Investing Trends To Watch And How To Find The Big Stocks In Them

 Any successful investor will tell you that they made their money by spotting trends and the companies with the competitive advantage in them.

It's not hard to do..if you know what to look for.

I discuss how to spot trends and how to find the companies that will play key roles in them in my book How To Find Big Stocks. I also show you how to use a tool in the Internet to spot them. This is the same tool that helped turn $10k into $2.8m in two years.

Here are some investing waves I am watching.

Cloud Computing (posts on cloud computing)

 The days of both storing content and processing on the computer are over. Storing content on the cloud offers access from any device anywhere.

Processing is also done on the Cloud too. Think about using Microsoft Word (on your PC) versus using Google Docs (on the cloud).

The tower/PC are being phased out. Soon it will just be a keyboard and a display. Lots of companies will be created and destroyed with this wave.


Internet TV/ TV Commerce (posts on TV Commerce)
When the TV becomes Internet enabled, it will compete with the PC. It will turn into another ecommerce platform. When YouTube allows 30 minute videos it will compete directly with TV viewing.

I highlight one chapter in the book to this trend. As an example of what I am looking for..technology that insert hyperlinks on objects in a video.

Personalized  Medicine (posts on Personalized Medicine)
The days of one pill treats all are over too. Mapping the human genome will enable a pill to treat your condition based on your genetic structure.

A combination of several blockbuster drugs coming off patent and personalized medicine have the big drug companies worried. There are several ways to play this investing trend. I show you what to look for.


Internet of Things/Physical World Connection (posts on Physical World Connection)

When a physical object can be linked to the Net for information, we see Physical World Connection. That can include taking a picture of a barcode with a camera phone, scanning an RFID tag with a phone. Any time a physical object has a physical world hyperlink that can link a computing device to the Internet.

Intellectual Property..the new asset (posts on Intellectual Property)

Patents and ways to monetize them, represent a huge investable wave coming. Having a patent and monetizing are two separate things.
(excerpt from the book)
The new “manufacturing” is digital. Information and software are representing a larger percentage of our G.D.P. than physical goods. With the click of a mouse,
a new good can be created and shipped. The Internet is the new manufacturing and distribution system.

Telematics

"Controlling" a physical object through the Internet is becoming very disruptive. From starting a car from a remote location to monitoring semiconductor equipment from across the globe. Maintaining contact and enabling control over a physical object anywhere in the world thru the Net will create lots of investing opportunities. 

3d Printing (posts on 3d Printing)


Quick replication of objects that are created by software could kickstart the US manufacturing economy.

Privacy/Digital Content Ownership (privacy posts)

With every click of your mouse, you are creating some type of digital fingerprint that is being used by many companies. Those fingerprints cant be erased. It;s as simple as clicking on a webpage and a cookie is placed on your PC to uploading a picture with the GPS coordinates on it.
The "like" button on Facebook, or the "share this" icon on almost every webpage is changing privacy. Brands are using your image to promote their products. Your "likes" are being used to generate revenue.

Also, the ease of replication and distribution of digital content is creating a nightmare for copyright owners. Digital watermarking and tracking will soon become a big business. As more content is stored online (on the cloud) protecting it will become a priority.

Speech Recognition

Voice replaces the keyboard for the phone, tablet and TV.

Motion Technology

The Kinect and Wii are adding another dimension to computing. Look for more applications using motion as the input.

IPV6

The Internet is running out of IP addresses. IPV6 Internet Protocol version 6 will provide EVERY device  with their own IP address. The days of anonymity are over.

Connected Homes/Mini Cell Tower

More devices connected to the Net inside the home will require a more powerful router. This next generation router will connect all devices (tablet, refridgerator, cell phone). Watch femtocell and picocell companies.

HTML5

The days of updates and plugins required may soon be over. A new standard for online media is coming. Java's days may be limited.

NFC/Mobile Payments

Near field communications, chips inside your mobile will turn it into a "wallet" that with a swipe near a NFC reader registers your purchase. The days of credit cards may soon be over when they can be stored and swiped with your cell phone.

Pharmaceutical Acquisitions..Blockbuster Drugs are over

As more blockbuster drugs come off patent and the trend for personal medicine grows, drug companies are going to back to their Phase 3 trials to look for drugs that can help smaller populations. Genetic database companies and RNAi players are ones to watch as acquisition candidates.

