The Inventions of Linda Din

Written by Peter Li-Chang Kuo

The Scriptures say: "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act." (Proverbs 3:27)

My wife, Linda Din (丁玲虹), after witnessing mass unemployment caused by foreign companies withdrawing investments and closing factories in Taiwan, at that time, unemployed workers who turned to driving taxis were often victims of robbery; consequently, she vowed in 1986 to invent a "Cashless System" to resolve those structural social issues.

Linda not only invented the Cashless System but invested all the substantial income she earned into the development of "TSCM" (Transaction & Transmission Supply Chain Management Software System).

For demonstration purposes, she installed a "Contactless TranSmart Reading Device" (TRD, also called Toller) into vending machines, upgrading them into an "Total Electronic Store System" (TES).

She conducted triangular testing across Taipei, Taichung, and Silicon Valley (Santa Clara), and while serving as an Invited Speaker at APEC 1998, she successfully proposed and won recognition for an "E-commerce Bill".

Fig 1: Linda Din proposing E-commerce at APEC 1998

Later, while serving again as an Invited Speaker at APEC 2003, Linda proposed "Global Channel-TES" and won the "Best Practice", which laid the groundwork for the later development of the "NFC" (Near Field Communication) Forum. Her system provided a concrete economic and technological framework that created a tremendous number of new jobs in the 21st century, addressing structural unemployment and helping people to "earn world money from home" — all rooted in human-centered philosophy.

Fig 2: Linda Din winning Best Practice at APEC 2003

Mr. Jiang Zemin personally invited us to Shanghai for APEC 2001. He showed great interest in Linda Din’s innovations — the TranSmart Chip, Cashless System, TRD, TSCM, and TES — as described in her book "A Lady of Rich Taiwan" (Din, Linda, 2001).

Afterwards, we were also invited to Beijing to present to Chinese officials and scholars the new tech-economic system invented by Linda Din for "poverty alleviation" — a "Multilateral Trading System" that allows participation by multiple countries, which has been included as a key topic at the Shanghai APEC summit.

Fig 3: APEC 2001 Invitation from President Jiang Zemin

In Mainland China, unemployment is referred to as "xiagang" (laid-off). Without a job, one loses their income, and thus the constitutional rights of survival, work, and property (Article 15) are endangered.

The authorities in Mainland China took our explanations seriously, and scholars discussed drafting relevant legislation to promote the inventions detailed in "A Lady of Rich Taiwan"(國防雇員的女兒).

First, in the 2002 Spring Festival Gala, China promoted "Email" (伊媚兒) as a popular song, opening up internet access nationwide. By 2015, China officially launched the "Cross-Border Interbank Payment System" (CIPS), which is based partially on a small part of TSCM — namely, cross-border transaction messaging and clearing.

However, TSCM encompasses much more, including transaction management, supply chain management, transmission and communication control, and an integrated system design.

The problem arose when TSCM, designed with humanitarian ideals to address unemployment, which CIPS began to be used as a weapon — a "decoupling" tool against the U.S. financial system during the intensifying U.S.-China trade war. Could currency wars, fueled by this misuse, really stain the world with blood?

In the book of "A Lady of Rich Taiwan" (page 171), there is a drawing of an unsealed TranSmart Chip Card with a working speed captioned as "0.002 seconds".

From reading, erasing, writing, to messaging the control center, the entire process takes less than 0.1 seconds — a result of over a billion NTD invested in TSCM development.

Fig 4: TES operating speed 0.002 seconds

Linda Din's invention of the "Global Channel-TES" could be one of the most important inventions of the 21st century, because it involved a long list of revolutionary innovations:

1) Power Chips

2) Contactless Induction Technology

3) TranSmart Chip

4) RF Transmitter and Converter

5) VAM & eStore

6) TSCM

7) ICT (Information and Communications Technology)

8) 3C (Computer, Communication, Consumer Electronics)

9) E-Commerce (Electronic Commerce, E-Com, EC)

10) Interphone (Internet Telephony)

11) Contactless ATMs

12) Contactless Entrance Security Device

13) Electronic Toll Collection System for Transportation

14) Others: Incubators, Hygiene Initiatives, Satellite Support Initiatives, etc.

It also introduced the concepts of "Four Flows" (Money Flow, Commerce Flow, Logistics Flow, Information Flow) and “B-B/ B-C” innovations.

