Understanding Lord Kelvin and the award that bears his name

IEC President Jo Cops and Secretary-General Philippe Metzger presenting the Lord Kelvin Award to Ma Dejun of China.

Lord Kelvin may have been a genius, but that doesn't mean he was always right, especially when it came to predicting the future. The science fiction author, Arthur C. Clarke, probably had Kelvin in mind when he wrote: "When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is almost certainly wrong."<_o3a_p>

So, what future did Kelvin imagine for us and how would the 2025 General Meeting have been different if he had got it right?<_o3a_p>

Well, first off, we would all have arrived in New Delhi by boat, after weeks or months at sea. In 1895, Kelvin confidently predicted that aeroplanes would never happen. "Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible," he said.<_o3a_p>

Anyhow, in New Delhi, every building would have a windmill on its roof, just like the buildings in whichever country we had travelled from. Kelvin was convinced that coal stocks would eventually run out. <_o3a_p>

Wind power, he believed, was the only sustainable alternative. He was not an environmentalist, of course, but Kelvin did note that wind power would make the air cleaner to breathe.<_o3a_p>

Anyhow, can you imagine how noisy the windmill would be? But if kelvin had been right you could forget about switching on Bollywood FM to drown out the sound of the turbines. <_o3a_p>

In 1897, Kelvin assured his scientific colleagues that radio had no future. He apparently struggled with the notion of wireless transmission.<_o3a_p>

In frustration at the creaking and groaning of the windmill, you might kick the door and possibly hurt yourself. The sensible thing would be to go to the hospital for an X-ray.<_o3a_p>

In 1900, Kelvin assured his scientific colleagues that, ''X-rays are a hoax.'' Fortunately for your foot, Kelvin later changed his mind when he found out more. <_o3a_p>

Kelvin was quick to admit his mistake and he started a correspondence with the German inventor Wilhelm Röntgen. "I can say no more now than to congratulate you warmly on the great discovery you have made", he wrote. <_o3a_p>

Kelvin was acutely aware of the gaps in his knowledge and understanding of science and technology as the world evolved. Not one to mince his words, Kelvin was characteristically blunt at a celebration of his 50th anniversary as professor.<_o3a_p>

"One word characterizes the most strenuous of the efforts for the advancement of science that I have made perseveringly during 55 years. That word is failure", he said. <_o3a_p>

"I know no more of electric and magnetic forces or of the relation between aether, electricity and ponderable matter, or of chemical affinity than I knew and tried to teach to my students of natural philosophy 50 years ago in my first session as professor".<_o3a_p>

Kelvin would probably have dismissed a standard for Active Assisted Living robots as a hoax. But once he had read it and understood its practical value, he likely would have been pleased.

Kelvin was never a theoretical physicist, he was hands-on and as an inventor he favoured functional devices. He would have been delighted that this year's Award that bears his name is going to Ma Dejun of China.<_o3a_p>

Mr Ma is currently Chair of the Systems Committee for Active Assisted Living and the IEC committee for electrical air cleaners for household and similar purposes. He is also the vice chair of the committee for safety of household and similar electrical appliances. <_o3a_p>

In addition, Mr Ma serves as a convenor for nine different working groups related to household appliances and robot technologies for household use. <_o3a_p>

During his long career within standardization, Mr Ma has made more than 50 proposals for IEC publications, including a pioneering standard for the performance and safety of robots used in AAL connected home environments. <_o3a_p>

Mr Ma has also shown leadership as a strong advocate for greater participation of developing countries in IEC work. He is deeply involved in the IEC Affiliate Countries Programme, as well as actively promoting IEC work in the Chinese household electrical appliance industry. <_o3a_p>