WiFi 2.0 or the Hypernet 

Hotspot 2.0 is an industry initiative that will use 802.11u to provide seamless automatic Wi-Fi authentication and handoff, allowing mobile users to roam between the networks without additional authentication 







 I turned $10k into $2.8m in 2 years with the tool in this book. HowToFindBigStocks.com

Patents The New Raw Material

From Seattle Times Patents are new business strategy

they're visible signs that technology companies' patent practices have evolved from using them to defend their own inventions to deploying them as a significant part of competitive strategies

A trend I discuss in the book, How To Find Big Stocks, is "IP The New Raw Material", A Big Stock has to have a competitive advantage, that could be intellectual property.

(excerpt from the book)
The new “manufacturing” is digital. Information and software are representing a larger percentage of our G.D.P. than physical goods. With the click of a mouse,
a new good can be created and shipped. The Internet is the new manufacturing and distribution system. 

I have a comprehensive list of stocks with key patents title Patent Play Stocks. 

Several on the list are making new highs and becoming big stocks like Genetic Technologies (GENE), Mako Surgical (MAKO), Mitek Systems (MITK), Nuance Systems (NUAN).   


How I turned 10k into 2.8m and you can to. HowToFindBigStocks.com

Patent Play Stocks

With the surge of acquisitions in the intellectual property space, I have created a list of publicly traded companies with patents that might be classified as disruptive.

In my book, How To Find Big Stocks, I discuss how intellectual property is the new "raw material" for the U.S. economy and the Internet is the new manufacturing and distribution system.

I give you a tool that spots waves and Big Stocks in them.

The How To Find Big Stocks Newsletter highlights companies we feel are poised to turn into Big Stocks.

Patents and ways to monetize them, represent a huge investable wave coming.

How To Find Big Stocks

Intellectual Property Stocks

In the book, I highlight another wave, that is projected to be even bigger than the Internet, which created fortunes for many. There are two companies in this list that will play a key role in this massive investable wave.



8X8 8X8 Inc VOIP

ACTG Acacia Research patent monetizing (discovered under $3)

ACUR Acura Pharmaceuticals drug abuse deterrent formulation

ADMP Adamis Pharma cancer vaccine

AKAM Akamai internet conferencing

ARWR Arrowhead Research proprietary RNAi delivery platform

ASTC  Astrotech unique method to drive a mass spectrometer ion trap used for chemical detection and identification. (see subsidiary 1st Detect) www.1stdetect.com)

AUGT AugMe Technologies(formerly MDVX) mobile advertising mobile device content rendering (discovered under $2)

AVOI Advanced Voice Recongition voice recognition

AXK Accelr8 rapid DNA and protein diagnostics

BDCM Broadcast Marketing Group (acquisition of LoCatl) GPS tracking

BKYI BIO Key fingerprint identification software

BMOD BioModa cancer detection in liquids

BOCX BioCurex caner marker

BSGC Bigstring recallable, trackable, erasable and secure email

BCYP Blue Calypso "Method and System for Peer-to-Peer Advertising Between Mobile Communication Devices"

CELO Ceelox biometrically enable encryption

CIGX Star Scientific tobacco curing toxin reduction

CLYW Calypso Wireless ASNAP seamless switching cell to wifi/satellite (discovered under .05)

CMEY cMoney mobile money transfer

CMPD Compumed   tele-monitoring imaging and analysis

CRDS CrossRoads virtualization IP

CYPW Cyclone Power Technologies all fuel clean tech engine

DDD 3D Systems stereolithography technology 3D printing

DDDG Digital Domain Media Group  3D technology

DMRC Digimarc digital watermarking media content identification 

DSNY Destiny Media Technologies (1) watermarking, tracking digital content
enables content owners to trace back the source of pirated content.(2) patent filed for renders video to web browsers on all computers and devices, including mobile, without requiring advance support or permission from that device or manufacturer (discovered at .35)

EDIG eDigital flash memory

EGHT  8x8 Inc. voice and video communications, signaling, processing and storage technologies.

