IRC: #techbytes @ Techrights IRC Network: Sunday, July 03, 2022

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<h5><a href="https://www.talospace.com/2022/07/and-now-real-risc-v-laptop-maybe.html">And Now A Real RISC-V Laptop ... Maybe</a></h5>

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-www.talospace.com | And now a real RISC-V laptop ... maybe

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<p>Phoronix is reporting the first production RISC-V laptop, (code?) named ROMA, with "a quad-core RISC-V CPU (although clock frequencies are not noted), a GPU/NPU accelerator [and reportedly other features], up to 16GB of LPDDR4/LPDDR4X RAM [and] up to 256GB of storage." This sounds great, except that I was seriously underwhelmed by the Allwinner D1 in the DevTerm R-01, so the lack of CPU specs is not

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encouraging. There are also two distinct process nodes for the System-on-Module, 12nm for Pro and 28nm for Normal, so there may be a wide gulf between configurations. On the other hand, it does prominently claim to be upgradable, possibly by swapping out the modules. Strangely, it advertises itself with an ARM SC300 secure enclave, which seems a bit odd as well.</p>

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</blockquote>

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</li>

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<li>

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<h5><a href="https://linuxgizmos.com/i-mx8m-mini-powers-pico-itx-board-and-supports-yocto-based-linux-distributions/">i.MX8M Mini powers Pico-ITX board and supports Yocto-based Linux distributions</a></h5>

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 520 @ https://linuxgizmos.com/i-mx8m-mini-powers-pico-itx-board-and-supports-yocto-based-linux-distributions/ )

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<p>The eDM-SBC-iMX8Mm is a Single Board Computer (SBC) which comes in a small Pico-ITX form factor and it’s powered by NXP’s i.MX8M Mini System on Chip (SoC). This compact device was designed to run 24/7 to suit applications such as kiosks , digital signage displays, smart home appliances etc.</p>

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<p>DATA MODUL has designed this SBC to be coupled with NXP’s i.MX8M Mini Dual Cortex-A53 (up to 1800 MHz) or its Quad-core version. Both CPU models integrate a GCNanoUltra GPU with a 2D/3D accelerator and they include up to 512KB L2 in Cache memory.</p>

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</blockquote>

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http://patentblog.kluweriplaw.com/2022/06/27/survey-epo-staff-dont-trust-top-management-concerns-about-quality/

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are there any access codes or not yet? sorry to hear about the AC...

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schestowitz

-TechBytesBot/#techbytes-patentblog.kluweriplaw.com | Survey: EPO staff don’t trust top management, concerns about quality - Kluwer Patent Blog

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Staff members of the EPO have little confidence in the top management. They don’t think there is a clear and coherent strategy, there are big concerns about quality and also about the increasing work load. This is shown by the fifth Technologia Survey, the results of which have been shared with staff last week.

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The survey, which was commissioned by trade union SUEPO, reveals deep divisions between management and staff. It was published just ahead of the meeting of the Administrative Council, 29 and 30 June 2022, in which a decision about the re-appointment of António Campines as EPO president for a second term until 2028 is on the agenda.

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One sign of the lack of trust between staff and management is the fact that the Technologia survey could be held among SUEPO members only and those among EPO staff who actively opted in, since president Campinos refused SUEPO to use EPO emails*.

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Some results in more detail:

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I think top management has set out a clear and coherent strategy for the EPO: 31% of respondents said they totally disagree, 33% tend to disagree, 21% are neutral, 14% tend to agree and 2% totally agree.

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I support the strategy of the EPO set out by top management: 39% totally disagree, 32% tend to disagree, 21% neutral, 7% tend to agree, 1% totally agree.

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In my view, the actions of top management and the strategy adopted have departed considerably from the role that the EPO should be playing in the European patent system: 6% totally disagree, 12% tend to disagree, 20% neutral, 31% tend to agree, 32% totally agree.

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I identify with top management’s view: 46% totally disagree, 35% tend to disagree, 15% neutral, 4% tend to agree, 1% totally agree.

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I identify with the views of Staff Representation: 1% totally disagree, 5% tend to disagree, 17% neutral, 51% tend to agree, 27% totally agree.

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Questions about the level of trust in superiors show a staggering 3% confidence in president Campinos and 1% in the Management Advisory Committee, whereas the confidence in immediate superiors is relatively good.

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Trust in my immediate superior : 7% very little, 12% little, 24% neutral, 35% much, 22% very much

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My director : 20% very little, 19% little, 37% neutral, 18% much, 6% very much

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My Principal Director/COO : 50% very little, 26% little, 20% neutral, 4% much, 1% very much

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My Vice President : 47% very little, 24% little, 23% neutral, 6% much, 1% very much

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The Management Advisory Committee: 60% very little, 24% little, 16% neutral, 1% much, 0% very much

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The President : 61% very little, 23% little, 13% neutral, 3% much, 0% very much

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Quality

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The survey also clarifies there are concerns about the quality of the work the EPO produces and about recent reorganizations.

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In reaction to the statement: ‘Do you consider that the introduction of a performance-related bonus at the level of the individual employee is a good thing for the QUALITY OF THE WORK produced by the European Patent Office?: 61% answered they totally disagree, 28% tend to disagree, 10% tend to agree, 1% totally agree.

