Abstract: A handheld musical instrument for generating percussion sounds, the handheld musical instrument includes a body part with one or more sensors, a set of control buttons to select a type of audio output to be generated by said handheld musical instrument, and a handle part coupled to said body part, the handle part including the set of control buttons and operable between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: A handheld musical instrument for playing a variety of audio program, the handheld musical instrument comprising a body portion with one or more sensors and a handle portion coupled to said body part, wherein said handle portion includes one or more operational buttons to control the operation of said handheld musical instrument. The buttons being operated with a finger or thumb trigger.

Abstract: A handheld musical instrument for generating percussion sounds, the handheld musical instrument includes a body part with one or more sensors, a set of control buttons to select a type of audio output to be generated by said handheld musical instrument, and a handle part coupled to said body part, the handle part including the set of control buttons and operable between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: A handheld musical instrument for playing a variety of audio program, the handheld musical instrument includes a main body portion with one or more sensors, a handle portion engaged with said main body portion, wherein said handle portion includes one or more control buttons to select a type of program to be played by said handheld musical instrument and a gesture detection module for detecting gestures associated with said handheld musical instrument and controlling a tempo associated with said program played by said handheld musical instrument based on said detected gestures.

Abstract: Systems and techniques to create and conduct a reverse auction include creating a reverse auction object having a number of components; and copying information from a number of components in a Request for Quotation (RFQ) object into corresponding components of the reverse auction object. Bids received for the RFQ may be copied into the reverse auction object, and information in the bids may be validated. If the bids do not include information required for the reverse auction object, the bid may be marked as incomplete.

Abstract: A sound-producing toy configured to represent a living being having movable parts to simulate a natural form of animation of a mouth includes a sound-producing unit operable in the response to the simulated animation. Animation may be simulated by a hand inserted in the toy, by operation of an actuator incorporated in the toy, or by a remote control device. The apparatus includes a switch that activates a sound-producing unit, which produces a sequence of syllables that is capable of being synchronized with the animation of the mouth. The onset, coda, and duration of each syllable's nucleus is controlled by the user of the toy with the ability to synchronize visual animation and the vocal performance of a familiar song, poem, or other series of verbal audio events divided into individual syllables, in a totally realistic manner. In another aspect of the invention, a musical instrumental sequenced performance may be synchronized with the vocal presentation and the synchronized visual animation of the toy.

Abstract: A sound-producing toy configured to represent a living being having movable parts to simulate a natural form of animation of a mouth includes a sound-producing unit operable in the response to the simulated animation. Animation may be simulated by a hand inserted in the toy, by operation of an actuator incorporated in the toy, or by a remote control device. The apparatus includes a switch that activates a sound-producing unit, which produces a sequence of syllables that is capable of being synchronized with the animation of the mouth. The onset, coda, and duration of each syllable's nucleus is controlled by the user of the toy with the ability to synchronize visual animation and the vocal performance of a familiar song, poem, or other series of verbal audio events divided into individual syllables, in a totally realistic manner. In another aspect of the invention, a musical instrumental sequenced performance may be synchronized with the vocal presentation and the synchronized visual animation of the toy.

Abstract: Systems and techniques to create and conduct a reverse auction include creating a reverse auction object having a number of components; and copying information from a number of components in a Request for Quotation (RFQ) object into corresponding components of the reverse auction object. Bids received for the RFQ may be copied into the reverse auction object, and information in the bids may be validated. If the bids do not include information required for the reverse auction object, the bid may be marked as incomplete.

Abstract: A device for controlling tremolo effects and electronic sound effects in an electric stringed instrument, which comprises;manipulable means communicating with, and capable of providing control of, means for producing tremolo effects.A portion of the manipulable means being itself individually manipulable and communicating with and capable of providing control of, means for producing electronic sound effects. The manipulable means and portion thereof being capable of individual, simultaneous manipulation to control tremolo and electronic sound effects.