Abstract: The disclosure relates to presenting sound. In some embodiments, this is a visual presentation. One embodiment provides a presentation of sound built over time, which may be displayed in layers similar to strata in a sedimentary rock formation. In another embodiment, the visual presentation is an animated presentation which reflects a characteristic, for example the volume, of the sound at that instant.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to communication devices which monitor an audio environment at a remote location and convey to a user a representation of that audio environment. The “representation” may be an abstraction of the audio environment at the remote location or may be a measure of decibels or some other quality or parameter of the audio environment. In some embodiments, the communication devices are two-way devices which allow users at remote locations to share an audio environment. In some embodiments, the communication devices are one way devices. In some embodiments, the communication devices may have the form of a window and be arranged to present sound in a manner that mimics sound received through a window. In such embodiments, the more open the window is, the more sound is relayed by the communication device.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to sound playback and editing apparatus. The editing apparatus uses user interaction to allow the user to instinctively modify recorded sound. This can be achieved by converting a quality of the user's physical interactions with the editing apparatus into instructions for processing the sound. For example, in one embodiment the user can mix sound files by ‘mixing’, i.e. shaking, physical representations of those sound files (such as the recording medium on which the files are stored) alone or together.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to monitoring and notification apparatus capable of monitoring events at various locations. The apparatus includes a sound receiving unit which receives audio content from various locations. A user can select which of the location is monitored at any one time. In one embodiment, this selection is made depending on the orientation of the sound receiving unit.

Abstract: It is difficult to effectively manage an electronic calendar that is shared by a group of people such as family members. This is achieved by enabling users to send messages to an electronic calendar apparatus. The messages are received and stored at the apparatus and may be viewed by a user such as a mother of a family. A graphical user interface at the calendar apparatus provides a calendar and a message receiver region. A user is able to edit the calendar using information from the messages and in some examples may move or copy message indicators into the calendar from the message receiver region. In some examples, the calendar may only be edited by user input received directly at the calendar apparatus rather than from a remote location. The calendar apparatus may be provided in a protective housing to enable the apparatus to be used in a domestic kitchen.

Abstract: A method of creating a subset of images from a library of images is provided. There are a set of image prints of the images in the library and associated with each print is a memory tag with the digital data of the image stored within. The method includes the steps of locating the required images, using a reader to read the digital data of each of the images to be included in the subset from the relevant memory tags and downloading the selected subset of image data to a desired location.

Abstract: A representational object contains a visual representation of a character and a memory tag comprising a digital memory adapted to be read from when inductively powered. The digital memory contains digital content relating to the character represented visually on the representational object. At least a part of the digital content relates to function of the character in a game carried out by a gaming application and comprises executable code for execution in connection with operation of the gaming application.

Abstract: A method of providing a digital reward involves providing products with an attached digital memory. One digital content part from a set of digital content parties is downloaded to the digital memory of each such product. The digital content parts of the set together define the digital reward. The digital content parts of a set uploaded to a computing device are used by an application to make the digital reward available to a user of the computing device. The products may be collectable cards or game cards, or any consumer products.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing digital communications, comprising: input means arranged to receive input specifying an interrogation criterion; interrogation means arranged to interrogate a database of digital communications sent and/or received by a user, to produce a subset of digital communications in accordance with the interrogation criterion; and compilation means arranged to produce a compilation of the subset of digital communications, the compilation having the form of a human-readable document. Preferably the compilation has the visual appearance of a scrapbook. The digital communications may be inter alia e-mail messages, images and attachments; mobile text and picture messages; and instant messages.

Abstract: Devices exist that can access and retrieve data from the Internet. These devices use a web-browser of some form to achieve this end. To retrieve a-rid render web-pages using a web-protocol, such as, for example, HTTP or WAP, requires a relatively sophisticated client device. Such a client device requires large amounts of memory and a relatively powerful processor to run the web-browser to access data sources such as, for example, the Internet directly. However, often users are only interested in specific, small volume, data such as a current share or stock price, exchange rate or temperature, for example. Hence, using such a relatively sophisticated device as described above to achieve a relative simple aim is unsuitable.