Patents and technology in the United States: An overview

Each year, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO issue hundreds of thousands of patents. In 2017, technology titan IBM once again topped the list of patents, while social media giant Facebook broke into the top 50. IBM has dominated the USPTO’s annual ranking and at the moment has more patents than Google, Oracle, Intel, Hewlett-Packard, Amazon, and Accenture combined.

Image source: newsweek.com

Anyone who owns or manages technology firms know how important patents are to the overall growth of the company. A huge amount of lawsuits filed in courts all over the country involve patent infringement. In fact, a patent is seen as a vital part in many of a company’s sales and operations.

Patent violation lawsuits can go as high as a billion dollars, as the world has seen back in 2012 when Apple filed a case against Samsung. The patent infringement revolved around mobile devices, and while financially, Samsung survived the lawsuit, the South Korean tech empire and other mobile phone manufacturers around the world needed to alter their devices to avoid another billion-dollar case. 

And although patents are filed in almost every industry in the U.S., the spotlight is mostly on technology since it affects other industries in more ways than one. 

Image source: itpro.co.uk

Dr. Ron Blum is the inventor or co-inventor of over 500 patents and patent applications worldwide. For more updates on Ron and his work, subscribe to this Twitter page.

Cool Wellness-Tech Innovations To Try Out

Tons of new health and fitness gadgets, apps, and online tools have become available in the past few years, ensuring that wellness is a top priority in this more interconnected world. Below are some of the most popular and most promising ones to try out.

Image Source: si.com

Spire

This small, wearable tech is designed to help people be more productive and sleep better. It is clipped to a belt or bra and connected to your smartphone. It tracks your movement, counts burned calories and vibrates when tense breathing is detected, reminding you to breathe deeply and avoid anxiety. It is packaged with guided meditations from world-renowned mindfulness teachers.

QardioBase

This wireless smart scale measures your weight, body mass index, and full body composition then automatically sends the measurements to the Qardio app. The entire family can create personal profiles and sync the scale to their devices, allowing everyone to meet long-term fitness goals. QardioBase is one of the best home scales available on the market.

Fitbit Blaze

Fitbit Blaze is a great wearable solution for both casual runners and those easing into a new exercise routine. It’s a fitness-first smartwatch that tracks activity and heart rate but also allows you to read messages and calendar alerts. It’s a reliable fitness tracker that’s also stylish.

Sensoria Smart Socks

Yes, even socks are now becoming smart. This pair comes with an anklet that magnetically snaps around your ankle, which then connects to a mobile app. They are infused with textile sensors that relay pressure information, giving real-time feedback on running, such as what part of your foot you’re landing on.

Image Source: pocket-lint.com

Dr.Ron Blum is a visionary, innovator, and businessman who has contributed to the development of Optics and Ophthalmics in North America. He founded The Egg Factory, LLC in 1999. For related reads, check out this blog.