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HERE TO LEARN ABOUT THE NAME "DINGWALL"
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LIST OF SOME OF RP'S INVENTIONS
"VIKING
Bob"
OR "RP"
- along the way
Robert
P. Dingwall
some call him "RP" Or "Viking Bob", others just "Bob".
Listed in Strathmore's and Worldwide Publications Who’s Who of Corporate Executives, entrepreneur and multi patent holder.
He founded www.invents.net, a truly unique consulting company specializing in creative designs for industry.
A Universal method of problem solving was developed. It allowed creative thinking to be used in developing products in any technical field.
It also included marketing. Exhibits for business shows and displays that attracted customer and media attention to the customer’s product and/or services were created.
Mr. Dingwall's career in technology began when he was 4. You can tell from his face he was deep in thought. AT 7 he designed a robot he hoped would carry out the garbage. It continues through his teen-age years resulting in building a hydrogen-powered engine when he was 14. At 18 rather then wait for the draft he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he went through the military electronics school at Fort Mammoth NJ. He took classes in radar, analog computers and microwave antenna design and deployment. He graduated with honors and was offered an instructorship or officer’s candidate school. He chose to teach electronics and radar systems. After 2 years he was assigned to the Northeast Air Command (US Air Force) depot at Argentia, Newfoundland. He was assigned to help set up the ballistic missile early warning system. His modifications to several radar systems resulted in a commendation for his work.
His military record led to his hiring by International Business Machines (IBM) in 1955 as a technical representative to the U.S. Air Force Sage Project. He trained at the IBM Educational Center located in Kingston, NY. He was assigned to Grand Forks Air Force Base Grand Forks, ND. He was responsible for the input -output section of the SAGE computer. This included the digital phone line connections to remote RADAR sites. He was rated as an outstanding employee and transferred to the IBM Federal Systems Division in Owego, NY. He was responsible for system operation and reliability testing for a number of projects. His work on the terrain avoidance computer for the B52 Bomber earned several promotions and commendations. He was then transferred to Warner Robins Air Force Base Macon, GA. His assignment was to set up the repair facility for radar and computing systems used by the B52. This included remote data collection transmitted by telephone lines to a central computer located at Owego, NY. He also trained Air Force personnel in system operation and test procedures. He returned to Owego and was assigned responsibility for the side look radar system used by the B70 bomber. He also helped develop& test the computers used in the Gemini and Apollo space programs. Among his other achievements was his work in infrared detection of electronic failures, which improved the reliability of circuits, used in the space program. He also improved the U.S. Army’s Cryptography Systems with his work in noise reduction. During this period Mr. Dingwall had a top-secret security clearance thus all of his inventions and publications were classified. In all, he received five civilian awards for his outstanding work in engineering.
In 1963 Mr. Dingwall was promoted to Development Engineer and was transferred to IBM Mohansic Advanced Systems Development Division where he worked on computer time-sharing. (Now called Multitasking) He designed the multi terminal interface that allowed 24 terminals to share a single computer. Several of these were connected to a LAN system while the rest were dial up lines. He worked in developing all types of I-O devices for the time-share system. One of these efforts resulted in a patent for reading the magnetic strip on credit cards. Other devices included a magnetic blackboard that was computer readable and write able. A teletype printer. Computer generated voice recognition and output. His efforts earned several more invention and outstanding contribution awards.
In 1968 he was assigned to the Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights where he worked directly for IBM corporate communications. He was responsible for setting up the ITPS system, IBM’s world wide computer network. He setup exhibits, business shows and special functions all using remote computer systems. He interfaced with the office of Charles Eames developing the hardware for the exhibits Charles designed. Some of his accomplishments were a traveling museum exhibit that taught visitors how a multi-user computer system operates. The exhibit was connected through telephone lines to a central computer located at Armonk, NY. The IBM Leonardo Da Vinci Exhibit at 590 Madison Avenue, NYC, consisted of the total life and works of Leonardo Da Vinci. The Galaxy Exhibit at the Haddon Planetarium, also in NYC, was a working display that showed how the planets orbit the sun. He designed and set up the Gemini, the Apollo and the W.R.I.T.E. exhibits at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington D.C. He developed a system for teaching remote computer control for factory production lines, etc. The user could operate robots from a remote keyboard. He designed an electronic scoreboard and timing system for the Indianapolis 500. Throughout his years with IBM he worked on many special projects requiring inventiveness and ingenuity.
It was the diverse assignments that started Mr. Dingwall thinking about a universal method of problem solving. There never was enough time to learn a subject completely. He learned to rely on others that were familiar with the project. After listening to their explanations he used his broad base of knowledge and the ability to instantly visualize any situation. It allowed Mr. Dingwall to solve many problems for his clients in areas that otherwise would have been impossible. The approach was very successful and has resulted in numerous patents being issued.
Based on this concept in 1976 he left IBM to start Inventive Solutions, a consulting firm helping small companies solve their engineering problems, develop their product line and set up marketing. As the business progressed, it became necessary to manufacture items for many of its clients. In 1977 Mr. Dingwall designed a disco light controller for Times Square Lighting in New York City that won an international award. Inventive Solutions was then asked to manufacture the device and hired a staff of 32 people to do so, thus becoming the largest manufacturer of disco lighting controls in the US. The company then developed a line of digital lighting equipment for the theatrical market. This equipment was manufactured for Times Square Lighting, Miami Lighting and Broadway Lighting. Inventive Solutions also manufactured and successfully marketed the products under its own brand names "Fulcrum" and "Pawprint Dynamics." In 1996 Mr. Dingwall turned the manufacturing aspect of the business over to his son.
RP returned to full time consulting. His
creativity and extensive experience make it possible for him to assist his
clients in all aspects of their business. This effort has resulted in 9 more
patents being issued. Many in the medical area. Others in auto thief prevention.
In 2004 he retired to Florida and started www.vikingbobs.com and combined it
with www.invents.net. The contents of this web
site are a result of this effort. It is an attempt to bring 2 very creative
endeavors together. He has adapted his site using a local flea market as a
model. The concept is to give the visitor the flea market experience without
leaving home. It also gives the small business person a place to display their
products.