Abstract: A security deterrent mark includes one or more areas of interest, and at least one entropy-enhancing region within the one or more areas of interest.

Abstract: A data encoding pattern comprising a plurality of markings, the shape of at least one marking adapted on the basis of the data to be encoded, the or each adapted marking having a specific orientation with respect to unadjusted markings for the pattern.

Abstract: A method of generating an audio signal comprises receiving a plurality of input audio signals from a plurality of microphones forming a microphone array, the plurality of input audio signals being representative of a set of sound sources within the auditory field of view of the microphone array at a given instant in time; receiving a motion input signal from a motion sensor, the motion input signal being representative of the motion of the microphone array; and manipulating the received plurality of input audio signals in response to the received motion input signal to generate an audio output signal that is representative of a set of sound sources within the auditory field of view of a virtual microphone, the apparent motion of the virtual microphone being independent of the motion of the microphone array.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment is a method of processing audio data comprising: characterising an audio data representative of a recorded sound scene into a set of sound sources occupying positions within a time and space reference frame; analysing the sound sources; and generating a modified audio data representing sound captured from at least one virtual microphone configured for moving about the recorded sound scene, wherein the virtual microphone is controlled in accordance with a result of the analysis of said audio data, to conduct a virtual tour of the recorded sound scene.

Abstract: A digital pen of the kind having means to sense and create a digital record of the use made of the pen and a memory in which the digitised record is stored also includes a reader for communication with memory tags by inductive coupling. The means to sense and create a digital record of the use made of the pen may include a camera. Preferably the reader for communication with memory tags is located at the opposite end of the pen from a nib for convention writing, and the pen includes a battery power supply.

Abstract: A user interface device adapted to access at least one data item stored in an electronic data storage device has at least one actuating region for actuating a switch, and a surface portion having a mark printed thereon in a predetermined positional relationship with the actuating region, the mark being associated with a respective data item. The interface device is connectable with the data storage device and adapted to access data stored on the data storage device and to initiate communication with at least one user access device, to transmit a data item to the user access device. A method of operating the interface device includes associating user-operable switch actuating regions of the interface device with data items stored in a data storage device.

Abstract: Optically detectable data encoding layouts for surfaces includes a primary lattice and a secondary lattice formed in interstitial areas between plural points on the primary lattice and one or more markings located on points on the secondary lattice. The primary lattice defines the layout of the secondary lattice. The data is encoded according to the positions of the markings on the secondary lattice. The layout provides absolute or relative page position encoding because, when the markings are imaged and decoded, the decoded data corresponds to the position of the corresponding marking on the surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the data storage apparatus provide a system and method for storing data in a disconnectably coupled device. Briefly described, one embodiment is a data storage apparatus arranged to be disconnectably coupled to a host device, the data storage apparatus comprising: a first data storage device arranged to store data received from the host device; and a data transfer device arranged to receive a removable data storage medium and arranged to store data received from the host device on the removable data storage medium, wherein the data storage apparatus is arranged to store data selectively on at least one of the first data storage device and the removable data storage medium.