Talking Barbie

Prepared by Peter Kuo

Good and truthful Taiwanese can unconditionally help foreigners achieving their careers, help them revitalizing and prolong their enterprises’ lives, and even became the top one in the world.

I made a "Talking Barbie" in 1985--using "Microchip Technology" to upgrade Barbie Dolls to "Smart Robots"; I handed her over to Big Bearded Al, and sent the written document to the top management of Mattel to explain that "Taiwan's technology and talents can make Barbie live a hundred years old ---" The response was: "Taiwan's national income per capita has reached 'US$ three thousand', and there is no value for investment!" Nevertheless, They expected that I will go to Malaysia to help them expand the Chinese market from Malaysia.

"Microchip Technology" is a global trend of scientific research when everyone pays attention to artificial intelligence (AI) in 2021. Obviously, the "Talking Barbie" I gave to Al is a surreal high-tech product. Today, a three-year-old girl gave me a Barbie Doll and said that she wanted to exchange a "Mobile-phone" with me; I found a replaced "Smart-phone" and gave it to her. She immediately threw Barbie Doll away and holding the smart-phone to look at it over and over again, then put it in a cloth-made bag of glasses to hang on her small hand, and carry it with her carefully.

"One falling leaf knows the coming autumn." From the behavior of a little girl, you can tell that "Time can not wait"; It just like Confucius said that "The sun and the moon pass, the age is not my time." Mattel hired the improper person and failed to get close to good advisor's knowledge, that caused Barbie lost her attractiveness, the past really could only be a remembrance. So that I can't help but think of the scriptures of the "Lamentations" said: "How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations!" (La 1:1)

During 1982-1986, the "Barbie Doll" that I took much time to rescue is no longer the first choice for little girls; no wonder, there have been rumors of Mattel being acquired in recent years.

Soon after I graduated from elementary school, my father was maliciously arrested to the jail, and my grandmother was also broken her binding-feet by police on the same day to be a disable for the rest life. I had to drop out of school and start a business to make much efforts for keeping a family of nine alive; fortunately, I sold my hand-made "Eyelets & Lugs" to an American firm Transworld Electronic Corporation in December 1966, and then grew up with this company in the next ten years, and built five factories including "Precision Components/Metal Processing/Insulated Plates/Yokes", total building area about 5 hectares, and a dozen hectares of land are prepared for the future development.

Later, I created "K-Horn Science Incubator" and opened "Black Stone Co." in New York in March 1979 to assist the NYSE-listed client--"AVNET Inc." to develop the satellite receivers. However, when I was preparing to commercialize my own "Cheng-Kuang Precision Industry Co., Ltd." in 1980; unexpectedly, a terrible resistance occurred. Finally, I decided that "Don't wash our dirty linen in public", so that I handed over all of my earned properties to my father, just brought my wife and son with my bare-hand to Taipei. In 1982, my wife Linda Din saw an advertisement for "WANTED"--a certain company needed a "Specialist". Therefore, I started a journey of "Rescue Barbie" for Mattel Incorporation.

The energy crises in the 1970s changed the consumption habits of Americans. Not only did Japanese cars swept the American market, but Japanese dolls also invaded the American market. Barbie Doll was the first to bear the brunt; Mattel needed a "Specialist" to improve their defects of tooling and process, and tried to turn the tide of disadvantage. It just happened that I was free to make a contribution at that time.

On the first day I stepped into Mattel’s factory in Taishan—Mattel Ltd. Taiwan for short as "MLT", the gate guard whispered that, "They are almost closing, why do you come?" I replied, "That's it. That’s why I’m needed.” The next day, I wrote a written solution to improve Barbie and reported it to the main foreign supervisor of MLT.

What surprised me was that "they did not have the color of joy on their faces", but instead asked me to "take it easy". After working for a few months, I finally realized that: "They came to me just to prove that 'Barbie is out of fashion’ and no market at all." Those guys talked about every day was "investing in the remote control toys and TV games in Hong Kong." They traveled to Hong Kong in every time and then to inspect the progress. They only wasted a lot of money, but they haven't had real result such as fostering "electro-mec talents"--this is a necessary for the development of electronic toys. Those guys made the company with superb marketing capabilities is really in a precarious position; later Hong Kong's investment ended in failure.