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With the following statement: ‘the current president and top management have taken useful measures to maintain and improve the quality of the EPO’s products and services’, 38% totally disagrees, 32% tends to disagree, 19% is neutral, 11% tends to agree, 1% totally agrees.

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Staff members were asked as well how many times ‘the operational organigram around your post within the EPO’ had been restructured in the last three years. 19% answered ‘never’, but more than 80% of respondents had experienced such restructuring (once 30%, twice 34%, three times or more 18%).

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These reorganizations concerning their post were ‘pointless’, according to 86% of respondents. 72% said that the ‘constant reorganizations and restructuring over recent years are pointless and have a negative effect on my situation’.

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In the meantime, the economic situation of the EPO is favorable, according to most respondents: 2% say: ‘disagree and it bothers me’, 6% disagree, 66% agree, 26% say ‘agree and I appreciate’

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Equality

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The Technologia survey was also about the personal situation of staff members. A remarkable result is the reaction to the statement: ‘Employees are treated equally at the EPO’: 32% totally disagrees, 30% tends to disagree, up sharp since the 2020 survey, in which these numbers were 8% and 22% respectively.

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Some other findings:

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I can expand my professional competences: 14% answer: disagree and it bothers me, 38% disagree, 40% agree, 9% says: agree and I appreciate

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The amount of work I am tasked with is acceptable: 29% disagree and it bothers me, 36% disagree, 30% agree, 5% agree and I appreciate

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My work pace is acceptable: 24% disagree and it bothers me, 34% disagree, 37% agree, 5% agree and I appreciate

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My professional activity allows me to balance work life and private life: 20% disagree and it bothers me, 30% disagree, 41% agree, 10% agree and I appreciate

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My work is interesting: 7% disagree and it bothers me, 17% disagree, 55% agree, 21% agree and I appreciate

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Remarkable also is the reaction to the statement: Do you work outside the hours provided for by the regulations governing your working hours? 58% work in the evening or at night, 26% during weekends or public holidays, 16% during holidays. 36% don’t work outside working hours.

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This a huge change compared to earlier Technologia surveys, in which many more respondents said they did not work outside working hours: 76% in 2010, 69% in 2013, 61% in 2016, 58% in 2020.

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Proud

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Asked to describe the work atmosphere at the level of the EPO, respondents mentioned the words: tense (56%), confrontational (35%), cold (31%), warm (2%), cheerful (1%).

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69% of staff feel very tired (sometimes, often or always), 42% feel depressed and 37% feel desperate. 67% think their current work life affects their health.

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93% of respondents said they were fairly (44%) of very (49%) proud to work for the European Patent Office before. But asked whether they are proud to work for the European Patent Office now, only 34% said they are fairly proud, and a mere 8% is very proud.

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*Over 6545 staff, the questionnaire was sent to 2915 and 1766 participated.

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The metamorphosis of the trainee into an employee inventor

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18 comments

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Kluwer Patent Blog

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JUNE 27, 2022 AT 11:18 AM

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Dear Reader,

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The publisher and editor of the blog may at their discretion remove submitted comments and/or other material from the blog if they have reason to believe that the materials are in violation of the editorial policy.

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We ask our readers and commenters to follow these guidelines:

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– Be polite. Avoid derogatory comments and respond to the argument, not its messenger. Any ad hominem attacks will not be tolerated. If a comment includes such an attack, the whole comment will not be published. There will be no discussion on this.

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– Avoid repetitiveness. If you haven’t convinced the other person after commenting twice, you will probably not succeed the third time.

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– Be specific and concise. A reaction of 200 well-chosen words is often better than a lengthy exposé.

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Extraneous Attorney

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JUNE 27, 2022 AT 11:43 AM

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These results are appalling. In any sane public sector organization, the only conclusion would be that a major shake-up in management is urgently needed.

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Now, of course, this being the EPO, I am not holding my breath.

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Mismanagement

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JUNE 27, 2022 AT 12:33 PM

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One may say that there is some consistency in EPO’s top management goals/actions for the past 10 years since the same questionnaire over 5 iterations shows a solid coherence in negative results.

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The dogmatic beliefs of pseudo top managers who have no clues nor competencies with regard to those they are in charge of, prevail over the interests of the applicants or the public at large.

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Their sole interest is to please the administrative council delegations so that their contract be extended and they get bonuses and functional allowances in return for deteriorations of the working conditions for the examiners and support staff.

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This mismanagement within a european public organisation is scandalous.

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Concerned observer

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JUNE 27, 2022 AT 5:29 PM

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The results of the survey clearly point to a demotivated, stressed and depressed workforce that has little to no trust in management and serious concerns regarding quality of the EPO’s output. There is simply no way of dressing this up: the results demonstrate that the current President has failed miserably to resolve social tensions at the EPO.

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When the AC appointed the current President, their public pronouncements gave the impression that resolving social tensions would be a key priority for him. But will an epic failure with respect to this key performance indicator prevent his reappointment? More specifically, being in mind the potential “gifts” to the AC delegations that CA 32/22 might place at the disposal of the President, how seriously will the AC view the President’s abject