Abstract: A portable computing device is configured to store personal reminders. Each personal reminder includes reminder content and a trigger establishment associated with the reminder content. An RFID scanner is included as an integral or peripheral component, and the RFID scanner is configured to detect and read data from RFID chips when it comes within local proximity of RFID chips. RFID chips are positioned proximal to real physical establishments and contain establishment data indentifying the physical establishment, type of establishment, or portion of the establishment to which the RFID chip is proximally positioned. When the portable computing device comes within local proximity of the RFID chip, establishment data is received by the portable computing device indicating which establishment the portable computing device is local to.

Abstract: An interface system including a manipulandum adapted to be moveable according to a manual gesture imparted by the user; a sensor adapted to detect a characteristic of the manual gesture imparted to the manipulandum and to generate a sensor signal representing the detected characteristic of the manual gesture; a microphone adapted to detect a characteristic of an utterance spoken by the user and to generate an audio signal representing the detected characteristic of the spoken utterance; and a control system adapted receive the generated sensor and audio signals and to transmit a command signal to an electronic device via a communication link, the command signal being based on the generated sensor and audio signals and the time synchronization between them.

Abstract: An electronic control apparatus, system, method and computer program product for selecting and controlling an electronic device from among a plurality of available electronic devices based upon the substantially contemporaneous issuance of a verbal command and device-targeting gaze by a user. The system includes a processor driven controller unit programmed to control a selected device in dependence on generally contemporaneous aural and optical signals. A gaze sensing unit is operatively coupled to the controller unit and is functional to receive the optical signals from a functionally coupled gaze sensor. The optical signals being indicative of a user's device-targeting gaze falling upon a device to be controlled. An aural recognition unit is operatively coupled to the controller unit and is functional to receive the aural signals from a functionally coupled aural sensor.

Abstract: A haptic feedback device including a fluid viscosity-controlled brake that outputs high forces to the device user at low cost while maintaining inherent safety. An interface device includes a manipulandum physically contacted by the user. A sensor senses a position of the manipulandum and outputs a sensor signal. The interface device also includes a brake including a field-controlled fluid having a viscosity that can be controlled by controlling an electric current in a coil, where a resistive force or drag on the manipulandum is controlled by controlling the fluid's viscosity. The fluid can be an electrorheological fluid controlled by an electric field or a magnetorheological fluid controlled by a magnetic field. In one preferred embodiment, the resistive force is controlled by adjusting a degree of contact of the brake with the manipulandum based on the fluid's viscosity.

Abstract: A haptic feedback planar touch control used to provide input to a computer. A touch input device includes a planar touch surface that inputs a position signal to a processor of the computer based on a location of user contact on the touch surface. The computer can position a cursor in a displayed graphical environment based at least in part on the position signal, or perform a different function. At least one actuator is also coupled to the touch input device and outputs a force to provide a haptic sensation to the user contacting the touch surface. The touch input device can be a touchpad separate from the computer's display screen, or can be a touch screen. Output haptic sensations on the touch input device can include pulses, vibrations, and spatial textures. The touch input device can include multiple different regions to control different computer functions.

Abstract: A computer-based educational tool is provided to enable children to more easily learn the visual representations of letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and words, by drawing upon their existing verbal knowledge. More specifically, a child is allowed to utter the name of a letter, number, shape, color, or word and have the corresponding visual representation of that letter, number, shape, color, or word be displayed visually upon a screen in response to his or her verbal utterance. Speech recognition tools and techniques are utilized for capturing and recognizing the verbal utterances of the child. Unique visual and aural display methods is utilized for presenting content to the child in developmentally beneficial ways.

