Abstract: The present application relates to a tightness adjusting device for shoelaces, which includes a connection mechanism and a traction mechanism. The traction mechanism includes a traction assembly, the traction assembly includes a ring member hinged with the connection mechanism, the traction mechanism further includes an elastic adjusting assembly; the elastic adjusting assembly includes a connection block, a clamping block, an elastic member and a linkage member, a connection portion is connected to each end of the connection blocks, the connection portion is detachably connected to the ring member, the connection block divides the ring member into two shoelace holes, the clamping block is hinged with the connection block, the elastic member is configured to force the two clamping blocks away from each other, and to mount the shoelaces in the shoelace holes with the ring member, the clamping block is connected to the connection portion by the linkage member.

Abstract: The technology relates to navigating imagery that is organized into clusters based on common patterns exhibited when imagery is captured. For example, a set of captured images which satisfy a predetermined pattern may be determined. The images in the set of set of captured images may be grouped into one or more clusters according to the predetermined pattern. A request to display a first cluster of the one or more clusters may be received and, in response, a first captured image from the requested first cluster may be selected. The selected first captured image may then be displayed.

Abstract: Original data that represents a real-world object or activity and organized along three or more dimensions is received. The original data is represented as a product of several multipliers including a sparse core, such that the sparse core has fewer non-zero values than a tensor representation of the original data, and one or more unitary matrix multipliers. Modified data is generated based on the original data using the multipliers. This includes compressing, or reconstructing missing elements in, the tensor representation of the original data, such that the modified data provides a description of the real-world object or activity that is less complete or more complete, respectively, relative to the original data.

Abstract: An MRI method and an MRI system that simultaneously detect blood and/or CSF velocity or flow in plural slices or slabs preferably as not spatially adjacent. Two or more sets of interleaved slices or slabs can be assembled to cover the desired volume and derive higher quality MRI signals and images without a need for a contrast agent, even where the volume is too large for effective flow imaging with known techniques without contrast agent.

Abstract: An MRI method and an MRI system that simultaneously detect blood and/or CSF velocity or flow in plural slices or slabs preferably as not spatially adjacent. Two or more sets of interleaved slices or slabs can be assembled to cover the desired volume and derive higher quality MRI signals and images without a need for a contrast agent, even where the volume is too large for effective flow imaging with known techniques without contrast agent.

Abstract: The technology relates to navigating imagery that is organized into clusters based on common patterns exhibited when imagery is captured. For example, a set of captured images which satisfy a predetermined pattern may be determined. The images in the set of set of captured images may be grouped into one or more clusters according to the predetermined pattern. A request to display a first cluster of the one or more clusters may be received and, in response, a first captured image from the requested first cluster may be selected. The selected first captured image may then be displayed.

Abstract: The technology relates to navigating imagery that is organized into clusters based on common patterns exhibited when imagery is captured. For example, a set of captured images which satisfy a predetermined pattern may be determined. The images in the set of set of captured images may be grouped into one or more clusters according to the predetermined pattern. A request to display a first cluster of the one or more clusters may be received and, in response, a first captured image from the requested first cluster may be selected. The selected first captured image may then be displayed.

Abstract: In one aspect, a map is provided for display by one or more computing devices. The map includes a first set of geographic locations. The one or more computing devices receive a zoom request for viewing the map. The one or more computing devices then determine whether a zoom level cutoff has been traversed. If so the one or more computing devices may select a second set of geographic locations, from a hierarchy of geographic locations, to be displayed to the user.

