esp@cenet provides users with information on the latest technology, in the form of the most recently published patent documents. Similarly, we try to use the latest developments to ensure that esp@cenet delivers its results reliably and accurately via intelligent database design and a user-friendly GUI and search engine.

esp@cenet should not only provide users with the information they are looking for, but also offer a relaxing and rewarding search experience – which is why we will be investing in usability and navigation studies later this year.

In the meantime, as from today we have implemented a biometric application which runs in the background. You may not be aware of this application initially but, put simply, it senses the speed and force of the keystrokes you make on your PC keyboard. If you are tired, anxious or stressed, these will tend to be faster and more forceful; if you are relaxed, then they are likely to be slower and less powerful. So by measuring the speed and force of your keystrokes, the application detects whether you are tense or relaxed. If you appear to be tense, the search you are doing will be temporarily halted – a new browser window will open and display slow, randomly changing shades of muted blues and greens, and if you have a sound card you will hear whalesong (later versions will offer user-selectable images – such as restful landscapes – and a choice of mood music).

After a few minutes, depending on the level of tension detected, your computer will be unlocked and you will be able to resume your search in a more relaxed state. By reinforcing this stress-detection/calming system response in a positive feedback loop, we hope to ensure that esp@cenet users are always calm and relaxed when searching.

We would greatly appreciate your views on the effectiveness of this biometric application, and on whether it really does have positive effects on your relaxation levels whilst using esp@cenet.

More details at ep.espacenet.com website.

The fifth edition of the Case Law of the Boards of Appeal of the European Patent Office has been published. Over a period of 27 years the EPO’s Boards of Appeal have settled more than 21 000 cases, while a total of 85 decisions and opinions issued by the Enlarged Board of Appeal have helped clarify legal points of fundamental importance. This comprehensive report incorporates decisions up to the end of 2005, as well as the most important decisions issued in the first half of 2006.

The book, which is available in English, French or German, can be purchased via the EPO’s website at a price of EUR 42. It can be also downloaded in the electronic form from epo.org website, PDF file.