Abstract: A virtual reality (VR) attraction method includes implementing a kit corresponding to plans associated with VR representations. The kit includes fixed accessories, moveable accessories, a platform having a pattern of markings, and sections. The platform has mounts to affix the fixed stage accessories to the platform. The pattern identifies coordinates corresponding to a location of the mounts. The sections interconnect according to the pattern to form the platform. The platform is configurable according to stage plans.

Abstract: A virtual reality (VR) experience augmentation method includes: generating VR representations, each preprogrammed to simulate a virtual environment with virtually represented objects; associating stage kits with one or more of the representations, each kit having a modular stage and stage accessories, the modular stage marked to aid assembly; and building one of the kits, by: assembling the accessories to the stage according to the one of the kits by using coordinates identified by stage markings; and configuring a motion tracking system to track a VR participant's movements and movements of one of more of the stage accessories by communicating identity, location and/or orientation information to a VR simulation engine. Locations and orientations of the objects within the virtual environment correspond to locations and orientations of the stage accessories that are arranged according to the one of the kits.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for using a computer system to assist in planning a trajectory (960A, 960B) for a surgical insertion into a skull. The method comprises providing the computer system with a three-dimensional representation of the skull and of critical objects located within the skull, wherein the critical objects comprise anatomical features to be avoided during the surgical insertion. The method further comprises providing the computer system with a target location (770, 970) for the insertion within the skull. The method further comprises generating by the computer system a first set comprising a plurality of entry points, each entry point (760) representing a surface location on the skull, and each entry point (760) being associated (2D) with a trajectory (960A, 960B) from the entry point (760) to the target location (770, 970).

Abstract: A comprehensive solution is provided to transforming locations and retail spaces into high-traffic VR attractions that provide a VR experience blended with a real-world tactile experience. A modular stage and kit of stage accessories suitable for a wide variety of commercial venues contains all of the necessary equipment, infrastructure, technology and content to assemble and operate a tactile, onsite VR attraction. Utilizing a modular set of set design and physical props, the physical structure and layout of the installations are designed to be easily rearranged and adapted to new VR content, without requiring extensive construction or specialized expertise.

Abstract: A comprehensive solution is provided to transforming locations and retail spaces into high-traffic VR attractions that provide a VR experience blended with a real-world tactile experience. A modular stage and kit of stage accessories suitable for a wide variety of commercial venues contains all of the necessary equipment, infrastructure, technology and content to assemble and operate a tactile, onsite VR attraction. Utilizing a modular set of set design and physical props, the physical structure and layout of the installations are designed to be easily rearranged and adapted to new VR content, without requiring extensive construction or specialized expertise.

Abstract: A comprehensive solution is provided to transforming locations and retail spaces into high-traffic VR attractions that provide a VR experience blended with a real-world tactile experience. A modular stage and kit of stage accessories suitable for a wide variety of commercial venues contains all of the necessary equipment, infrastructure, technology and content to assemble and operate a tactile, onsite VR attraction. Utilizing a modular set of set design and physical props, the physical structure and layout of the installations are designed to be easily rearranged and adapted to new VR content, without requiring extensive construction or specialized expertise.

Abstract: A comprehensive solution is provided to transforming locations and retail spaces into high-traffic VR attractions that provide a VR experience blended with a real-world tactile experience. A modular stage and kit of stage accessories suitable for a wide variety of commercial venues contains all of the necessary equipment, infrastructure, technology and content to assemble and operate a tactile, onsite VR attraction. Utilizing a modular set of set design and physical props, the physical structure and layout of the installations are designed to be easily rearranged and adapted to new VR content, without requiring extensive construction or specialized expertise.

Abstract: A gel comprising nano-sized particles of metallic silver (Ag), a polymer comprising carboxylate groups, carboxylate molecules comprising at least one group capable of binding to Ag, and metal ions, where the gel is useful as a topically applied antimicrobial agent.

Abstract: A comprehensive solution is provided to transforming locations and retail spaces into high-traffic VR attractions that provide a VR experience blended with a real-world tactile experience. A modular stage and kit of stage accessories suitable for a wide variety of commercial venues contains all of the necessary equipment, infrastructure, technology and content to assemble and operate a tactile, onsite VR attraction. Utilizing a modular set of set design and physical props, the physical structure and layout of the installations are designed to be easily rearranged and adapted to new VR content, without requiring extensive construction or specialized expertise.

Abstract: A comprehensive solution is provided to transforming locations and retail spaces into high-traffic VR attractions that provide a VR experience blended with a real-world tactile experience. A modular stage and kit of stage accessories suitable for a wide variety of commercial venues contains all of the necessary equipment, infrastructure, technology and content to assemble and operate a tactile, onsite VR attraction. Utilizing a modular set of set design and physical props, the physical structure and layout of the installations are designed to be easily rearranged and adapted to new VR content, without requiring extensive construction or specialized expertise.