In my view, all of Barbie's defects can be "simply solved", and her market has just begun--because the vast Chinese area has not yet sold. The first defect she needed to solve with her high scrap rate should be "controlling the head weight at 8 grams"--just make a device of my designation called "Dispenser" that problems will be gone away. With good head weight control, the quality of the hair rooting will be good, and Barbie's charming face will be able to do well with makeup.

However, Barbie’s problem was not at “Technology” but in the “Ideological Struggle”. My appearance had made the struggle intensified. Mattel was also divided into two factions: “One is the mainstream, advocating that 'abandoning Barbie and developing the remote control toy’; the second is non-mainstream, that is, those who stand on my side and advocate that 'Rescue Barbie'."

Mattel, a company with superb marketing capabilities, developed a little boy's toy "He-man" in the dilemma; it caught the attention of the little boy immediately when it went on the market in 1983. My son David and my nephew Ron, who were only three years old at that time, were talking about "He-man" and his rival "Skeletor" every day, and they both also had each physical toy in their hands to pretend to fight. From the boys' conversation, it can be seen that He-man was a successful product. The sales of "He-man toy series” expanded the market from little girls to the market of little boys and continued Mattel's life.

Then, Mattel's design team developed a new model, both "He-man" and "Skeletor" have a "Drum" on their chests. When the two dolls fight against each other, the chest drum will rotate, which will turn an angle and turn into a "scar", which represents an injury, which improves the fun of children playing. In the beginning, the make-up of the chest drum scar was planned to use the "Tampo Printer", so I found a manufacturer in Luzhou and they quoted a set of equipment in NT$200,000. Because the tampo printer is a machine that is easy to break down, so that supplier’s "shorter distance is better". I would recommend buying the machine made in Luzhou, the main consideration was that their service can meet the requirement of "Quick Response". Unfortunately, the responsible people of Mattel would rather spend dozens of times the budget to purchase two sets of tampo printers in Hong Kong; the machines were shipped to the MLT's factory, they worked 24 hours a day for six months, but It took more than 23 hours a day to repair the machines--the worst thing should be, delaying the launch of the new He-man product that might cause a “Domino Effect”.

In my opinion, improving the problem of the Hong Kong machines is just a piece of cake; however, Big Bearded Al told me that "Don't interfere." Instead, he and the conspirators spent money to find experts from all over the world to MLT to diagnose the two machines, and did the things in vain. For the sake of the inability to print the chest drum, the entire production line was shut down. The Mattel authority was very sad about the He-man series that their hopes was delayed due to the problem of the printing machine. In the end, there was no way, and they had to announce the abandonment of this toy series to prepare closing the MLT.

Maybe God had mercy on this company. A letter I sent to the headquarters of Mattel finally got an answer; Big Bearded Al pointed to my nose reluctantly and yelled: " Give you one day to get the machine running!" I can see that Al's despicable act of not wanting Mattel to alive was beyond the words. At that time, young and energetic, I didn't know where the courage came from, so I was choking back: "One day is fine, nothing can scare me!"

May 20, 1984, was a gloomy and rainy holiday, and it was also the very day when Mr. Chiang Ching-Kuo was sworn in as the President of the Republic of China. I got up in the morning and stopped a taxi at the alley and went straight to Taishan. After I was repairing with my assistant until 5 o'clock in the afternoon, the machine was ready for running. By 8 o'clock in the evening, the two Hong Kong machines had been printing chest drums for three hours. After making sure that the operation was OK, I took a taxi back to Zhonghe. Early the next morning, I rushed to Taishan again. Everyone was paying attention when they saw me. The working room where the tampo printers set up was already crowded with the heads of various departments, with exclamations and appreciations one after another continuously. For the next two years, until Mattel turned off the MLT, the machine was running smoothly 24 hours a day.

Recalling this past event, I sigh that "The evildoer with a evil heart." The cashier of MLT once complained: "The company rented a villa in Yangmingshan to Al, he even allowed the water flow of the swimming pool to spend a month NT$ a hundred thousand in the utility bills----" Actually, Mattel Inc. treated these expatriate management people very courteously, but from the printing machine incident, it can be seen that these professional personnel, "their performance can be punishable." . From 1982 to 1985, I was invited to participate in the "Thanksgiving" party of Mattel, which shown that they are with religious beliefs. Fortunately, God gave me the opportunity to show the "goodness" of the Taiwanese at a critical moment. With the good faith and will and moral courage of the Taiwanese, I have the opportunity to help He-man access the market successfully and continue the life of the said company. Furthermore, I can continuously improve the defects of the Barbie Doll's manufacturing processes, let her sustain to lead the fashion coquettish for 30 years.

