Abstract: A system and method for providing information to the operator of a land, water or airborne vehicle includes a wide-area message transmitter for transmitting messages to the vehicle and a vehicle-based receiver system. Each message includes identification information specifying a location (including a direction of travel) for which the message is intended. The receiver system on the vehicle computes its position and direction of travel and compares the position of the vehicle to the intended location indicated by each message. When a match is found, the receiver system provides the matching message to the operator of the vehicle. The messages are digitized voice messages. In a preferred embodiment, the vehicle-based receiver system calculates its position and direction of travel using either GPS or signals received from a local transmitter site.

Abstract: A device is described for musical instruments, and particularly stringed musical instruments such as a guitar, which can controllably and selectively sustain the musical sounds produced by the instrument. The device includes an electrical pick-up proximate to the strings of the guitar for generating electrical signals which correspond to the vibrations of the strings. The signals are amplified by the device and are converted in a loud speaker or other transducer mounted on the instrument and proximate to the strings into mechanical vibrations which sympathetically reinforce the initial vibrations and maintain the strings in a vibratory state and thereby sustain the sound.