List of Taiwanese inventions and discoveries

Last updated

This is a list of inventions by people who were born in Taiwan (officially known as Republic of China) or citizens of Republic of China.

Contents

Food, food techniques and cuisine

Bubble tea Bubble tea by Chill Bubble Tea.jpg
Bubble tea
Bubble tea
is a drink that contains flavored tea and tapioca pearls. It was invented in the early 1980s in Taiwan. [1] Bubble tea vendors serve the beverage cold or hot inside a translucent plastic cup with an oversized straw wide enough for the tapioca bubbles to pass through. [2] The drink has spread from Taiwan and is now popular across the world. [1] [3]
General Tso's chicken
is a sweet deep-fried chicken dish that is served in North American Chinese restaurants. The recipe was invented by Taiwan-based Hunan cuisine chef Peng Chang-kuei. [4]
Instant noodles
were invented by Go Pek-hok, who later adopted the name Momofuku Ando when he immigrated from Taiwan to Japan. Ando created a method for deep-frying and drying noodles that could later be cooked using boiling water. He founded the Nissin Foods company, which in 1971 introduced instant noodles marketed as Cup Noodles that were packaged in Styrofoam cups. [5]
Mongolian barbecue
is a stir fried dish that was developed by Wu Zhaonan in Taiwan in 1951. Meat and vegetables are cooked on large, round, solid iron griddles at temperatures of up to 300 °C (572 °F). Despite its name, the dish is not Mongolian, and is only loosely related to barbecue.
Pineapple cake
is a sweet traditional pastry and dessert containing butter, flour, egg, sugar, and pineapple jam or slices. It likely came into fruition around the 16th century when the pineapple, a fruit native to South America, was introduced by the Portuguese presence in Asia.

Games and entertainment

Connect6
is a game similar to Gomoku invented by I-Chen Wu, a computer science professor at National Chiao Tung University. The player who obtains six or more stones in a row wins. [6]
Cat café
was first opened in Taipei, Taiwan in 1998, which involves a coffee shop with in-house cats that roam freely and interact with customers. The idea since took off and spread around the world. [7] [8]

Science and technology

A universal crossed molecular beam apparatus
for studying chemical reactions was developed by the Taiwanese chemist Yuan T. Lee. [9] In 1986, Lee was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry alongside Dudley R. Herschbach and John Polanyi "for their contributions to the dynamics of chemical elementary processes." [10]
Floating gate transistor
In 1967, Simon Min Sze and Dawon Kahng invented the floating gate transistor, which provides the foundation for many forms of semiconductor memory devices. [11] [12]
Discovering HAART Cocktail Therapy
David Ho is a Taiwanese-American medical doctor and HIV/AIDS researcher who was born in Taiwan and has made many innovative state of the art scientific contributions to the understanding and technological treatment of HIV infection.
The integrated laptop projector
was first developed and showcased by Asus, a Taiwanese computer manufacturer, in 2008. The built-in projector debuted at Computex Taipei 2008, an annual computer expo. [13] Competitors such as HP in 2010 and Fujitsu in 2011 have since released similar products. [14] [15]
N95 mask
The filtration media used in N95 masks was invented by Peter Tsai. [16] [17]
The optimistic concurrency control
method was first proposed by Taiwanese computer scientist H. T. Kung and American John T. Robinson in 1981. [18]
Pop a Point Pencil
a stackable pencil or non-sharpening pencil. It is a type of pencil where many short pencil tips are housed in a cartridge-style plastic holder. A blunt tip is removed by pulling it from the writing end of the body and re-inserting it into the open-ended bottom of the body, thereby pushing a new tip to the top. It is pioneered by Taiwanese stationery manufacturer Bensia Pioneer Industrial Corporation in the early 1970s.
USB flash drive USB flash drive (unbranded).jpg
USB flash drive
USB flash drive
a data storage device, invented by Pua Khein-Seng, a Taiwanese-Malaysian inventor.
Xiaoluren
the walking green man, is the animated traffic light system.
High entropy alloys
invented in 2004 by Jien-Wei Yeh and his team in Taiwan. [19]
WiMAX
a wireless broadband communication standards invented by Tatung Company accompanied with Tatung University.

