從國寶到國恥

2005.12.29　 中國時報
從國寶到國恥
李伯寧

黃禹錫曾被譽為南韓國寶，上半年風光無限，繼年初宣稱在世界上首先用卵子培育出人類幹細胞後，今年五月再度宣布克服了用患者細胞複製胚胎幹細胞的難題，八月宣布成功培育出世界首隻複製狗，一時儼然成為全球幹細胞研究的先鋒。自從近日被發現論文造假之後，身心受到極大煎熬，數度入院治療。首爾大學醫學院副校長李旺載對媒體發表：這是韓國科學界的「國恥日」。

從這樣的科學新聞表象看來，黃禹錫的研究造假事件似乎讓人覺得不可思議，在學術界無論是學歷或是研究造假，都被認為是不可原諒的瑕疵。但是什麼樣的驅動力會讓一個科學家甘冒身敗名裂的風險而灑下漫天大謊？
綜觀目前的學術界，從攻讀學位開始，每天的實驗必須要有「結果」可以向指導教授報告，每個研究生畢業必得發表在國內外論文，好不容易擠破頭獲得大學教職，又必須面臨期限內升等和論文發表，寫研究計畫面臨被計算過去研究成果點數的壓力。這樣的評斷標準在僧多粥少的研究環境裡，乍看是一種公平的分配標準。但是科學的進展，尤其是某些特別領域的研究，豈是可以一季或一年就可以有明顯成果出現？

而研究單位的結案報告，也清一色要求顯著的成果，最好還可以發表高點數論文，或是申請專利。在這樣「業績」掛帥的研究環境中，科學求真的精神難免不被泯滅。而人類對於科學研究，本來就有許多先天的瓶頸存在，每突破一個瓶頸，往往需要許多科學家不眠不休的長久投入。所謂的研究業績，牽涉到的是實驗室經費和研究生前途等諸多問題，沒有成果，實驗馬上停擺，經費馬上斷炊。當研究成果與研究者的生存緊緊牽連時，迅速有效地發表高點數論文已成生存的最佳策略，但是發表論文牽涉到一些不合科學倫理的方式，卻漸漸被視為不得不的手段。

現今學術界的生態，幾乎走向一切向論文點數看的業績制度。研究方向也幾乎是以論文發表為導向。比方像前幾年的「奈米風潮」，只要博士畢業生的論文掛上和「奈米」相關的主題，畢業後就炙手可熱，國家研究單位也為此「發包」奈米研究計畫。這樣的追高行為，在目前的學術界層出不窮，可是最後的「總業績」如何？有哪一個單位會評估「奈米風」吹過以後，台灣的總體學術水準上升了嗎？而不過是一兩年而已，奈米的熱風眼看著又要降溫，那麼前幾年所投入的大量經費，其後續研究不飭是被「斷頭」。

近幾年，幹細胞的研究彷彿是另一波的學術時尚，本來已在進行幹細胞研究的學者，被逼著要發表更高點數的論文；本來沒接觸這個領域的研究者，也因為研究計畫的導向，必須跟進。這樣的政策導向，與台灣農民一窩蜂種植高經濟作物，而最後總面臨作物價值一敗塗地的命運一般。科學的進展需要許多相關領域的科學家不斷投入，需要政府有遠見地分配研究資源。否則，研究者極有可能因應科學業績的要求，也為了維持學術資源，不得已而失去求真的精神。當科學研究商業化及業績化，這不飭是對於科學家的慢性扼殺。

進入學術界的研究者，本質上都是對科學有原始的熱愛。我相信黃禹錫教授在一開始進入幹細胞研究領域時，也是一股衝勁想為人類帶來實際的貢獻。但是演變至最後成為如此不堪的後果，其背後的驅動力，值得每位仍在學術界的科學工作者深思！

（作者為國仁醫院婦產科主治醫師）

Here comes another flat-screen TV

50" HD PDP TV 價格大約 $4,000USD (最高畫質)
61" HD PDP TV 價格大約 $6,000USD (起跳)
?" SED TV 價格大約US $4,300 to $5,200
If Canon設定在55" SED 其價格優勢應該是存在的!

Note: display search的數據只含面版，不含周邊，這裡的數據是採用市場上品牌價的大概均價。

By Nathan Layne
TOKYO (Reuters) - There is little doubt that the world of television has gone flat, but consumers like Yoshinori Mimura are still confused over whether to go for a plasma, rear-projection or LCD screen.

That decision will only get tougher next year when Canon Inc. and Toshiba Corp. launch a new type of flat screen technology called SED, the latest choice for those wishing to trade in their boxy tube TVs.

"I'm really at a loss over what to do," said Mimura, a 50-year-old company employee, as he checked out the newest plasma and liquid crystal display (LCD) sets on display at the Biccamera electronics store in Yurakucho area of Tokyo.

"I'd like to buy one but I'm waiting for the right time."

Mimura, a movie buff, is looking for a TV that's bigger than 40 inches and is leaning toward a plasma model because he reckons they are better than LCDs at reproducing moving images and generate a deeper black, which important for films.

But he could also hold out for a SED TV that, proponents claim, can deliver a crisp picture with rich blacks, vivid colors, quick response times, low power consumption and a wide viewing angle -- essentially combining the best traits of plasma and LCD technology, with none of their shortcomings.

