Quantum deformations and q-boson operators

This Viewpoint relates to articles by L C Biedenharn (1989 J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 22 L873) and A J Macfarlane (1989 J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 22 4581) and was published as part of a series of Viewpoints celebrating 50 of the most influential papers published in the Journal of Physics series, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.