From: Retro Trash
I just heard about a broadcast of the Dutch newsprogram 'Netwerk' about 'De Broncode' ('The Source Code'). I've yet to see the broadcast rerun (11 sept. at 01.50 u. Ned. 1), but here's the story (in short). A true story, which reads like a economic thriller.
Jan Sloot - a seemingly simple television repairman - is the inventor of a coding technology which amazes the world; a new method for saving data. For 20 years he has worked day and night on a little box that would be able to play 64 full length movies from a 64 kB chip. A reduction factor of 2 million. In other words: the invention of the century.
For years he keeps his invention a secret. Together with Philips top manager Roel Pieper he attracts attention from worlds most important investors. In the U.S. Sloot demonstrates his findings, to great excitement of American investors. Tom Perkins - one of the most important investors in this field - predicts Sloot will be one of the richest people in the world, making Billy Boy Gates jealous.
However, not for long will Sloot enjoy his moment of fame and recongnition. Two days after telling the world about his invention he mysteriously dies of a heart attack, taking the secret of his technology to his grave. The key to immeasurable wealth suddenly lost forever.
Was his death a natural death? Some things don't add up and his son didn't trust the course of events but can't prove anything. For example: Sloot was a really messy person. His working room was always stacked with papers and tools and parts. But after they found him dead in the backyard, his room was completely clean and tidy.
Just think about these things:
The impact it would have on the IT world.
Sloot would have made some € 300 billion with his trick.
A factor 2 million!!!
Furter reading (Dutch):
http://www.netwerk.tv/index.jsp?p=items ... k&a=131206
http://www.gids.nl/techno/jan-sloot.html
Bron: http://www.lemon64.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14415