Technologically, SED is the holy grail of the flat TV industry -- images just as sharp as a traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) TV in a thin, flat form. Whether its manufacturers can actually make a profit on it, however, is another story. SED stands for surface-conduction electron-emitter display, and is very similar to CRT technology in that a picture is generated when electrons fired from the back of the set collide with a phosphor-coated screen to emit light.

But instead of using three electron guns, SED technology employs an array of hundreds of thousands of tiny electron emitters -- one for each pixel on the display.

While the CRT structure requires that electrons are beamed from deep in the back of the set, the SED's emitters can be arranged on a rear plate located extremely close to the phosphor-coated front, allowing for a much slimmer TV.

Canon, better known for its cameras and copiers, started researching SED technology 20 years ago and joined hands with Toshiba in 1999. They formed a joint venture in 2004 and plan to invest about $2 billion to develop and make the panels in Japan.

"We have big plans for the digital television business," Canon chief executive Fujio Mitarai said at an exhibition in Paris in the fall.

It is easy to see why Mitarai is so optimistic.

Flat TV sales have already surpassed CRT in Japan and the global market is expected to quadruple to about 100 million units by 2009, according to DisplaySearch, as prices fall rapidly and access to digital and high-definition broadcasting spreads.

Mitarai has said he would like to have a SED TV on the market by spring of 2006. The first set will be a 55-inch model, putting it in direct competition with plasma and to a certain extent LCD sets, which are encroaching into the 50-plus range.

But analysts say Canon will be hard pressed to profit on the venture anytime soon. SED is a wonderful technology, but capital investment is heavy and it will be years before output is at levels that ensure earning a decent return.

Merrill Lynch analyst Ryohei Takahashi notes that South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. is aiming to get the price of a plasma set down to $20 per inch by 2008. That would mean $1,000 for a 50-inch TV, one-fourth current prices and a mighty hurdle for a relatively new product like SED.

"Making a profit in that type of environment will be very difficult," said Takahashi, predicting it might be 5 years before Canon gets the business out of the red. "But Canon has plenty of money and can stay in the game for 10 or 20 years."

The reality is that most flat TV makers are unable to keep up with high materials costs and as set prices fall 30 percent per year. Plasma TV giant Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. and top LCD TV maker Sharp Corp. are among a select few in the black right now.

Takahashi said Canon has proven that it can make a high-quality 36-inch SED TV, which the company has been showing to the public at exhibitions, but it has yet to unveil the 55-inch model that will be going up for sale.

"I don't think there are 1,000 people in the world that have seen the 55-inch TV, so no one can really comment on the picture quality. There are still concerns that the production process is quite difficult for the large screen," he said.

But if Canon can get production kinks worked out and the picture is as sharp as it claims, indications are SED could give plasma and LCD a run for its money at the high-end.

Mimura said his ideal TV should be able to meet full high-definition (HD) specifications, meaning they are able to produce images at the highest standard of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels -- a standard that will be satisfied by the SED.

Price isn't everything. Mimura said he would be willing to shell out 500,000 to 600,000 yen (US $4,300 to $5,200) if the TV was right.

"The picture has to be nice," he said.

ＳＥＤ電視 打亂平面電視生態

2005.12.19　 工商時報
ＳＥＤ電視 打亂平面電視生態
謝宛蓉/台北報導

東芝與佳能明年將推出ＳＥＤ電視，針對此，工研院IEK研究經理鍾俊元認為，ＳＥＤ一旦推展有成，將對現有平面顯示產業造成莫大衝擊，相當值得關注。

鍾俊元指出，ＳＥＤ最大的優勢，即在於綜合ＰＤＰ與ＬＣＤ的成本優勢。ＰＤＰ成本結構中面板材料約佔三成、電路與驅動IC成本佔七成；而ＬＣＤ面板材料成本約佔八成，驅動IC與電路成本約佔近二成，而ＳＥＤ就是各取其低，面板材料成本接近ＰＤＰ、驅動IC與電路成本接近ＬＣＤ，同時在顯示效果上，又可望為最佳。
佳能與東芝在去年合資公司進行ＳＥＤ開發與生產，佳能社長御手洗富士夫之前即表示，已經擬妥數位電視市場的大規模計畫，如果一切順利，ＳＥＤ電視機可望明春上市，首推尺寸將為五十五吋機型，將直接與電漿、液晶電視正面競爭五十吋以上的市場。

根據佳能與東芝規劃，今年八月開始小批量生產ＳＥＤ面板，二○○六年春季開始初步進入市場，將先在佳能的平塚工廠開始生產，到二○○七年移至東芝的姬路工廠開始視需求量產。根據雙方目標，預計在二○一○年量產四十吋以上面板三百萬片，達到營收二千億日圓。

市場分析師表示，ＳＥＤ技術上完美但需要投入大量資本，還要幾年的時間才可望能穩定產出而為廠商帶來獲利，佳能可能要花五年才能在ＳＥＤ上由虧轉盈，不過佳能手上有許多資金可以支撐他們在電視競局中支撐十至二十年。

事實上，大多數平面電視製造商都面臨嚴峻的成本考驗，一方面產品成本高，另一方面產品售價每年跌幅高達三成，不論電漿電視或液晶電視，就大廠都很難避免投入的虧損，何況是市場新兵。

美林證券分析師表示，南韓三星電子正努力壓低電漿電視價格，目標是在二○○八年壓低到平均每吋二十美元，也就是一台五十吋電漿電視屆時將只要一千美元，是目前價格的四分之一，此舉，勢必對ＳＥＤ這類的新產品造成嚴重進入障礙。