Abstract: An interactive cooking preparation device is presented. The user places ingredients that the user wishes to use in a recipe. The interactive cooking preparation device detects the ingredients placed by the user in the detection area of the interactive cooking preparation device using sensors. The detection results in a set of ingredient identifiers that correspond to the placed ingredients. A recipes database is then searched for the detected set of ingredient identifiers. The database search results in one or more suggested recipes. The suggested recipes are displayed to the user on a display device that is included in the interactive cooking preparation device. The user then selects one of the suggested recipes.

Abstract: An intelligent prediction approach populates and depopulates multiple applications at the system level across applications. The detection and management of user behavior patterns anticipates the user's next request and relates dynamically to user behavior and where that user behavior changes to adjust so as to more accurately set forth a desired result for a user of the present invention.

Abstract: A system, method, and program product for instantiating and executing a bot on an interface system are disclosed. A bot is an agent for the user and includes an animated visual personification. The system includes an interface system including a graphical user interface, a system for instantiating a bot and displaying the bot on the graphical user interface, and a command processing system for causing the bot to execute one of a plurality of actions in response to a user command. The plurality of actions includes at least one local capability and at least one remote capability. The at least one remote capability also includes a system for transferring the bot to a second interface at a remote location.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program product are provided for using watermarks to embed security features on avatars in a virtual world. A watermark engine receives security information for an avatar in a virtual world. The watermark engine creates a watermark for the avatar using the security information and associates the watermark with the avatar. The watermark may comprise at least one of: security preferences for the avatar, contact information for an owner of the avatar, and graphical information to cause alteration of the avatar when the avatar is recorded.

Abstract: Data corresponding to a current activity of a user is formatted for display. A contact list, tags of interest, and visual display mapping preferences associated with the user are received. A real time broadcast of a current activity of the user is received. A tag of interest most relevant to the current activity of the user is selected. Real time broadcasts of current activities of contacts associated with the user are received. Tags of interest most relevant to the current activities of the contacts are selected. The tag of interest selected most relevant to the current activity of the user is compared with the tags of interest selected most relevant to the current activities of the contacts. Data corresponding to the current activity of the user and the current activities of the contacts is transmitted in a format determined by the visual display mapping preferences associated with the user.

Abstract: A mechanism for scanning and capturing digital images using residue detection. Upon detecting a document placed on a scanning surface of a scanning device, the illustrative embodiments detect a residue deposited on the document. The illustrative embodiments determine a portion of the document to be scanned based on a location of the residue on the document. The illustrative embodiments then scan the portion of the document.

Abstract: A user selects a recipe from a list of recipes. Preparation steps corresponding to the selected recipe are retrieved from a data store, such as a database. Each of the retrieved preparation steps is displayed sequentially to the user on a horizontal surface display that is included in an interactive cooking preparation device. During at least one preparation step, a selected kitchen appliance is identified, such as a configurable burner surface. The identified preparation step also includes one or more appliance parameters that correspond to the selected kitchen appliance. The selected kitchen appliance is controlled by sending one or more signals from the interactive cooking preparation device to the selected kitchen appliance. At least one of the signals sent to the appliance includes one of the appliance parameters.

Abstract: An interactive cooking device is provided. A user selects a recipe from a list of available recipes. Preparation steps corresponding to the selected recipe are retrieved from a data store along with a set of ingredients. The retrieved preparation steps are sequentially displaying to the user on a display that is included in the interactive cooking preparation device. The user's preparation actions are monitored, using one or more sensors. Gestures that correspond to the current preparation step are retrieved from the data store along with thresholds that correspond to each of the gestures. The user's actions are compared to the retrieved gestures using the retrieved thresholds. If the user's actions vary from the gestures by more than the thresholds, an alert is generated. The user is then provided with a suggested course of correction.

Abstract: A method and system in accordance with the present invention provides an intelligent prediction approach for populating and depopulating multiple applications at the system level across applications. The detection and management of user behavior patterns to anticipate the user's next request is provided. Further the present invention is to account for a situation to relate dynamically to user behavior and where that user behavior changes to adjust so as to more accurately set forth a desired result for a user of the present invention. The present invention in various implementations provides an intelligent prediction scheme for populating and depopulating multiple applications at the system level across a diversity of applications.

Abstract: A way of delivering recipe preparation instruction to disabled individuals is provided using an interactive cooking preparation device. The device retrieves an instruction delivery preference that corresponds to a user with a disability, such as a hearing or sight disability. The user then selects a recipe from list of recipes. Preparation steps that correspond to the selected recipe are retrieved from a data store, such as a database. The retrieved preparation steps are provided to the user using the interactive cooking preparation device that provides the preparation steps in an alternative delivery mode based on the user's delivery preference.

