POSTED BY Bridget Sarpu
Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) is a nonprofit research and development organization located in Taiwan engaged in applied research and technical services. Globally, ITRI has 23 international collaborations with major companies like IBM, Nokia, Microsoft, and Motorola. ITRI has played a vital role in transforming Taiwan’s economy from a labor-intensive industry to a high-tech industry. ITRI has developed numerous technologies including WIMAX wireless broadband, solar cells, and light electric vehicles. ITRI has also had extensive involvement with the intellectual property business and is devoted to making Taiwan manufacturing a competitor internationally. Currently, ITRI holds more than 19,709 patents that they have licensed to companies. Their newest technological advancement is a floating augmented-reality touch-screen system and ITRI is ready to license the technology to an interested buyer.
The product called i-Air Touch (iAT) Technology is a floating augmented-reality touch-screen system. Very similar to the computer screens seen in the movie “Minority Report,” the technology basically “projects a virtual touch-based interface outward and within the user’s field of vision.” Not only does this screen appear to float in the air, but the software can accurately measure the placement of your hands and fingers so it can respond to being “touched.” Watch a video here: Video of technology in use for a better understanding of how the technology would work.
iAT was officially introduced last week and will receive a 2013 R&D 100 Award in November. ITRI says the technology is available now for licensing by mobile companies and anyone else. Google might have a real interest in trying to acquire a license for the patent considering it could potentially be added software to Google’s upcoming technology of Glass. Instead of controlling the wearable computer with head movements, voice commands, touching the glasses or entering commands into the app on a smartphone, i-Air Touch users can type on the “floating” keypad, keyboard, mouse or touch panel allowing for flexibility, privacy, and convenience as the user wears them. So what if Google or any other company wanted to use the technology? What does it take for them to use the invention? The companies would need to seek to license the patent from ITRI.
Licensing occurs when the owner of a patent grants exploitation rights over a patent to an interested third party. A license is a legal contract, and so it contains terms the licensee must comply with. Because ITRI wants to license their iAT Technology, they are looking to form a contract, seeking royalties as a repayment. With Google Glass ready to be released in Spring 2014, with users directing the wearable computer with head nods and vocal commands, Google might be interested in a license agreement with ITRI. If Glass could work with the ITRI technology, they debatably would revolutionize the wearable computer and continue to change how society will function. ITRI could benefit off the license because although the technology is amazing in its own right, the glasses they advertise with are too big and bulky, unlike Google Glass sleek and trim glass model. Google Glass is ready to be worn for every day use.
What we can expect within the month is the iAT floating augmented-reality touch-screen system to make a statement in the intellectual property world. With the R&D 100 Award and the company ready to license, who knows what major technological company will try to use ITRI’s software for the latest industry. Within the IP world, in the near future, I am sure we will see valid licensing of the ITRI patent, along with some intense patent infringement litigation. With this advancement in technology, like the reaction with Google Glass, legislatures and lawmakers will want founded policy on all issues relating to the technology: privacy law, bans in certain places, driving safety, etc. We can also assume to see this technology sooner rather than later and then we all may be living “Minority Report.”