Language and writing system

Taiwan Sign Language
is the sign language most commonly used by the deaf and hard of hearing in Taiwan.
Taiwanese Braille
is the braille script used in Taiwan for Taiwanese Mandarin (Guoyu).

Sports

Woodball
is a sport invented by Weng Ming-hui and Kuang-chu Young in 1990. In the game, a mallet is used to pass a ball through a series of gates. The Olympic Council of Asia made the sport a program of the Asian Beach Games in 2008. [20] The International Woodball Federation is based in Taipei, Taiwan. [21]

Weapons and military

Assault rifle

Sniper rifle

Submachine gun

Machine gun

Pistol

Grenade launcher

Others

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bubble tea</span> Tea-based drink with chewy bubbles

Bubble tea is a tea-based drink that originated in Taiwan in the early 1980s. Taiwanese immigrants brought it to the United States in the 1990s, initially in California through regions including Los Angeles County, but the drink has also spread to other countries where there is a large East Asian diaspora population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Japan

Japanese cuisine encompasses the regional and traditional foods of Japan, which have developed through centuries of political, economic, and social changes. The traditional cuisine of Japan is based on rice with miso soup and other dishes; there is an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. Side dishes often consist of fish, pickled vegetables, and vegetables cooked in broth. Seafood is common, often grilled, but also served raw as sashimi or in sushi. Seafood and vegetables are also deep-fried in a light batter, as tempura. Apart from rice, a staple includes noodles, such as soba and udon. Japan also has many simmered dishes, such as fish products in broth called oden, or beef in sukiyaki and nikujaga.

Taiwanese cuisine is a popular style of food with several variations, including Chinese and that of Taiwanese Indigenous peoples, with the earliest cuisines known of being the indigenous ones. With over a hundred years of historical development, mainstream Taiwanese cuisine has been influenced by Hakka cuisine, the cuisines of the waishengren, Japanese cuisine, and American cuisine, with southern Fujian cuisine having had the most profound impact.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysian cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Malaysia

Malaysian cuisine consists of cooking traditions and practices found in Malaysia, and reflects the multi-ethnic makeup of its population. The vast majority of Malaysia's population can roughly be divided among three major ethnic groups: Malays, Chinese and Indians. The remainder consists of the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia, the Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia, the Peranakan and Eurasian creole communities, as well as a significant number of foreign workers and expatriates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Datong District, Taipei</span> District in Western Taipei, Republic of China

Datong District or Tatung is a district of Taipei City, Taiwan. It is located between the Taipei Metro Red Line and eastern shore of the Tamsui River, and between Civic Boulevard and the Sun Yat-sen Freeway. The southern part of this area used to be the site of Twatutia, one of the first settlements in what is now Taipei and for a time the area's commercial center. Taipei's commercial center has since shifted south east to Zhongzheng, Da'an and Xinyi, and Datong is far less important economically. One of the last vestiges of Twatutia's commercial importance disappeared with the closing of the Chien-Cheng Circle in 2006. The north was the site of the village of Daronpon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hong Kong cuisine</span> Cuisine originating from Hong Kong

Hong Kong cuisine is mainly influenced by Cantonese cuisine, European cuisines and non-Cantonese Chinese cuisines, as well as Japanese, Korean and Southeast Asian cuisines, due to Hong Kong's past as a British colony and a long history of being an international port of commerce. Complex combinations and international gourmet expertise have given Hong Kong the labels of "Gourmet Paradise" and "World's Fair of Food".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yixing ware</span> Type of clay customary in Jiangsu province, China