Abstract: A comprehensive solution is provided to transforming locations and retail spaces into high-traffic VR attractions that provide a VR experience blended with a real-world tactile experience. A modular stage and kit of stage accessories suitable for a wide variety of commercial venues contains all of the necessary equipment, infrastructure, technology and content to assemble and operate a tactile, onsite VR attraction. Utilizing a modular set of set design and physical props, the physical structure and layout of the installations are designed to be easily rearranged and adapted to new VR content, without requiring extensive construction or specialized expertise.

Abstract: A comprehensive solution is provided to transforming locations and retail spaces into high-traffic VR attractions that provide a VR experience blended with a real-world tactile experience. A modular stage and kit of stage accessories suitable for a wide variety of commercial venues contains all of the necessary equipment, infrastructure, technology and content to assemble and operate a tactile, onsite VR attraction. Utilizing a modular set of set design and physical props, the physical structure and layout of the installations are designed to be easily rearranged and adapted to new VR content, without requiring extensive construction or specialized expertise.

Abstract: A comprehensive solution is provided to transforming locations and retail spaces into high-traffic VR attractions that provide a VR experience blended with a real-world tactile experience. A modular stage and kit of stage accessories suitable for a wide variety of commercial venues contains all of the necessary equipment, infrastructure, technology and content to assemble and operate a tactile, onsite VR attraction. Utilizing a modular set of set design and physical props, the physical structure and layout of the installations are designed to be easily rearranged and adapted to new VR content, without requiring extensive construction or specialized expertise.

Abstract: A system includes an offer datastores including one or more offers from one or more merchants, a registered card module to register one or more payment cards to be used for a purchase transaction, a transaction matching module to identify the one or more merchants from a collection of purchase transaction data and to match the purchase transaction of the identified one or more merchants with one or more offers in the offer datastore from the identified one or more merchants, and a rewards module to determine an incentive to be applied to the one or more payment cards based on any offer associated with the matched merchant and generate a qualified transaction data to be transmitted to an issuer of the one or more payment cards.

Abstract: A method of testing one or more bots, each bot being for interacting with one or more human users via a communication service implemented over a network where the bot is to be published to a server and the one or more users access the communication service using a communication client application. The method comprises: storing the one or more bots locally on a user terminal of a testing user being a human tester of the one or more bots, and running a bot testing application locally on said user terminal.

Abstract: A system, a machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method are described herein to a Discussion Relevance Engine that filters a plurality of discussions in a social network to identify a discussion pool. The Discussion Relevance Engine identifies a plurality of eligible discussions in the discussion pool, wherein each eligible discussion corresponds to a respective social network member group to which a target member account has previously subscribed. The Discussion Relevance Engine calculates, for each eligible discussion, a relevance score predictive of a relevance of the eligible discussion to the target member account. The Discussion Relevance Engine recommends at least one of the eligible discussions to the target member account based at least in part on the calculated relevance scores.

Abstract: A system, a machine-readable storage medium storing instructions, and a computer-implemented method are directed to a Digest Engine that identifies a feature(s) that is predictive of relevance, to a target member account in a professional social network, of content from a member group(s) to which the target member account is subscribed. Based on the feature(s), the Digest Engine determines a portion(s) of relevant content created amongst respective member accounts subscribed to the member group(s). The Digest Engine generates a persistent message providing access to the portion(s) of relevant content. The Digest Engine sends the persistent message to the target member account.

Abstract: A method of abandoning a pipeline during subsea pipelaying from a pipelay vessel includes suspending the pipe string from a tendon element of an abandonment string and engaging further tendon elements to an upper end of the abandonment string while lowering the pipe string to a handover depth. At the handover depth, tension is applied via a wire to the top of the pipe string at an acute angle to the launch axis. This deflects the pipe string from the launch axis into axial alignment with the wire to transfer the weight load of the pipe string to the wire, whereupon the abandonment string can be decoupled from the pipe string. Recovery of the pipeline from the seabed can be effected by a reverse process.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for using a computer system to assist in planning a trajectory (960A, 960B) for a surgical insertion into a skull. The method comprises providing the computer system with a three-dimensional representation of the skull and of critical objects located within the skull, wherein the critical objects comprise anatomical features to be avoided during the surgical insertion. The method further comprises providing the computer system with a target location (770, 970) for the insertion within the skull. The method further comprises generating by the computer system a first set comprising a plurality of entry points, each entry point (760) representing a surface location on the skull, and each entry point (760) being associated (2D) with a trajectory (960A, 960B) from the entry point (760) to the target location (770, 970).

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to control combustion process systems are disclosed. An example method includes monitoring an actual flow of fuel into a combustion process, calculating a relative heat release value corresponding to the fuel in the combustion process, and determining a fuel demand for the combustion process based on the relative heat release value.