Abstract: A wearable interactive device, such as a wearable identity badge is disclosed. When a user moves the device, such as to position a display (e.g., part) of the device a sensed distance at a sensed horizontal and vertical angle, the device outputs content that is based on the position. Context data also may be used in determining the content to output, as well as any other sensed data that may be available.

Abstract: A data store for a modular assembly system is described. The data store comprises a number of records, each record relating to a physical module in the modular assembly system and comprising a module ID, an owner ID for the module and one or more properties fields. The properties field(s) define any property of the module and different records may define different properties. At least one of the fields in each data record (e.g. the module ID or owner ID) is verified by an authentication service. A user assembles two or more modules into a coherent physical whole object to act as a user input device to an interactive software experience. The data store communicates with the interactive software experience and causes a change in behavior of the interactive software experience in response to a check of the data records for each of the modules in the object.

Abstract: An interactive computer game is described which works in conjunction with a number of physical modules that a user can connect together in different ways to form a coherent physical whole object. The game receives data from the object via a wireless link, the data identifying at least which modules form part of the object and updates game play based on the data received. At some point within the game play, the game presents an objective or goal to the user which the user can only achieve by interacting with the physical object formed from the modules. In an embodiment, this interaction comprises re-arranging the modules or swapping modules to form an object with a different visual appearance, moving all or part of the object and/or interacting with a sensor on a module in the object. The game may receive further data from the object during the user interaction.

Abstract: An electronic paper display device comprises a layer of multi-stable material and one or more electrodes on one face of the layer of multi-stable material. Each electrode is electrically contactable on its underside through the layer of multi-stable material so that all electrodes in the electronic paper display device are electrically contactable on a single face of the electronic paper display device.

Abstract: A modular assembly system is described in which each module comprises a storage element which stores an identifier for the module and data relating to the module. At least some of the module data is variable and is updated based on user interaction with an interactive software experience (e.g. state data). Each module also comprises one or more connectors for connecting to other modules to form a coherent physical whole object. In an embodiment, the system further comprises the interactive software experience which provides user objectives which can only be satisfied by the user interacting with the object or with modules that form the object. At least one of the modules in the object comprises a communication module which passes identifiers and module data to the interactive software experience and receives updated module data from the interactive software experience for storing in one of the modules in the object.

Abstract: Indirect multi-touch interaction is described. In an embodiment, a user interface is controlled using a cursor and a touch region comprising a representation of one or more digits of a user. The cursor and the touch region are moved together in the user interface in accordance with data received from a cursor control device, such that the relative location of the touch region and the cursor is maintained. The representations of the digits of the user are moved in the touch region in accordance with data describing movement of the user's digits. In another embodiment, a user interface is controlled in a first mode of operation using an aggregate cursor, and switched to a second mode of operation in which the aggregate cursor is divided into separate portions, each of which can be independently controlled by the user.

Abstract: A wrist-worn device heart-monitoring device is presented. The wrist-worn heart-monitoring device includes a radial tonometer configured to output a pressure signal indicating a pulse pressure wave at a user's wrist, two or more electrodes configured to output an electrical signal indicating a user's heart has been commanded to contract, and a microphone configured to output an audio signal indicating a closing of a user's aortic valve. The wrist-worn heart-monitoring device further includes a pulse transit time monitor configured to calculate a pre-ejection period of the user's heart based on at least the pressure, electrical, and audio signals, and calculate a pulse transit time based on at least the pre-ejection period, the pressure signal, and the electrical signal.

Abstract: A system for transducing arterial pressure includes a one-piece flexible cap configured to fit around a flexible piezo-electric sensor that is configured to alter an internal resistance upon deflection. The flexible cap includes a deflection wall configured to deflect towards the flexible piezo-resistive sensor in proportion to pressure applied by the artery. A pressure-transducing medium is sealed between the one-piece flexible cap and the flexible piezo-resistive sensor, such that deflection of the deflection wall towards the flexible piezo-resistive sensor causes proportional deflection of the flexible piezo-resistive sensor.

Abstract: A wrist-worn pressure sensing device includes a pressure sensor. The wrist-worn pressure sensing device also includes a first strap that sets the position of the pressure sensor on a wearer's wrist and a second strap that engages with the first strap to adjust the overall length of the strap without moving the set position of the pressure sensor on the wearer's wrist.