FCSC Fibrocell Science autologous personal cell therapy

GENE Genetic Technologies junk DNA/genomic mapping and method of treating cancer (discovered under $1)

GEVO Gevo converting an ethanol producing yest into an isobutanol producing one

GGOX GigOptix fiberoptic component Thin Film on Polymer

GNLK GeneLink  proprietary DNA assessments linked to personalized nutrition, skincare and wellness applications and products

GOJO GraphOn server based application publishing and Web enabling software solutions

HDVY Health Discovery Corp support vector machine (SVM) pattern recognition and machine learning worldwide (lots of applications)

HSSC Homeland Security Corp cyber security storage

IDCC Interdigital (discovered under $5)

IDN Intellicheck Mobilisa ID reading technology market,  mobile devices that are capable of reading barcodes, magnetic stripes, RFID and OCR codes printed on current forms of ID cards

IDSY ID Systems access control for remote mobile assets (auto and luggage tracking)

IMUC ImmunoCellular the method of delivery and the composition of the six antigens in ICT-107 that include TRP-2, MAGE-1, HER-2, IL-13 receptor a2, gp100 and AIM-2.

IMMR Immersion haptics/sensing technology

IPAS iPass multiple patents focused on Wi-Fi settlement, network authentication, policy-based device authentication,

ITNS Itonis Holdings electro-magnetic frequency technologies that enable the ability to magnetize carbon, salt, and silver

KBLB Kraft Biocraft Lab spider silk

LIQT LiqTech silicon carbide membrane filter (ceramic membrane) technology..reverse osmosis, liquid and gaseous filtration 

LMLP LML Payment Systems electronic check conversion transactions

LOCM Local.com 1. keyword specific ad referrals based on user input via operator, SMS, WAP or voice
2.a geographical web search system that retrieves an initial webpage with a link to a related second webpage. Geographical or local information from the second webpage is detected and associated with the first webpage in order to create an index of webpages associated with the geographical information

LQMT LiquidMetal revolutionary patented alloys

LUDG Ludwig Enterprises converts unused digital TV spectrum into a high quality subscriber-specific radio service with multiple audio channels;  patented technology utilizes a “carousel” that interleaves information streams in a repeating pattern for inclusion into a digital video broadcast (Digital TV: also known as HD TV), allowing Ludwig’s data carousel to deliver multiple dynamic digital audio programs, not just one

LWLG Lightwave Logic electro optical device

MAKO Mako Surgical haptics for robotic surgery

MAXD MaxSound audio to high definition

MCVE MacroSolve mobile information collection systems across all wireless networks, smart phones, tablets, and rugged mobile devices, regardless of carrier and manufacturer.

MGT MGT Capital algorithmic calculation of anomalies in medical images for use in cancer detection (12 issued 19 pending)..5/12 acquired Steven Brandstetter's gaming patent claiming $500m in lost revenue from Ballys and IGT 

MIPS MIPS Technologies home entertainment processor

MITK Mitek Systems mobile phone scan image (discovered under $1)

MFON CommerceTel Corp process of translating legacy telephone numbering system to next generation Internet-based  (IP) addressing. SMS, MMS and Voice networks will need to license the patent for phone number to IP address translations.

MMTIF Micromem  MRAM IP dating back to 1992

MRNA Marina Biotech RNAi

MVIS Microvision pico projection, MEMS and display technology

NEI Network Engines digital fingerprint for physical, virtual cloud

NEOM Neomedia resolving a machine readable identifier (barcode, RFID tag, voice) and providing link

 to Net

NEON "slide to unlock" touchscreen technology

NLST Netlist Rank Multiplication and Load Reduction Technologies (cloud memory)

NMGC NeoMagic  array processing and other technology

NSSI Network 1 Security power over ethernet "remote power patent"

NUAN Nuance Dragon's speech to text IP

NUVA NuVasive spine fusion devices

OPTI OPTI Inc various semiconductor IP (active litigant)

OPWV OpenWave Systems smartphone connection to Net

OTIV On Track Innovations  over 100 issued patents and patent pending applications for near field communications (NFC)

PAMT Parametric Sound directional beam of sound

PANL Universal Display organic light emitting diode
 (OLED)

PBTH Prolor Biotech  the production and manufacturing processes used for hGH-CTP (human growth hormone)

PCO Pendrell  1300 patents covering 3G and 4G wireless technologies, ecommerce, mobile applications, video delivery and security.

