Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to measuring thermal properties. At least one embodiment includes a method including heating a location of an object with an excitation laser beam, the excitation laser beam being a continuous-wave laser beam modulated by a square-wave modulation waveform. The method may also include measuring temperature at the location over time by measuring changes in one or more reflective properties at the location. Related apparatuses are also disclosed.

Abstract: A convention processing system is provided that includes software operable to store show information identifying at least one show in which a plurality of exhibitors will exhibit their wares, service information identifying a plurality of services available to the exhibitors at the show, supplier information identifying at least one supplier for each of a plurality of service items and a plurality of different suppliers. The software is further operable to access the information, display the services for the show, receive a selection of a service item, and store the selection of the service item as an order.

Abstract: A convention processing system is provided that includes a database operable to store show information identifying at least one show in which a plurality of exhibitors will exhibit their wares, service information identifying a plurality of services available to the exhibitors at the show, supplier information identifying at least one supplier for each service and a plurality of suppliers for at least one service, and at least one item for each service, the item identifying a particular type of the service, a price for the item and a supplier for the item. The system further includes a transaction engine operable to access the database. The transaction engine is also operable to display the services for the show, receive a selection of a service, display a list of items for the service, receive a selection of an item for an exhibitor, store the selection of the item as an order, add the price for the item to a balance for the exhibitor, and display an updated account summary for the exhibitor.