Computer scientists are developing new ways to manage the complexity of designing integrated circuits, says Frank Vahid, assistant professor of computer science at the University of California, Riverside. Lenssystems filled with liquid, not unlike the eyes of living organisms, could one day enable dramatic improvements in a camera's image quality, says Edward Kelley, an engineer with the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Kelley is working on liquid-filled lenses in an attempt to reduce veiling glare. As we enter the peak of hurricane season, many businesses may experience significant losses due to broken glass caused by violent winds. A recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals appears to give the nod to patenting e-commerce solutions and business models.
Patents have the power to level the playing field and allow competition to flourish.
But, the patent will only go so far in demonstrating intellectual property, and that's when we prove we can deliver. Since the e-commerce industry conducts virtually all of its business through data processing, storage and communication, this trend poses substantial risks of patent infringement when new or modified services are introduced, as well as opportunities to gain competitive advantages through patent protection. These risks can be managed, and such opportunities seized, only through careful, competent and timely planning. How the new IANA addresses these matters will be the most significant test of whether the Internet will be able to continue as a self-governing medium. Then, the Internet can begin the rapid transition to self-governance, competition and expansion to the benefit of users everywhere.