Acoustics pioneer;
Born: November 2, 1929; Died: July 12, 2013.
Amar Bose, who has died aged 83, was the founder and chairman of the innovative audio technology company Bose Corporation, known for elegant products loved by geeks. Their products included Wave system radios boasting lifelike, room-filling sound, cushioned QuietComfort headphones for reducing background noises such as aeroplane engines, home cinema accessories and computer speakers.
Mr Bose was born and raised in Philadelphia to parents who were natives of India. He received his BA, master's degree and doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, all in electrical engineering.
He was asked to join the faculty in 1956, and accepted with the intention of teaching for no more than two years. However, he continued as a member of the faculty until 2001.
He started a research programme in physical acoustics and psychoacoustics, the branch of psychology covering the perception of sound, which led to the development of patents in acoustics, electronics, nonlinear systems and communication theory.
He founded the eponymous company, which was based just outside Boston, in 1964, and the guiding principles were centred on research and innovation.
In 2011 Bose gave MIT the majority of Bose Corp stock in the form of non-voting shares whose dividends are used to support education and research. MIT does not participate in management or governance of the company.
MIT president L Rafael Reif called Bose an extraordinarily gifted leader. "He made quality mentoring and a joyful pursuit of excellence, ideas and possibilities the hallmark of his career in teaching, research and business," Mr Reif said.
Mr Bose also loved teaching and his son Vanu said that while his father was well known for his success as an inventor and businessman, he was first and foremost a teacher.
"I could not begin to count the number of people I've met who've told me that my father was the best professor they ever had," he said.
Mr Bose was given many awards and honours during his lifetime.
He was a Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar, an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
Mr Bose said he tried to let his curiosity be the guiding principle of his work.
"As long as there are interesting problems to solve, I'll stay active," he said. "I don't want a second house. I have one car, and that's enough. These things don't give me pleasure, but thinking about great little ideas gives me real pleasure."
He is survived by his son and daughter and his second wife Ursula.
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