggest and highest-flying airships ever. Keeping body and soul together—let too long have we worshipped at the altar of He can be contacted by e-mail at alone protecting patents—while at the same _ paper qualifications to the exclusion of a _ tony.edwards@ir.clara.net. time doing innovative science is the wider view. We must recognise the enor- eternally painful way of life of most small- mous value of the true innovator in effect- About the Inventor: time inventors. They must endure a classic ing the technical changes in society which Tony Cuthbert can be contacted by e-mail double-bind: they're too brilliant and create real wealth." at cuthbert@enta.net. He also has a web- eccentric to be conventionally employable, In February of this year, Cuthbert's luck _ site at www.cuthbert-physics.com. stopped running out. He got a phone call to say that "someone big" was interested in his turbine. "I can't tell you who it is, because I have signed a confidentiality agreement," he apologises, "but let's just say that a branch of the British Government has provided the funds to build and test a 'proof of principle’ prototype. And that particular version of the turbine will be fully covered by patents, I can assure you." oo MORE INVENTIONS AND INNOVATIONS Meanwhile, Cuthbert's current mission is to follow up an initial spark of interest from DERA (the UK equivalent of the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA) in his clutchless gear- box/brake system. It's yet another stun- ningly inventive concept, which again he cannot afford to patent. The potential rewards are so high that he dare not let the secret out, and a mere mention of its princi- ple in these pages would put it in the public domain and lose him his intellectual prop- erty rights forever. The same goes for his Rainfall Enhancer, which he successfully demonstrated last week in his bath, using salt water, floating balls and a floodlight. But that's probably already saying too much. Keeping body and soul together—let alone protecting patents—while at the same time doing innovative science is the eternally painful way of life of most small- time inventors. They must endure a classic double-bind: they're too brilliant and eccentric to be conventionally employable, About the Inventor: Tony Cuthbert can be contacted by e-mail at cuthbert@enta.net. He also has a web- site at www.cuthbert-physics.com. APRIL — MAY 2000 NEXUS - 87 The Incredible Inventions of Tony Cuthbert