Abstract: A non-contact storage device includes a housing, an antenna coupled to the housing, electronic circuitry coupled to the antenna, control electronics adapted to generate a control signal when at least one predetermined event has occurred between the electronic circuitry and the card reader, and a tactile sensation generator coupled to the housing and connected to the electronic circuitry. The housing is adapted to be contacted by a user. The electronic circuitry includes a data memory and a transceiver for transferring data between the memory and a card reader via the antenna. The tactile sensation generator is configured to generate a tactile sensation corresponding to the control signal. Accordingly, the tactile sensation is adapted to be felt by a user via the housing to thereby inform the user of the occurrence of the at least one predetermined event.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for collaborative media selection among a media provider and a collaborative group of media players, where each individual media player is in processing communications with the media provider. Enables a media broadcaster to perform a procedure which involves (a) sending one or more media suggestions to a plurality of media playing devices that are being used by a plurality of participating users, (b) receiving from each of the plurality of participating users via their media playing devices a response indicating acceptances or rejection for the suggested media item, (c) tallying the responses and determining if the media suggestion is collaboratively accepted by the group of collaborating users, and (d) broadcasting media content for real-time play to the plurality of media playing devices if the media suggestion is collaboratively accepted. Otherwise, sending an alternative suggested media item.

Abstract: A method of rewarding conversational activity of a user maintaining a promotional conversation with an automated agent includes causing an automated agent to be presented to a user engaging a local computer, causing promotional information to be conveyed to the user in a promotional conversation via the automated agent, causing the automated agent to prompt the user for information in the promotional conversation, assessing the user's participation level in the promotional conversation, computing reward units based on the user's assessed participation level, and disbursing the computed reward units to a reward account associated with the user, wherein disbursed reward units are redeemable by the user for a reward.

Abstract: A design interface tool for designing force sensations for use with a host computer and haptic feedback interface device. A haptic feedback device communicates with a host computer that displays the interface tool. The user selects and characterizes force sensations using the interface tool, and a graphical representation of the characterized force sensation is displayed. The characterized force sensation is output to a user manipulatable object of the force feedback device so that the user can feel the designed force sensation The user can include multiple force sensations in a compound force sensation, where the compound sensation is graphically displayed to indicate the relative start times and duration of each of the force sensations. The user can also associate a sound with the force sensation, such that the sound is output in conjunction with the output of the force sensation.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for electronically controlling the acoustical characteristics of certain percussion musical instruments such as acoustical drums and cymbals are provided. The various embodiments incorporate one or more electroactive materials which are conjoined to the vibratory elements associated with a drumhead or cymbal. A processing unit may be provided to electronically control the electroactive materials in dependence on signals received from the electroactive materials, and/or separate acoustical sensors. The processing unit may also control the electroactive materials in dependence upon user input signals, pre-programmed profiles, and/or pre-programmed threshold values. In this way the present invention may selectively and dynamically vary the tonal qualities and/or muting characteristics of percussion musical instruments in accordance with the needs and/or desires of a user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus which includes a manipulandum that is movable in at least one degree of freedom. A sensor which is configured to sense motion of the manipulandum provides a locative signal to a first processor. A coupling device is coupled to the manipulandum and a first component. The coupling device is configured to allow the manipulandum to freely move a first distance with respect to the first component. An actuator coupled to the first component and configured to output force feedback to the first component in response to receiving a force signal from the first processor, whereby the force feedback to the first component causes resistance to movement of the manipulandum when the manipulandum moves beyond the first distance.

Abstract: A method of presenting images to a user of a vehicle navigation system includes accessing location data indicating a particular location included within a route determined by a vehicle navigation system and accessing corresponding direction data, obtaining a captured image based on the accessed location and direction data, and displaying the obtained image to the user. The obtained captured image corresponds approximately to a driver's perspective from within a vehicle and depicts a view of or from the particular location along the particular direction indicated by the direction data. Location data includes spatial coordinates such as GPS data, a street index, and/or other locative data either absolute or relative to a particular street or intersection. Direction data includes a travel direction of the vehicle upon a street corresponding to the particular location. Additionally, data indicating time-of-day, season-of-year, ambient environmental conditions, etc.

