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Microsoft Patents 1826 Choropleth Map Technique
theodp writes "A newly-granted Microsoft patent for Variable Formatting of Cells covers the use of 'variable formatting for cells in computer spreadsheets, tables, and other documents', such as using the spectrum from a first color to a second color to represent the values in or associated with each cell. Which is really not a heck of a lot different from how Baron Pierre Charles Dupin created what's believed to be the first choropleth map way back in 1826, when he used shadings from black to white to illustrate the distribution and intensity of illiteracy in France. By the way, beginning in March, the U.S. will switch from a first-to-invent to a first-to-file system of granting patents. Hey, what could go wrong?"
What nonsense?
did Baron Pierre Charles Dupin describe how to implemented his idea on a computer? the technical details? No?
The patent is on how to do it with a computer; which is a different thing.
There are many things wrong with the patent system, this is not one of them.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
If you don't like it, move to another country.
Oh wait, the rest of the world already does it that way.