Russian Patents Blog

While putting together my previous post “Russian patent holders to watch Nanoproducts closely“, I browsed the source of that post and came across an interesting bit of news – there was another “Ideal keyboard” patented in Russia (Optimus being the first, if memory serves – [video]).

In the keyboard the following innovations are realized:
1. Rotated blocks of alphabetic keys are arranged under individual preferences of the concrete person.
2. In all columns of a key are located physiologically: without skews.
3. All language allocations of alphabetic keys are adhered to a uniform sound allocation. The main letters of all alphabets which display the same elementary sound of speech, are placed on a key of nominal this sound of speech. That is very convenient at switching from one language allocation on another.
4. The sound allocation of alphabetic keys is constructed by the Rule of an articulation of elementary sounds of speech; actually, under the scientific Law which was formulated by the author of this new keyboard Alexander Makeev.
On zones of an articulation: from below upwards from most internally articulated up to most externally articulated.
On a degree of rapproachement of bodies of speech in a zone of an articulation from left to right: indistinct explosive sounds of speech, indistinct sibiliant sounds of speech, vowel sounds of speech (on the left rotated block of keys); sonorous sonorous sibiliant sounds of speech, sonorous explosive sounds of speech (on the right rotated block of keys).
Superfluous (duplicating) letters of corresponding language alphabets are born in additional columns of keys.
5. Many superfluous keys are removed from the keyboard.
6. Keys for input of numbers and mathematical symbols are located conveniently and logically.
7. New keys and new elements of the keyboard are added.
8. Corresponding functional groups of keys are painted in various colors for convenience of orientation on the keyboard.

All these innovations allow to type the text and figures by ten fingers even without preliminary training, not looking almost on the keyboard.

Look the Patent of Russia for Useful Model « the Keyboard with rotated blocks of keys » RU 63948 U1, given on June, 10, 2007, a priority from December, 26, 2006.

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Russian state authorities consider majority of products, carrying “nano” prefix, to speculate on a trendy term.

This is a hot topic currently in Russia due to new Intellectual Property Rights Law to come in effect as of January 1, 2008.

A solution lies in compilation of a classification system for nanotechnological products. State officials also point at the necessity of performing thorough and complex safety studies of products and materials, used in and produced by means of nanotechnologies. The rest of the world also lacks a complete solution for this problem.

Another burning issue is protection of developers’ rights, solving which will make a great contribution to innovation economy. Latest amendments to nanotech legislation regulate federal technologies and Russian patent attorneys.

Source: Izvestia Nauki (in Russian)

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Demand for specialized translations of Russian patent documents (mostly chemical patents) has been growing steadily during the last few years. As we already mentioned, portfolio of Russian chemical patents translated into English is available via PatentsFromRU site.

At the end of 2007, our colleague collaborated with two other chemically-oriented translators to write a letter to the editor of C&EN (Chemical and Engineering News, a journal for members of the American Chemical Society). An article had appeared in the Nov. 12, 2007, issue (p 17ff) of this trade-zine as the cover story, entitled “Championing Translation”, which had absolutely nothing to do with our kind of translation. Our colleague felt the need to explain to the chemical community that there is another kind of translation that is also important to them.

The letter has now appeared in print, in the latest issue. Our colleague grabbed the full text
which appears below.

—

Chemical & Engineering News
January 14, 2008
Volume 86, Number 2

Letters

Translating Chemistry

The interesting cover story “Championing Translation” (C&EN, Nov. 12,
2007, page 17) had an unexpected twist for us: Although we aren’t
directly involved in drug development, we provide an equally essential
service to chemists around the world by translating chemical texts from
foreign languages into English. Our work is critical to the scientific
community, and yet remains largely invisible and poorly understood.

From individual scientists to multinational corporations, clients
routinely need materials translated into many languages for information,
publication, or patent filings. Machine translation can’t handle such
complex material except for crude “gisting,” often with incomprehensible
results in our fields. Poor translation is costly. Errors compromise
safety, intellectual property, and image as well as the bottom line.
Incorrect terminology in translation makes research disappear in keyword
searches. Therefore choosing the right translator can ultimately save
money and grief.

Being bilingual is no guarantee of written fluency or translation skill,
and highly technical material requires highly developed subject area
knowledge. If you don’t know an alkane from an alkene – let alone
understand a reaction scheme or patent abstract – chances are you can’t
translate it.

To choose the right translator, look for high-level mastery of both
source and target languages, subject area expertise, and solid training
or experience in the field of translation. And be sure to budget
appropriately: you’ll get what you pay for.

Highly specialized translators like us combine both chemistry background
and language skills to get chemists past the language barrier and meet a
growing need in an increasingly competitive market.

[ Portfolio of Russian chemical patents translated into English ]

Karen Tkaczyk
Gardnerville, Nev.

Matthew Schlecht
Newark, Del.

Cathy Flick
Richmond, Ind.

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