• Bionic Legs Bring You One Step Closer to Robocop: Leg exoskeleton that transfers the weight of a backpack directly into the ground, eventually to be used to run without being tired.
• Are We Playing God with Human-Animal Embryos?: The scientific community counters that the hybrids will allow them to discover treatments which could lead to a cure for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
• Internet Ads Surpass Radio for the First Time: Radio isn’t dead, but it is dated and lacking innovation. How they can come back from the defeat.
• The Fashion Store of Tomorrow Uses Smart Chips: A clothing company plans to reinvent the shopping experience by using smart chips to help buyers make smart decisions throughout the store.
• Charging You to Use Your Credit Card is Illegal: Surcharges and minimum purchases to use your credit card are illegal. Get your money back and help stop this practice.

There are surcharges and minimum purchases everywhere you use your credit card these days, at your favorite lunch stop, the gas station, even larger retailers. It seems to be an uprising trend among merchants, if you want to use your credit card, you need to pay more. You may be have been thinking the same thing I was thinking when you see an outrageous price for using your credit card: Isn’t this illegal? The answer is yes and I am sick of it.

There is, however, a very fine line. If the merchant clearly states that there is a cash price discount, they are able to charge two different prices. However, if the price you see is clearly stated in plain view and they say something along the lines of, “that will be an extra $3 for credit cards,” that is crossing the line. The Federal Truth in Lending Act states: 167, (2) “No seller in any sales transaction may impose a surcharge on a cardholder who elects to use a credit card in lieu of payment by cash, check, or similar means.”

So lets say you get a double whammy, they want to charge you to use a credit card and you finally agree. Reluctantly, you hand over your credit card for your sandwich and cup of coffee when a bubble gum chewing teenager points to a sign that says, “$10 minimum charge.” Now your really pissed, because you don’t have any cash with you. Trust me, I always am too.

Funny thing is, if your paying with a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover their merchant agreements clearly state that a minimum charge is a violation . So is a surcharge. In fact, if you call in to dispute the charge it will immediately be removed. If they find out that the merchant you went to was imposing a minimum charge they will flag their account and with enough complaints that merchant would not longer be able to accept that brand of card.

This article may be a slight departure from innovation but I do feel like it is a trend that has been increasingly common amongst businesses and wanted to bring the facts to light. Sure it may be a minor annoyance in the long run but at least now you know it’s one you don’t need to tolerate.

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References
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Visa “Rules for Visa Merchants”
Dollar Minimums and Maximums – Always honor valid Visa cards, in your acceptance category, regardless of the dollar amount of the purchase. Imposing minimum or maximum purchase amounts is a violation.

No Surcharging – Always treat Visa transactions like any other transaction; that is, you may not impose any surcharges on a Visa transaction. You may, however, offer a discount for cash transactions, provided that the offer is clearly disclosed to customers and the cash price is presented as a discount from the standard price charged for all other forms of payment.

Mastercard “Merchant Rules Manual“
9.12.2 Charges to Cardholders

A merchant must not directly or indirectly require any MasterCard cardholder to pay a surcharge or any part of any merchant discount or any contemporaneous finance charge in connection with a MasterCard card transaction. A merchant may provide a discount to its customers for cash payments. A merchant is permitted to charge a fee (such as a bona fide commission, postage, expedited service or convenience fees, and the life) if the fee is imposed on all like transactions regardless of the form of payment used.

• A surcharge is any fee charge in connection with a MasterCard transaction that is not charged if another payment method is used.
• The merchant discount fee is the fee the merchant pays to its acquirer to acquire transactions.

9.12.3 Minimum/Maximum Transaction Amount Prohibited

A merchant must not require, or post signs indicating that it requires, a minimum or maximum transaction amount to accept a valid MasterCard card.

Discover “Merchant Operating Regulations“
3.1 Surcharges
Unless otherwise agreed upon by us in writing, you may not impose any surcharge, levy or fee of any kind for any transaction where a Cardmember desires to use a Card for any purchase of goods and services.

3.6 Minimum/Maximum Dollar Limits and Other Limits
You may not require that any Cardmember make a minimum dollar purchase in order to use a Card and, other than when we have not authorized a Cardmember’s transaction, you may not limit the maximum amount that a Cardmember may spend when using a Card.

California Civil Code Section 1748.1

Federal Truth in Lending Act

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At the moment if you were to submit a patent to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) it would take, on average, 52 months from filing to first action. So what’s the holdup?

Examiners need to search through what is called prior art which includes data, photographs, academic articles, prior published material and every other source before they can approve a request. If they screw up there is a mess that involves voiding the patent, lawsuits and headaches.

That is where the world of online collaboration comes into play at Peer to Patent, a new website that is working closely with the USPTO in the search for prior art.

A manager at the USPTO working closely with Peer to Patent told Technology Review, “The U.S. patent system is based on disclosure, and the earlier we can get our examiners the best prior art in front of them to help make that patentability determination, the better… giving the public an opportunity to participate in that process … is going to further improve our quality.”

The project will dramatically shorten the time it takes examiners to research for prior art. Hopes are that grassroots organizations will be better able to stop frivolous patents dead in their tracks before they are approved.

[Technology Review]

A clothing company in Germany is implementing a new technology that will tag clothing items throughout the store with RFID, or smart chips. They plan to reinvent the shopping experience by installing systems throughout the stores that recognize what you pick up and try on in their Smart Dressing Rooms.

When you try something on in the dressing room an on-screen display will provide you with the price, colors available and current stock. Future plans include a suggestion system for complimentary items. That way you can see the shirt and jacket that go along with the hot pants your trying on.

As an added benefit employees will be able to locate where each item is in the store with hand held scanners and LCD screens. No more fumbling around each rack until you find the size you actually need. If it isn’t in stock they should be able to hit a button to order it to the store or your home.

Don’t worry, the tags will be removed and will cease to track you once your out of the store. Or will they?!

[Consumerist]

Those wacky kids over at MIT’s Biomechatronics Group have begun to test a product that transfers the weight of a backpack directly into the ground. It’s called exoskeleton and it takes up to 80% of the packs weight straight into the ground and off your back.

First uses are for soldiers in the field but the developer of the device hopes that everyone might get their hands on them to run faster without losing their breath, carry heavy loads and say things like “Dead or alive, you’re coming with me…” Ok, so maybe that last one is looking a bit too far in the future. But even Robocop had to start somewhere.

The wearer of the exoskeleton has boots attached to springs and a series of tubes that eventually plug into a power source fueled currently by gasoline. At the moment the design is not ready for further testing. The team is going to be working diligently on mimicking the real movement of the human leg for a normal and relaxed feel while rehashing the design to consume less energy.

Keep your eyes out for these bad boys at the Olympics of 2060.

[Physorg]

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