Yixing clay is a type of clay from the region near the city of Yixing in Jiangsu Province, China, used in Chinese pottery since the Song dynasty (960–1279) when Yixing clay was first mined around China's Lake Tai. From the 17th century on, Yixing wares were commonly exported to Europe. The finished stoneware, which is used for teaware and other small items, is usually red or brown in colour. Also known as zisha (宜興紫砂) ware, they are typically left unglazed and use clays that are very cohesive and can form coils, slabs and most commonly slip casts. These clays can also be formed by throwing. The best known wares made from Yixing clay are Yixing clay teapots, tea pets, and other teaware.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Momofuku Ando</span> Taiwanese-Japanese inventor and businessman (1910–2007)

Momofuku Ando, born Go Pek-Hok, was an inventor and businessman who founded Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd. He is known as the inventor of Nissin Chikin Ramen and the creator of the brands Top Ramen and Cup Noodles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Night markets in Taiwan</span> Street markets

Taiwanese night markets are night markets in Taiwan that operate in urban or suburban areas between sunset and sunrise. A few, such as Huaxi Street Tourist Night Market, use purpose-built marketplaces, but most occupy either sidewalks or even entire streets that carry vehicle and pedestrian traffic by day. Some night markets in smaller side streets and alleys feature retractable roofs. Most night markets operate daily and feature a mixture of individual stalls selling clothing, consumer goods, xiaochi, and specialty drinks. The atmosphere is usually crowded and noisy with hawkers shouting and fast-paced music playing over loudspeakers. Taiwanese night markets have evolved over the years from small, local gatherings to noisy streets lined with vendors, who must adhere to regulations placed on their activities by the Taiwanese government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taiwanese tea culture</span> Tea culture of Taiwan

Taiwanese tea culture includes tea arts, traditional tea ceremonies, and the social aspects of tea consumption in Taiwan. It can be traced back to its roots in Chinese tea culture. Many of the classical arts can be seen in the tea culture, such as calligraphy, flower arts, and incense arts. Tea, especially oolong tea, is a popular drink in Taiwan, and teahouses, or "tea-arts" shops, are common.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Summer Deaflympics</span>

The 2009 Summer Deaflympics, officially known as the 21st Summer Deaflympics was an international multi-sport event from 5 to 15 September 2009 in Taipei, Taiwan. It was the third Summer Deaflympics to be held in the Asia-Pacific region. Judo, karate, and taekwondo have been recognized as new summer disciplines in the Deaflympics sports competition program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Taiwan</span>

Agriculture is one of the main industries in Taiwan. It contributes to the food security, rural development and conservation of Taiwan. Around 24% of Taiwan's land is used for farming.

Articles related to Taiwan include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iron egg</span> Egg-based dish from Taiwan

Iron egg is a special version of soy egg, a snack from Taiwan. They are considered a delicacy and originated in the Tamsui District of New Taipei City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peng Chang-kuei</span> Chef known for Hunan cuisine

Peng Chang-kuei was a chef specializing in Hunan cuisine. Throughout his culinary career, he based in Hengyang, Chongqing, Taipei and New York City. He was credited to be the creator of General Tso's chicken.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarawakian cuisine</span> Regional cuisine of Malaysia

Sarawakian cuisine is a regional cuisine of Malaysia. Like the rest of Malaysian cuisine, Sarawak food is based on staples such as rice. There is also a great variety of other ingredients and food preparations due to the influence of the state's varied geography and indigenous cultures quite distinct from the regional cuisines of the Peninsular Malaysia. Sarawak is famous for its multi-ethnic population. As the homeland of many unique communities, Sarawak has a variety of cuisines rarely found elsewhere in Malaysia. The uniqueness of Sarawak well depends on its ethnic groups. Every native group in Sarawak has their own lifestyle, traditions, cultures and also foods. Sarawak cuisine is less spicy and has a subtle in taste. It uses fresh seafood and natural herbs like turmeric, lemongrass, ginger, lime and tapioca leaves. These ingredients are not only easily available, but also add a hint of aroma, texture and freshness to the delicacies. Food is one of the most cultural identities for native groups in Sarawak with each ethnic group having their own delicacies. Among the Iban, popular foods include tubu (stems), tuak and pansuh. The Malay have bubur pedas (porridge) and kek lapis Sarawak ; the Bidayuh have asam siok and sup ponas Bidayuh. The Melanau make tebaloi, sagu and umai and the Orang Ulu are known for garam barrio, kikid (broth), tengayen, and urum giruq (pudding).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chun Shui Tang</span> Inventor of bubble tea

