A patent was granted to Apple last month that describes a pen that doubles as a wireless device: capable of sending and receiving text messages, emails, and voice data. This patent reveals a portable wireless computer of sorts that would be equipped with a cellular and or GPS technology that would allow for wireless communication. It would also act as an advanced digital pen that would include accelerometers to recognize handwriting and facilitate speech-to-text and text-to-speech conversations. This pen would also feature a touch screen, a microphone, speaker, and rechargeable battery. Interestingly, in some cases the patent describes the device as a cellular telephone and in others, a portable computer. Based on our deconstruction of a patent last week in class, I think it's interesting to note that these alternating names may significantly impact the effect of this patent.
Perhaps most notable is the turnaround time it took for this patent to get approved and issued. Initially filed in 1998, the the patent was first issued in Sept. 2011, but was again examined and approved by the USPTO after Apple decided to add descriptions about the wireless and cellular features.
Perhaps Apple will never make this product and may only sit on the patent for as long as they have legal oversight over it. But this story brings up two very important questions about the patent system.
1. Why did it take so long for the patent to get issued when it was initially filed in 1998?
2. What are Apple's intentions with this patent? To actually create the product? To protect themselves against competitors who want to make a similar product? To create a revenue stream by licensing this technology to other companies?
Wireless pen is such an innovative solution. I see how it can change our lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteApple has filed many patents which development is not feasible with current technologies. I doubt they are planning on developing any of them. The main goal of this movement is to protect Apple from competition.
@Yuliya, I agree with you on this point. It seems as though this is unfair, especially given Apple's ability to spend millions on filing these types of patents for the sake of controlling innovation in the marketplace. Do you think there should be any type of restrictions on this type of patent? For example, do you think that companies should have a deadline by which they must create a prototype of a product they tried to patent?
ReplyDeleteI agree sounds like a great idea but I am not sure about people actually using such a device.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Aviv. I wonder if like you said, Apple is just doing this to protect themselves. However, I think like Yuliya said that wireless pen is such an innovative solution. I think Aviv brought up a very interesting question that we should definitely talk about in class on Monday. I think there should be a deadline by which a company creates a prototype of a product they tried to patent. With that being said, I think they should just show signs of trying to create a prototype and not just protect themselves.
ReplyDelete@James, I agree wholeheartedly. To be honest, I am being a bit of a cynic by assuming that Apple doesn't intend to actually create this product. That being said, it's important to consider their intentions behind filing this and the ramifications. If they don't intend to create it, they are effectively barring someone else from doing it since they are the ones with the patent. For me, that limits innovation.
ReplyDeleteThis would be soooo cool, but Apple's been claiming a lot of really really cool patents right now, and that's just another one they're getting in the bag.
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