Abstract: A method and system for utilizing a game console and an input device is disclosed. The method and system comprise mapping commands to system directives of the game console and generating an input signal having predefined characteristics corresponding to the input device being utilized to engage the system directives. The method and system include performing system functions using an input controller associated with the input device after the system directives are engaged.

Abstract: An approach is provided that receives a request to perform an action by an information handling system that includes a processor. In response to the request, a captcha request that corresponds to a captcha is transmitted to a foldable display screen. A response is received from the foldable display screen with the response including one or more bends of the foldable display screen. The received one or more bends are compared to one or more expected bends included in the captcha. The requested action is performed in response to the comparison revealing that the received one or more bends match the one or more expected bends. On the other hand, performance of the requested action is inhibited in response to the comparison revealing that at least one of the received one or more bends fails to match at least one of the one or more expected bends.

Abstract: An interactive cooking preparation device that includes a flexible horizontal display surface is presented. A set of actuators located under the flexible horizontal display surface that, when activated, cause a tactile sensation on the display surface. A user selects a recipe from a list of recipes. A set of preparation steps that correspond to the selected recipe are retrieved from a data store. Each of the preparation steps are displayed to the user on the flexible horizontal surface display. A current preparation step that is being performed by the user is identified. The user is directed to an area of the interactive cooking preparation device using a tactile feedback mechanism. The tactile feedback mechanism causes a physical sensation on the surface of the interactive cooking preparation device. The physical sensation is felt by the user when the user is touching the surface of the interactive cooking preparation device.

Abstract: A game manager receives a request from a user to play a cue sport, which includes a table and a plurality of balls. The game manager retrieves user attributes corresponding to the user that include a user skill level. Next, the game manager detects ball locations for each of the plurality of balls, and determines one or more beginning shot opportunities based upon the user skill level and the plurality of ball locations. In turn, the game manager provides the beginning shot opportunities to the user.

Abstract: Aging of avatars and objects toward eventual removal or removal from the displayed virtual universe through enabling the setting of defined parameters for the aging of said avatars and objects toward eventual removal of said avatars and objects from said virtual universe space; and predetermining a set of events, the occurrence of any one of which events would modify the aging of selected avatars and objects.

Abstract: One or more alcohol inputs are received at the interactive system. Each of the alcohol inputs corresponds to an alcoholic beverage to be consumed by a consumer. The system calculates an estimated blood-alcohol level of the consumer based on the alcohol inputs. The estimated blood-alcohol level is compared with one or more alcohol impairment limits retrieved from an electronic data store. If the comparison reveals that the consumer might be impaired, an alert is automatically signaled.

Abstract: A method and system of utilizing a game console with motion sensing technology is provided. The present invention, in various implementations, provides for a method for generating one or more symbols in response to one or more gestures using an input device of a gaming system. The method comprises providing the input device being capable of generating one or more gesture signals in response to one or more gestures and being operable to select a mode of one or more operational states. The method also provides for generating one or more gesture signals corresponding to the one or more gestures, respectively; mapping the one or more generated gesture signals in relation to one or more symbols, respectively; and, transmitting the one or more symbols corresponding to the respective one or more gesture signals to an output.

Abstract: An approach is provided that that uses an electronic multi-touch floor covering that has numerous sensors to identify shapes. The electronic multi-touch floor covering identifies a shape of an object that is in contact with the surface of the electronic multi-touch floor covering. An entity record is then retrieved from a data store, such as a database, with the retrieved entity record corresponding to the identified shape. Actions are then retrieved from a second data store with the actions corresponding to the retrieved entity record. The retrieved actions are then executed by the computer system.

Abstract: An approach is provided that receives a request to perform an action by an information handling system that includes a processor. In response to the request, a captcha request that corresponds to a captcha is transmitted to a foldable display screen. A response is received from the foldable display screen with the response including one or more bends of the foldable display screen. The received one or more bends are compared to one or more expected bends included in the captcha. The requested action is performed in response to the comparison revealing that the received one or more bends match the one or more expected bends. On the other hand, performance of the requested action is inhibited in response to the comparison revealing that at least one of the received one or more bends fails to match at least one of the one or more expected bends.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program product are provided for using watermarks to embed security features on avatars in a virtual world. A watermark engine receives security information for an avatar in a virtual world. The watermark engine creates a watermark for the avatar using the security information and associates the watermark with the avatar. The watermark may comprise at least one of: security preferences for the avatar, contact information for an owner of the avatar, and graphical information to cause alteration of the avatar when the avatar is recorded.