Chun Shui Tang is an international teahouse chain based in Taichung, Taiwan. Founded in 1983 as the name Yanghsien Tea Shop, it is known for the origin of bubble tea. Besides bubble tea, Chun Shui Tang also serve traditional Taiwanese dishes and snacks.

References

  1. 1 2 Martin, Laura C. (2007). Tea: The drink that changed the world. Rutland: Tuttle Publishing. p. 219. ISBN   9780804837248.
  2. Lovegren, Sylvia (2013). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America. Oxford University Press. p. 223. ISBN   978-0-19-973496-2.
  3. Carson, Erin. "Boba tea shortage explained: Why the bubble drink's facing tough times". CNET. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  4. Grimes, William (2 December 2016). "Peng Chang-kuei, Chef Behind General Tso's Chicken, Dies at 98". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  5. Laudan, Rachel (2013). Cuisine and Empire: Cooking in World History. University of California Press. pp. 310–311. ISBN   978-0-520-95491-5.
  6. Wu, I-Chen; Huang, Dei-Yen (2006). "A New Family of k-in-a-Row Games". Advances in Computer Games. 11th International Conference, ACG 2005, Taipei, Taiwan, September 6-9, 2005. Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Vol. 4250. pp. 180–194. doi:10.1007/11922155_14. ISBN   978-3-540-48887-3.
  7. Poletick, Rachel. "A Brief History of the Cat Café". Mental Floss. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  8. Lemmin-Woolfrey, Ulrike; Lastoe, Stacey (19 July 2019). "'Cats' is a disaster, but cats aren't: The best cat cafes to show your solidarity with our beloved companions". Cable News Network. CNN. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  9. Lin, M.C.; Lin, S.H.; Neumark, D.M. (4 September 1997). "Y.T. Lee Preface". The Journal of Physical Chemistry A. 101 (36): 6339–6340. doi:10.1021/jp971954n.
  10. "The dynamics of chemical reactions - a fascinating new field of research". The Journal of Physical Chemistry A. 101 (36): 6339–6340. 15 October 1986. doi:10.1021/jp971954n.
  11. "Taiwan flash memory inventor wins lifetime award". Taiwan Today. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan). 25 April 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  12. Kahng, D.; Sze, S. M. (8 July 1967). "A Floating Gate and Its Application to Memory Devices". Bell System Technical Journal. 46 (6): 1288–1295. doi:10.1002/j.1538-7305.1967.tb01738.x.
  13. Herrman, John (5 June 2008). "ASUS Laptop With Built-In Projector Raises PowerPoint Threat to "Critical"". Gizmodo.
  14. Stevens, Tim (21 January 2010). "HP launching tablets and notebooks with integrated pico projectors this year?". Engadget.
  15. Robinson, Mark (22 April 2011). "Fujitsu Notebook Ditches Optical Drive, Packs Pico Projector". Wired.
  16. "N95 Re-Use Strategies". SAGES. Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  17. Cheng, Ching-Tse (7 April 2020). "Taiwanese engineer is inventor of N95 respirator masks". Taiwan News. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  18. Kung, H.T.; Robinson, John T. (June 1981). "On optimistic methods for concurrency control". ACM Transactions on Database Systems. 6 (2): 213–226. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.101.8988 . doi:10.1145/319566.319567. S2CID   61600099.
  19. Wei-han, Chen (10 June 2016). "Taiwanese researcher gets special 'Nature' coverage - Taipei Times". The Taipei Times.
  20. "MOFA honors inventor of woodball". Taipei Times. 6 July 2007.
  21. "Historical innovation". International Woodball Federation.