Barbie is a work of art, and He-man is too--in addition to mechanical processing, they are very particular about "make-up". In the early 1980s, the high scrap rate was caused by the "aging" and shortage of makeup technician. After 520 in 1984, I attained my reputation in Mattel, I took an afternoon writing a "Teaching Plan", it didn't cost a penny of special budget, and it only took one month to incubate ten young seed makeup technicians, so that the most important "Mask" of makeup can be continuously supplied for the production line. However, after Mattel withdrew and left Taiwan, my Teaching Plan also spread to the emerging countries, and Mattel fostered a large number of competitors for himself.

In 1985, the component of "System On A Chip" just began to take off, and the IBM also just presented the "IBM 5550" personal computer(PC) to the market. I just debugged the Barbie doll's defects from her head, hair, face, body to the leg so that she can sit gracefully on the chair of the beach house and have afternoon tea with Kenny leisurely. Meanwhile, I condensed the function of "See & Say" to the area of a stamp, placed it in Barbie's body, tapped the switch hidden on the back, and she would raise her right hand to slap her hair and say something—for example, "How are you today..." It also had the function of short recording and repeat playback.

36 years ago, I was using "Microchip Technology" to make a sample of “Talking Barbie” that is a great trend of scientific research after actuating the artificial intelligence (AI) in 2021. Consequently, I said that "If Mattel develops 'Talking Barbie' well, it can extend the company's life to the 22nd century." as I gave her to Big Bearded Al. But the speaker is slanderous and the listener is scornful. Anyway, "Talking Barbie" is a product full of future technologies. I hope to use her to retain the Mattel’s manufacturing in Taiwan, and also to maintain a world top one for Taiwan.

Back then, I did my best to persuade the senior management of Mattel that, "Stay in Taiwan. Because Taiwan has the world's best supply chain and the best talents." And I also mentioned the story of I took one day for rescue "He-man" as an example to state the merits of Taiwan. It's real pity that the "Talking Barbie" and written document that I made much efforts to develop and to give to Big Bearded Al just like a ship sunk into the sea. Moreover, Mattel’s policy was even more astonished, which was shown the most in 1986--was only because "Taiwan's national income per capita already to US$ three thousand" that let them make decision to completely withdraw from Taiwan.

Due to the rise of the consumer electronics market in 1986 and the urgent need for transformation and upgrading of Taiwan’s industries, I must return to my main battlefield, and never have any time to fight against those evildoers. Mattel really left Taiwan, one of the empty factories which became I helped a Japanese robot company "Star Seiki" to start their business in Taiwan. Taiwan did not decline for the departure of Mattel; on the contrary, Taiwan has been upgrading from a low-end toy transited to the high-level industry.

In 1992, I went to buy a factory in Portland, and then went south to the Mattel's headquarter located in 'El Segundo", California, I was surprised to find that Big Bearded Al was still alive here; because I heard that they abolished the Taiwan factory, only kept the seed makeup personnel I incubated, the others were all laid off. I had a bad feeling (--ominous) when I heard the evildoer was still existed there.

During my stay in Los Angeles, Mrs. Ruth Handler, the founder of Mattel Inc. was very happy to treat me. Ruth hoped I could keep paying more attention to the company she founded; I mentioned that I had previously suggested that they should develop the "China Fairy Story (Fengshen Bang) and Mulan" series of toys, and also mentioned " The combination of both traditional Barbie with high-tech Talking Barbie"--"Plastic + Microchip" will make Barbie a long life to more than hundred years old. Of course, I also mentioned the new "Tech-Economic System" (TES, The eStore System) that we invented for the social responsibility investment (SRI).

