Determining Where The Technology Is Headed

Using the information in the table, one then speculates about where technology in the field is headed. In this particular example one might surmise that technology is headed towards ever more sophisticated techniques for preventing generics from providing replacement cartridges, and towards greater complexity in number and type of cartridges. The key is to focus on possibilities rather than practicalities. Since the intent is to secure blocking patents rather than create new technology, it is of little consequence whether the subject matter of those patents has any immediate application.