Abstract: Embodiments include a method of generating a three-dimensional (3D) image model using a game-based image acquisition. The method including determining a location of a user device, identifying images to be acquired to generate a 3D model of an area surrounding the location, displaying a virtual gaming view that includes targets corresponding to locations of the images to be acquired, wherein the targets move within the virtual gaming view relative to movement of the user device, and a goal of a game includes moving the user device to align a field of view of a camera of the user device with the targets, in response to determining that the field of view of the camera aligns with a target, acquiring an image depicting an image scene corresponding to the field of view of the camera, and generating a 3D image model of an area surrounding the location using the image.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer-readable storage mediums encoded with computer programs executed by one or more processors for providing personalized mapping with photo-tours are disclosed. A mapping system provides a map of a geographic region that includes a plurality of selectable image locations within the region, with standardized images of the respective image location that accord with predefined parameters provided by the mapping system. An image location selection from the map is received and it is determined whether the selected image location is associated with one or more photo-tours of non-standardized images that do not according with the predefined parameters. A selection of a particular one of the photo-tours is received, and the set of non-standardized images corresponding to a selected photo-tour for the image location is provided.

Abstract: The technology relates to navigating imagery that is organized into clusters based on common patterns exhibited when imagery is captured. For example, a set of captured images which satisfy a predetermined pattern may be determined. The images in the set of set of captured images may be grouped into one or more clusters according to the predetermined pattern. A request to display a first cluster of the one or more clusters may be received and, in response, a first captured image from the requested first cluster may be selected. The selected first captured image may then be displayed.

Abstract: Original data that represents a real-world object or activity and organized along three or more dimensions is received. The original data is represented as a product of several multipliers including a sparse core, such that the sparse core has fewer non-zero values than a tensor representation of the original data, and one or more unitary matrix multipliers. Modified data is generated based on the original data using the multipliers. This includes compressing, or reconstructing missing elements in, the tensor representation of the original data, such that the modified data provides a description of the real-world object or activity that is less complete or more complete, respectively, relative to the original data.

Abstract: In one aspect, a map is provided for display by one or more computing devices. The map includes a first set of geographic locations. The one or more computing devices receive a zoom request for viewing the map. The one or more computing devices then determine whether a zoom level cutoff has been traversed. If so the one or more computing devices may select a second set of geographic locations, from a hierarchy of geographic locations, to be displayed to the user.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer storage mediums are provided for incentivizing users to contribute content in a controlled manner. A method includes receiving content and metadata associated with the content from a user. The content relates to a geolocation and the metadata includes geolocation information that relates to the content. It is then determined whether the content and the associated metadata meet a threshold of specific criteria. The specific criteria is based on a set of rules that determines an amount of points awarded to the user for providing content that satisfies the specific criteria. The specific criteria include at least a geolocation or geolocated area. If the content meets the threshold of the specific criteria, points are awarded to the user. The amount of points is based on a comparison of the content and the associated metadata with the specific criteria.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to providing a user with an image navigation experience. In order to do so, a reference image may be identified. A set of potential target images for the reference image may also be identified. A drag vector for user input relative to the reference image is determined. For particular image of the set of target images an associated cost is determined based at least in part on a cost function and the drag vector. A target image is selected based on the determined associated costs.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to providing a user with an image navigation experience. In order to do so, a reference image may be identified. A set of potential target images for the reference image may also be identified. A drag vector for user input relative to the reference image is determined. For particular image of the set of target images an associated cost is determined based at least in part on a cost function and the drag vector. A target image is selected based on the determined associated costs.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to lock a phase lock loop to a spindle motor are disclosed. An example controller comprises a counter to determine a period of an operating signal received from a motor, an oscillator to generate a control signal based on an input signal, and an initializer to generate the input value based on the period, wherein the input value causes the oscillator to generate the control signal having the same phase as the operating signal.

Abstract: Pre-processing techniques for processing an image to improve the distinctiveness of an information pattern captured in the image before the information pattern is analyzed in a decoding process. The brightness of an image first is normalized by dividing the image into blocks of areas, such as pixels. A brightness distribution value then is determined for each area of the image by fitting the brightness of its surrounding blocks using bilinear interpolation and extrapolation, and a normalized brightness value for each area can then be obtained by dividing the original brightness value by the brightness distribution value. Next, masks are created to distinguish the information pattern from content captured in the image. The masks may be generated based upon contrast differences between the brightness of pixels representing the information pattern, the brightness of pixels representing content, and the brightness of pixels representing the background of the writing medium.