I told Ruth that there used to be a very large "Mini Computer" in the MLT factory, which could not do anything. Now a "Personal Computer" (PC) can handle a lot of tasks. In the future, our "TES" can help a lot of needy. Those new entrepreneurs who will be able to "working at home to earn the world money." Then I asked her to pay attention to this New Tech-Economic System (TES)—Because it will completely change the future trading model--no matter how sophisticated traditional marketing skills are, it will be in vain. I also invited her to participate in the development of this "e-Commerce System."

Ruth expressed that she was very old, so she assigned the subordinates to communicate with me; unfortunately, those assigned who were still talking about the old tune of developing the Chinese market in emerging countries, and I was busy in implementing the long series of the invention of "TES"—such as Power Chip/ RF Transmitter/ Cashless System/ Contactless-tech and the related matters, there was no spare capacity to manage other chores. Therefore, there was no contact gradually.

In 1994, I heard that Barbie Dolls sold in more than 150 countries had over US$ one billion in revenue, but they have been reduced to single digits year by year. Now, there is a three-year-old girl who wants to trade my mobile phone with Barbie. ”How deserted lies the city, once so full of people.” The Scripture sounded in my heart—I also remembered my expectations of doing "Talking Barbie", "I hope that Mattel can stay in Taiwan. I will help them train a group of 'electro-mec talents', upgrade the traditional Barbie to high-tech products, so that Barbie's style can be passed on to the next generation. The next generation and the next generation." However, They chose to follow the tide of drifting, abandon Taiwan, and raise their rivals, which already doomed Barbie's fate today.

Finally, Li Yu's "Poppy"(虞美人) came to my mind: “When will there be no more moon and spring flowers. For me who had so many memorable hours? My attic which last night in vernal wind did stand, reminds cruelly of the lost moonlit land. Carved balustrades and marble steps must still be there, but rosy faces cannot be as fair. If you ask me how much my sorrow has increased, just see the rainwater river flowing east!” (春花秋月何時了？往事知多少。小樓昨夜又東風，故國不堪回首月明中；雕欄玉砌今猶在，只是朱顏改。問君能有幾多愁，恰似一江春水向東流。) As the winter wind blows and the safflower is falling to the earth, when will the flowers bloom again in spring? The answer should be: "Far in the indefinite future!"

Reference:

Kuo, Peter Li-Chang (2005c). Open the Way for Next Generation. Taichung: Panhornic.

Peter Kuo is the creator of Taiwan’s Precision Industry, and the representative of APEC CEO Summit. Peter Kuo who made the precision electronic components since 1966 and became an important supplier of American firm; he was admired by Mr. Chiang Ching-Kuo as "the father of Taiwan's precision industry" in 1974, and also helped his client in the name of “AVNET Inc.” successfully listing on NYSE. In 1979, Black Stone Co. was founded in New York to develop the satellite receiver, and created the K-Horn Science Incubator to promote the social responsibility investment (SRI) for incubating the RF Transmitter/ Cashless System and etc., and gain the bills and policies such as “Anti-corruption/ E-Commerce/ ICT/IPR/ Micro Business…” at APEC CEO Summit and Ministerial Meeting. Kuo is the author of the books: "Opening the Way for Next Generation, An Economic Society of Righteousness, Social Responsibility, W-shaped Society...," and in addition to the Paper of "Analysis of Development of the Information Society in Taiwan's Third Sector."

Links:

https://wtgtintwn.blogspot.com/2021/03/325.html (會說話的芭比)

Linda Din Invention:

https://patents.google.com/patent/US6304796 (VAM)

https://patents.google.com/patent/US20030197061 (Shopping System)

https://patents.google.com/patent/US20030107468 (Entry Security Device)

https://patents.google.com/patent/US20040054595A1/en?inventor=Linda+Din (ETC)

https://ipr-patent.blogspot.com/2018/11/3-major-claims-for-ipr-of-tes.html (3 major claims for the IPR of TES)

https://ipr-patent.blogspot.com/2018/10/uspto-director-iancus-address.html (USPTO Director Iancu’s address)

https://lindadiniot.blogspot.com/2016/01/iot-and-aidc-in-2000.html (IoT and AIDC in 2000)

https://lindadiniot.blogspot.com/2016/01/substantial-and-virtual-internet-of.html (Substantial and Virtual Internet of Things, IoT)

https://lindadiniot.blogspot.com/2015/12/internet-of-things-iot-linda-dins.html (Internet of Things, IoT & Linda Din’s Invention)