User Study for Measuring Linguistic Complexity and its Reduction by Technology on a Patent Website

Clarity of language improves efficiency and reduces misunderstanding. In written text, it is measured by readability and with patent documents, this readability is known to be particularly poor in the case of layperson-users without specialized knowledge in this subject. Here we introduce a 46-question survey, founded sociotechnical theories of information technology (IT) use and users, to measure linguistic complexity and its reduction by IT on a patent website. 65 participants have taken the survey and their responses indicate that the patent language is complex for laypeople but reducible by IT that processes long claims sections and sentences; claim words with a specific meaning; the claim dependency structure; and patent classification codes. Supplementing current patent websites with these reading aids could unlock their valuable information to the general public.