Slashdot Mirror
IBM Patents Changing Color of E-Mail Text
theodp writes "Last week, the USPTO granted IBM a patent for its 'System and method for comprehensive automatic color customization in an email message based on cultural perspective.' So what exactly did the four Big Blue inventors come up with? IBM explains: 'For example, an email created in the US in red font to indicate urgency or emphasis might be mapped to a more appropriate color (e.g., blue or black) for sending to Korea.' IBM took advantage of the USPTO's Accelerated Examination Program to fast-track the patent's approval. BTW, if you missed the 2006 press release, IBM boasted it was 'holding itself to a higher standard than any law requires because it's urgent that patent quality is improved.'"
Thanks to slashdot for highlighting one of the many great ideas that Big Blue has brought to our meager existences. It's things like color fonts in email that really put a smile on my face every day. I'm glad slashdot posts stories like this to remind us of who's behind some of the great ideas we use every day.
To celebrate this remarkable achievement I am going to send all my emails today using a Big Blue font.
. . . except that nobody will be able to read this post anyways, as that IBM thingie will present this text as "white on white."
Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
But who would see colour anyway? Is this another Windows thing?
hmmm, aren't those fat multi-color pens and multi-color typewriter ribbon evidence of prior art?
/fat freddy sez
hope they don't find out about using carbon paper (CC = carbon copy) to transfer a copy of the letter you're typing onto another document or i'll have to pay insane royalties each time i forward those dumb internet chain letters i send to over 9000 of my friends!!
Perfect idea! I just *want* more of those emails embedded inside bloat html for no reason!
<x-html>
<!x-stuff-for-pete base="" src="" id="0" charset=""><DIV></DIV><w:fonts> <w:defaultFonts w:h-ansi="Times New Roman" w:cs="Times New Roman"/> </w:fonts> <w:docPr/> <w:body> <wx:sect> <w:p> <w:pPr/> <w:r> <w:rFonts w:h-ansi="Helvetica" w:cs="Helvetica"/>
<w:t>I agree.</w:t> </w:r> </w:p> <w:pgSz w:w="12240" w:h="15840"/> <w:pgMar w:top="1440" w:right="1440" w:bottom="1440" w:left="1440"/> </w:sectPr> </wx:sect> </w:body>
I know when I'm emailing my Korean friends, I always switch from the default black to black when I really want get their attention.
Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
some of my favorite typefaces are black.
Isn't Harry Potter evidence of prior art?
I don't believe in time. It's a grand conspiracy designed to sell watches.
Hmm.. so that's why Kim Jong-il doesn't respond to our urgent messages.
This story makes me feel blue.
My VT100 monitor automatically turns my email, and everything else for that matter, a cool shade of amber.
Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.