PRKR ParkerVision RF receivers

PTSC Patriot Scientific co-owner of Moore
Microprocessor portfolio

PYN.V or PNYTF Poynt mobile content delivery/geofencing "mobile Groupon" (discovered under .03)

QTMM Quantum Materials dots and solar cell processing

ROSG Rosetta Genomics microRNA personalized medicine

RTGV RTG Ventures define and tag media content

RPXC RPX Corp patent defense

SCIE SpectraScience optical biopsy method to determine if tissue is normal, precancerous or cancerous

SCRA SecureAlert interactive electronic and GPS monitoring solutions for criminal offenders

SEFE SEFE Inc  proprietary detection system, which enables the Company to target the most desirable areas for harnessing maximum atmospheric electricity

SGMO  Sangamo Biosciences  zinc finger technology..key for gene therapy

SITO Single Touch Systems streaming and routing media patent portfolio that covers the storage, management,
routing, analytics, and billing of media and advertisements
sent to a mobile device over a cellular network

SKVI SkinVisible polymer drug delivery system

TGAL Tegal Systems nanolayer deposition technology

TISA Top Image Systems mobile remote deposit capture technology (patent pending)

TIVO TiVO Internet to TV (TV Commerce Wave I discuss in book)

TRID Trident Microsystems digital set top box

TROV Trovagene transrenal DNA and RNA (diagnosing cancer through urine)

TSYS Telecommunications Systems SMS/LBS

UNIS Unilife injectable drug delivery

VHC VirnetX 4G uniquely positioned (discovered under $2)

VPLM Voip-Pal through acquisition of Digifonica Galbratar varied VoIP patent portfolio containing revolutionary proprietary digital voice technologies


 VRNG Vringo enables a user to select media content to be played on a friend's mobile device and vice versa (video ringtones)

VRSEF Verisante skin cancer detection

VSCP Virtualscopics CT imaging solutions

WAVX Wave Systems trusted drives

WDDD Worlds Inc System and Method for Enabling Users to Interact in a Virtual Space" and has additional continuation claims in process before the U.S Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). These patents relate to computer architecture for three-dimensional graphical multi-user interactive virtual world systems

WGAT Worldgate video telephony

WILN WiLan wifi portfolio

WLGC WordLogic predictive text

XXII 22nd Century Group modifying nicotine


If you know a company with disruptive intellectual property, add comment or email me.


The tool that turned $10,000 into $2,800,000 in 2 years. HowToFindBigStocks.com

What Could Google Be Doing With Mobile Bar Codes?

What could Google be doing with camera phones and bar codes?

Bill Slawsky makes a great discovery about a new mobile bar code patent awarded to Dr Harmut Neven. This is the same Harmut Neven that ran NevenVision, a mobile imaging recognition company, that was acquired by Google last August.

NevenVision has an extensive intellectual property property covering camera phones and physical world connection.

A couple things I find of interest. They received this patent pretty quickly and that this mobile barcode patent was filed after Google acquired the mobile imaging recognition player.

The patent summary:

"Content media having images associated with remotely stored information are provided with barcodes marked with indicia to indicate a source of the information. In this manner, a user, having, for example, a camera phone, will become aware that the particular content medium has images that can be scanned to retrieve additional information (from the remote information store) via their camera phone."

NTT DoCoMo announced they would be embedding NevenVision's image recognition technology on their phones. The NTT DoCoMo application is based on Neven Vision's patented facial recognition technology, which is uniquely designed to work within mobile devices without having to communicate with a central server system.

Google is very aware of the impact mobile bar codes and Physical World Connection will have on mobile search, mobile advertising and mobile commerce.


Want to know who I think is next to get gobbled up?

Patent System Undergoes Reform

An article in the Wall Street Journal will have interesting ramifications for intellectual property holders and innovation. What impact will this have on the New American Business Model?

Just last week the Electronic Frontier Foundation requested a reexamination of a "bogus patent" by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO)


By JESS BRAVIN
May 1, 2007; Page A3

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court made it harder to get new patents and to defend existing ones, giving new force to the law that denies patents to inventions deemed "obvious."

In a unanimous decision, the justices yesterday sided with critics who argue that lower-court rulings have given patent holders more power than Congress intended, potentially stifling innovation.

The ruling, the latest to roll back patent holders' clout, comes amid a sharp debate over how to maintain the nation's competitive edge while protecting those who labor to design cutting-edge inventions. Many of the developments that drive the economy are governed by patent law, an arcane field that has become a battleground in the larger debate about U.S. industrial strength.

