Shields Up!

[fiza]

Boeing patents 'Star Wars'-style force fields - CNET

[JRowley]

The title is the largest use of clickbait I have seen in a long time.

 

The technology sounds somewhat interesting but I doubt they will ever put it into production, perhaps an evolution of it in 10/20 years time though.

Edited March 23, 2015 by JRowley

[fiza]

The title is the largest use of clickbait I have seen in a long time.

 

 

thank you

[JRowley]

thank you

 

I didn't mean yours, but yeah both are pretty good in that regard

[fiza]

I didn't mean yours, but yeah both are pretty good in that regard

 

[LiamH]

I really don't get the patent system. Do they have a working model or is this just patenting an idea?

[JRowley]

I really don't get the patent system. Do they have a working model or is this just patenting an idea?

 

You can patent an invention, you don't have to have a working prototype for you to do that, you just need to describe it in enough detail so that others could produce it if they wish. At least that's how American patent law works as I understand it.

 

Edit: Just to expand on this.

 

The difference between what they have done here and patenting an idea is this. I cannot for example patent the idea for a Warp Drive, the reason being that despite extensive knowledge of the fictional technology and how it works (Thanks Star Trek!), I cannot describe it in enough detail so that a company could produce it.

 

Where as with this technology, while they themselves haven't built it (presumably), they have described it with enough detail so that someone could build it.

Edited March 23, 2015 by JRowley

[bushby]

if this becomes real then i expect it to make the same sound as the film and it must include my fav charater jar jar (DONT HATE ON HIM)