Young minds focused on IP education

Schools are promoting the subject to help children prepare to safeguard their inventions now and in later life. Yin Pingping and Yuan Quan report for Xinhua China Features.

Liu Zilu's homework was always smudged because he's left-handed. His left wrist was always smeared with ink, as it rubbed on his exercise books when he wrote. His parents, who are doctors and appreciate cleanliness, tried to prevent the smears, but to no avail.

However, the boy discovered his own solution. He invented a writing glove for left-handed people. Made from elastic gauze or rubber, it has two separate sheaths for the left ring finger and little finger. The glove has concave and convex surfaces, which results in more friction and a smaller contact area with the paper, reducing the likelihood of ink stains on the hand.