The opinion could have especially big implications for technology companies, whose software programs typically are built through small improvements in prior designs. Also affected will be the growing and much-disputed field of "business method" patents, which are granted for abstract processes rather than specific devices.

Investors that buy up patents with the aim of obtaining royalties from alleged infringers -- known as patent trolls -- are sure to find slimmer pickings.

"What they're starting to put together here is a model for a 21st-century patent system," said David Kappos, who oversees intellectual-property law at International Business Machines Corp., Armonk, N.Y. "Closed proprietary innovation remains important," he said, but the court seems to be saying that patent law "can also accommodate 21st-century models that are more open, more collaborative."

I wonder how this affects Nathan Myhrvold (Intellectual Ventures), Ross Perot, Bill Gates , OceanTomo

Neomedia's Mobile Barcode Patent Challenged

Until patents have been proven in court, shouldn't they be used as a defense of a business or application?

When companies wave their patents around, until they have been proven in court, doesn't this stifle innovation?

Last Fall the EFF asked for help in debunking a barcode patent.

Today they announced they would be officially challenging it.

EFF Challenges Bogus Patent Threatening Consumer Awareness Products

llegitimate Patent Inhibits Innovation in Market for Mobile Information Access

San Francisco - The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) took aim today at a bogus patent threatening innovative technologies that enhance consumer awareness, requesting a reexamination by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO).

NeoMedia Technologies, Inc., claims to own rights to all systems that provide information over computer networks using database-like lookup procedures that rely on scanned inputs, such as a barcode. NeoMedia has used these claims not only to threaten and sue innovators in the mobile information space, but also to intimidate projects focused on increasing awareness among consumers about the social and environmental impact of the products they buy. (red print emphasis is mine).

Numerous Physical World Connection (PWC) companies have expressed concern that this company, and their supporters, are doing just that. (my comment separate from the EFF story)

For example, the Consumer Information Lab at the College of Natural Resources at the University of California at Berkeley uses such technology to examine how health, environmental, and social information affects consumers' shopping behavior and decision-making. Were NeoMedia to control the patent rights to this technology, such projects could be severely limited and potentially shut down.

NeoMedia should not be allowed to use this bogus patent to inhibit consumer awareness, education, or research into the impact of information on consumer choice," said EFF Staff Attorney Jason Schultz. "This is the opposite of 'progress,' something the patent laws are supposed to promote."

EFF's reexamination request shows that the functionality covered by NeoMedia's bad patent was repeatedly included as part of prior patent applications from other companies -- demonstrating that the idea of forming a network connection from scanned items was well-known before NeoMedia made its claim. EFF, in conjunction with Paul Grewal and James Czaja of Day Casebeer Madrid & Batchelder, ask the PTO to revoke the patent based on this and other evidence.

For the full NeoMedia patent reexamination request:
http://www.eff.org/patent/wanted/patent.php?p=neomedia

Companies interested in this EFF story might also find this of interest.

Who really "owns" the intellectual property in question?

According to NeoMedia's latest financial filing,

On Page 18 ">All Of The Company’s Assets Are Pledged To Secure Certain Debt Obligations, Which The Company Could Fail To Repay

Pursuant to secured convertible debentures, dated as of March 27, 2007, August 24, 2006 and December 29, 2006, in the principal amount of $7,459,000, $5,000,000 and $2,500,000, respectively, issued to Cornell Capital Partners, LP, the Company was required to secure such secured convertible debentures’ repayment with substantially all of its assets. In the event the Company is unable to repay the secured convertible debentures, it could lose all of its assets and be forced to cease its operations. If the Company is found to be in default under the debentures, the full principal amount of the debentures, together with interest and other amounts owing, may become immediately due and payable. As of December 31, 2006, the Company was in default of a covenant contained in the financing agreements due to the Company’s pending registration statement to register the underlying shares of the convertible instruments not becoming effective by the specified date. (bold print emphasis is mine)

On Page 21
At December 31, 2006 and 2005, approximately 57% and 39%, respectively, of NeoMedia’s total assets used in continuing operations were intangible assets and goodwill, consisting primarily of rights related to NeoMedia’s patents, other intellectual property.

This should develop into an interesting story.

Comments are welcome, but before I get bombarded, note I am not a patent attorney.

In this case, judication appears to rest with the courts.