20 over 20 | Patent no. 8

Your network’s guardian angel, 2012
Another groundbreaking 
innovation of the last 20 years

Who hasn’t been a little hesitant submitting their personal info online at one time or another? So what if your computer could tell you if a site or email was unsafe before you even opened or visited it? IBM US Patent No. 8,301,703 plans to do just that. 

With new technology that determines if a computer or IP address is blacklisted or suspect, we’ll be able to keep closer track of fiendish communications to ensure better online, and even national security—without even thinking about it. What does this mean for you? Well, let’s just say you can expect to see a lot less emails from so-called Nigerian princes in your inbox.

12 years ago

20 over 20 | Patent no. 6

Silicon nanopho-whats?, 2010
Another groundbreaking 
innovation of the last 20 years 

Ever wonder what the world was like before your time? Way before your time? Well, thanks to IBM US Patent No. 7,790,495, we’ll be able to power the world’s largest radio telescope and explore The Universe’s first moments after the Big Bang.

Processing almost twice as much data as the Internet every day, Silicon Nanophotonic chips use light to transfer information, allowing us to develop computers and processing platforms like never before. 

Learn more about it

12 years ago

20 over 20 | Patent no. 5

Wide awake behind the wheel, 2001
Another groundbreaking 
innovation of the last 20 years

Meet your new best friend—your car. With the development of IBM US Patent No. 6,236,968, cars of the future might come equipped with sleep prevention software that knows how to tell knee-slapping jokes, share insights on the economy, and if you’re really feeling drowsy, give you a splash of ice cold water to the face.

Inspired by his own deafness, mathematician Dimitri Kanevsky developed this highly advanced voice and fatigue recognition software that will not only help prevent road accidents, but also be a great companion on long road trips. Really puts Knight Rider and poor KITT to shame. 

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12 years ago

20 over 20 | Patent no. 4

Computers like us, 2011
Another groundbreaking 
innovation of the last 20 years

Dharmendra S. Modha really understands what people are thinking. Well, at least he understands how we’re thinking. Modha and his team developed IBM US Patent No. 8,005,773, a system for cortical stimulation or, to put it simply, a method for mapping our brains. They aim to develop computers that process information similar to the way our own brain does—with unmatched speed, careful consideration and instantaneous problem-solving. 

By isolating every single neuron and breaking down its function, we’ll be able to develop computers that can analyze vast amounts of data with relatively low energy consumption. That’s some real forward thinking right there.

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12 years ago

20 over 20 | Patent no. 3

Massively parallel supercomputing, 2009
Another groundbreaking 
innovation from the last 20 years

What’s more powerful than the world’s fastest supercomputer? Multiples of the world’s fastest supercomputers working together.

That’s the technology behind IBM US Patent No. 7,555,566 and it’s how we can start tackling even the most daunting challenges, like simulating the effects of long-term climate change or reaching a level of cognitive function in artificial intelligence that can mimic the natural functions in our own brains. Yep—pretty heady stuff. 

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12 years ago

20 over 20 | Patent no. 2

Computers smaller than 
a pixel, 1995
Another groundbreaking 
innovation of the last 20 years

They were once the size of studio apartments. Now computers can be smaller than a fleck of dust. While it’s not so practical for household use, the possibilities that IBM US Patent No. 5,424,054 brings to miniature medical and textile computing is enormous. 

By fashioning nanotubes from carbon fiber, manufactures can create electronic components 10,000 times thinner than a human hair. By going beyond the limits of silicon, we’ll soon be seeing computing on an atomic level—Well you’ll have to trust us on this one.

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12 years ago

20 over 20 | Patent no. 1

Earthquake Detector, 2010
Another groundbreaking 
innovation of the last 20 years

If you ever find yourself moved to safe ground before a tsunami strikes, remember to thank your lucky stars—and then IBM US Patent No. 7,693,663. Using micro-vibration sensors (known as MEMS accelerometers) in disk drives, we can now calculate the strength, location and depth of seismic events and send aid more quickly to places in need.

Soon we’ll be able to measure, pinpoint and possibly predict earthquakes and tsunamis much more accurately than ever before. 

Learn more about it

12 years ago