Among the most addictive of these was the free "Interphone" (Internet Phone); some users became so hooked that if they went 30 seconds without using it, their hands would tremble like drug addicts.

Fig 5: Linda Din reporting her inventions to President Lee Teng-Hui

In the 1990s, I spent a lot of effort explaining to those scholars and experts the coming age of "working at home, earning world money." Most responded with blank stares — reminding me of the Buddhist saying about "the ignorance of all living beings."

Now, some people have seized the changing global circumstances, suddenly posing as experts, declaring: "CIPS sounds the death knell!"

In reality, CIPS currently handles only about 3% of global payment traffic, mostly involving Chinese banks, some Russian, and Belt and Road partner banks.

Meanwhile, SWIFT boasts over 11,000 financial institution members across 200+ countries. Over 88% of global USD settlements depend on SWIFT, and even RMB settlements often route through SWIFT.

Thus, CIPS can at most serve as a partial alternative in specific political zones like Russia, Central Asia, and ASEAN.

As for whether the U.S. dollar will be eliminated? The answer is: "Extremely unlikely!"

“Dollar hegemony” isn't just about a transactional medium — it's also about:

1. Being the currency of pricing for global commodities (oil, food, metals);

2. Forming about 58-60% of global foreign reserves;

3. Accounting for over 60% of international debt denominated in USD;

4. Backed by U.S. military, political, and cultural influence.

SWIFT vs. VISA/ MasterCard Differences:

1. Purpose: SWIFT provides encrypted, standardized messaging between banks for cross-border fund transfers. VISA/ MasterCard serve consumers for credit card transactions and settlements.

2. Audience: SWIFT serves banks and financial institutions (B-B), whereas VISA/MasterCard serve merchants, consumers, and issuing banks (B-C).

3. Operation: SWIFT is a cross-border communication network (no direct money handling), whereas VISA/MasterCard are involved in consumer payment processing (direct fund settlement).

In short: 1) SWIFT is like the "global post office" for banks. 2) VISA/MasterCard are the "global cash registers" for consumers.

Both are essential in cross-border financial operations — sanctions against either cause major impacts.

For example, when Russia was excluded from SWIFT and VISA/ MasterCard also stopped services, the financial shock was significant.

Thus, misunderstanding SWIFT as "another VISA/ MasterCard" is incorrect; their functions, audiences, and technologies are completely different.

When the Russia-Ukraine war ends and sanctions on Russia ease, the ruble will likely swing back toward the dollar — bursting the illusions of many so-called "half-bucket experts."

When we attended conferences in Wall Street, real experts believed that to truly challenge the U.S. dollar dominance, it would take not just a CIPS, but a comprehensive new technological economic system that combines "social concern and innovative commercial economy."

According to them, only Linda Din's inventions fit the bill.

Senator Josh Hawley has already held hearings under the "Credit Card Competition Act" (CCCA), investigating the "Dual-Poly" (Dual Monopoly) of VISA and MasterCard. Voices advocating for a third platform to reduce burdens on small businesses are growing louder.

Conclusion

In 1985, after I successfully saved Barbie (Mattel's Barbie Dolls), huge orders flooded in, including "He-Man" toy series products, creating an urgent demand for improving frequent mold changes in injection molding machines.

At that time, Kawaguchi had 90% market share but their machines were clumsy and lacked programmable logic controllers (PLC). When I proposed improvements, they refused, so I turned to JSW (Japan Steel Works), a then-small player who agreed to improve.

After I switched purchases to JSW, Kawaguchi machines virtually disappeared from the market.

However, SWIFT and the U.S. dollar will not disappear like Kawaguchi.

The U.S. is in charge of the APEC Telecommunications Working Group, and when Linda Din officially proposed E-commerce and Global Channel-TES at APEC, the U.S. representatives were supportive.

They fully understand the capabilities of TES. Moreover, the annual transaction volume of cashless systems has reached 36 trillion US dollars, and continues to increase year by year, and when the timing is right, the U.S. will naturally upgrade SWIFT.

Reference:

Din, Linda (2001). A Lady of Rich Taiwan. Taichung: Panhornic.

“Donateto the NDART”

Peter Li-Chang Kuo, the author created Taiwan's Precision Industry in his early years. Peter was a representative of the APEC CEO Summit and an expert in the third sector. He advocated "anti-corruption (AC)/cashless/e-commerce (E-Com)/ICT/IPR/IIA-TES / Micro-Business (MB)…and etc." to win the international bills and regulations.