Abstract: A low-cost tactile feedback mouse device for providing haptic feedback to a user for enhancing interactions and manipulations in a graphical environment provided by a computer. The mouse device includes a sensor device able to detect the movement of the mouse in the planar workspace. An actuator is coupled to the housing of the mouse and applies an inertial force in a particular degree of freedom, preferably along an axis perpendicular to the planar workspace, where the inertial force is transmitted through the housing to the user. The actuator outputs the inertial force preferably by linearly moving an inertial mass along the Z-axis. The output force is correlated with interaction of a controlled graphical object, such as a cursor, with other graphical objects in a graphical environment displayed by the host computer. The inertial force can be a pulse, vibration, texture force, or other type of force.

Abstract: A low-cost haptic feedback keyboard device for providing haptic feedback to a user for enhancing interactions in a displayed environment provided by a computer. The haptic keyboard device can be a keyboard having multiple keys, or can be a wrist rest or other attachment coupled to a keyboard. The device includes a housing that is physically contacted by the user and rests on a support surface. An actuator is coupled to the housing and applies a force to the housing approximately along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the support surface, where the force is transmitted to the user contacting the housing. In one embodiment, the force is an inertial force that is output by moving an inertial mass. The keyboard device can be used in conjunction with another haptic device, such as a mouse, trackball, or joystick.

Abstract: A method and system for an embeddable electronic information resource which may be cognitively enabled by a human host using a neurological electronic interface. In an embodiment, the electronic information resource is provided as an RFID device or an ISO-14443 compatible device. The various embodiments allow the human host to selectively enable and/or disable the embeddable electronic information resource through thought-commands issued to the neurological electronic interface, thus providing an affirmative access control of the information contained in the electronic information resource. Embodiments are provided which alerts the human host through direct neural feedback, about the state and/or status of accesses and/or attempted accesses to the electronic information resource, and/or about the result of an authentication performed by a remote device that has just scanned the electronic information resource.

Abstract: A human computer interface system includes a user interface having sensors adapted to detect footfalls of a user's feet and generate corresponding sensor signals, a host computer communicatively coupled to the user interface and adapted to manage a virtual environment containing an avatar associated with the user, and control circuitry adapted to control the avatar within the virtual environment to perform one of a plurality of virtual activities based at least in part upon at least one of a sequence and timing of detected footfalls of the user. The virtual activities include at least two of standing, walking, jumping, hopping, jogging, and running. The host computer is further adapted to drive a display to present a view to the user of the avatar performing the at least one virtual activity within the virtual environment.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for automatically providing reading place-markers to a user reading a textual document upon an electronic display. A gaze-tracking element monitors a user's gaze while he or she reads the textual document and determines a look-away event. In response to a look-away event, the system automatically provides a reading place-marker by accentuating an area at or near where the user looked away from the text. In this way the user may more easily return to the location at which he or she ceased reading. In some embodiments the place-marker is automatically removed upon determination that the user's gaze has returned to the marked location within the text. In some such embodiments the reading-place marker is removed in response to the user resuming a characteristic reading gaze motion at or near the marked location. In this way the marker is removed when no longer needed.

Abstract: A targeting location information system uses a portable computing device interfaced with a positioning system in combination with a distributed network. Targeting methods and apparatus are then used to identify a user selected location that is some distance away from the then current location of the portable computing device, the targeting methods allow the user of said portable computing device to target a specific distant location or a range of specific distant locations that is a particular distance and orientation away from said then current location of the portable computing device. Target location coordinates for a specific or range of distant locations is then transmitted to the distributed network and is used in the retrieval of corresponding location specific information. Additional information may be associated with the web page information such as priority information, object type information, context type information, or weighting information.

Abstract: A system for enabling a person to person communication from one portable computing device to one or more other portable computing devices based upon physically pointing a portion of one portable computing device in the direction of other portable computing devices. The portable computing devices consist of a CPU, a locative sensor system, an orientation system, and an interface to a distributed network. The distributed network sends and receives data to the portable computing devices. Connected to the distributed network is a User Tracking Application (“UTA”). The User Tracking Application receives location and orientation information from each of the portable computing devices. Based on the location and orientation of the portable computing devices and via control of the users, messages and data may be sent between the devices. The User Tracking Application also allows filtering of groups of users based on particular attributes, such as, age, gender, profession, organizational affiliation, income, etc.