Abstract: A display device is described that comprises an electronic paper display but that does not include a power source that is capable of providing sufficient power to update the electronic paper display. Instead, the electronic paper display can only be updated when receiving external power via a digital data and power bus. The bus also provides pixel data for content to be displayed on the electronic paper display and at least one externally generated bias voltage level for the electronic paper display. The display device further comprises a processor that configured to drive the electronic paper display.

Abstract: User interface control using a keyboard is described. In an embodiment, a user interface displayed on a display device is controlled using a computer connected to a keyboard. The keyboard has a plurality of alphanumeric keys that can be used for text entry. The computer receives data comprising a sequence of key-presses from the keyboard, and generates for each key-press a physical location on the keyboard. The relative physical locations of the key-presses are compared to calculate a movement path over the keyboard. The movement path describes the path of a user's digit over the keyboard. The movement path is mapped to a sequence of coordinates in the user interface, and the movement of an object displayed in the user interface is controlled in accordance with the sequence of coordinates.

Abstract: Code suggestion technique embodiments are presented that improve the productivity of a programmer by assisting in both the writing of code and in debugging the code as it is being written. In general, this is accomplished by automating a search of a database of the past work and problem solving activities of programmers to make suggestion to a programmer currently writing code. For example, as a programmer enters code, suggested ways of finishing a line or code section are presented based on how previous programmers finished a similar line or code section. Another example involves a programmer who encounters an error message while writing code. In such a case, the programmer is provided with a suggested fix or fixes, based on the actions taken by previous developers when encountering a similar problem.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed herein that are related to input devices with curved multi-touch surfaces. For example, in one disclosed embodiment, a method of making a multi-touch input device having a curved touch-sensitive surface comprises forming on a substrate an array of sensor elements defining a plurality of pixels of the multi-touch sensor, forming the substrate into a shape that conforms to a surface of the curved geometric feature of the body of the input device, and fixing the substrate to the curved geometric feature of the body of the input device.

Abstract: A system in which attributes are transferred between generations of characters in an interactive software experience is described. In an embodiment, data identifying one or more hardware attributes for a virtual entity are received from a physical user device associated with that virtual entity. One or more virtual attributes for the virtual entity are accessed and one or more behaviors of the virtual entity within the interactive software experience are modified based on a combination of the hardware and virtual attributes.

Abstract: A storage and charging device for game pieces is described which is associated with an interactive software experience, such that the storage and charging device corresponds to a virtual entity within the interactive software experience. The storage and charging device comprises a charging mechanism and a communication mechanism. The charging mechanism is arranged to charge at least one of the game pieces and the communication mechanism is arranged to communicate with the interactive software experience.

Abstract: Methods of managing virtual resources within a virtual world are described which use a device comprising a connecting element to which one or more smart beads can be attached. A smart bead represents either a virtual resource in the virtual world or an action on a virtual resource in the virtual world. The device is arranged to detect and identify which smart beads are attached to the connecting element and to autonomously update quantities of one or more virtual resources based on combinations of virtual resources and/or actions on virtual resources, where at least one of the virtual resources or actions in any combination is represented by a detected smart bead. In an embodiment, the device is a fashion item such as a wearable device.

Abstract: Wearable pulse pressure wave sensing devices are presented that generally provide a non-intrusive way to measure a pulse pressure wave travelling through an artery using a wearable device. In one implementation, the device includes an array of pressure sensors disposed on a mounting structure which is attachable to a user on an area proximate to an underlying artery. Each of the pressure sensors is capable of being mechanically coupled to the skin of the user proximate to the underlying artery. In addition, there are one or more arterial location sensors disposed on the mounting structure which identify a location on the user's skin likely overlying the artery. A pulse pressure wave is then measured using the pressure sensor of the array closest to the identified location.

Abstract: A wearable sensing band is presented that generally provides a non-intrusive way to measure a person's cardiovascular vital signs including pulse transit time and pulse wave velocity. The band includes a strap with one or more primary electrocardiography (ECG) electrodes which are in contact with a first portion of the user's body, one or more secondary ECG electrodes, and one or more pulse pressure wave arrival (PPWA) sensors. The primary and secondary ECG electrodes detect an ECG signal whenever the secondary ECG electrodes make electrical contact with the second portion of the user's body, and the PPWA sensors sense an arrival of a pulse pressure wave to the first portion of the user's body from the user's heart. The ECG signal and PPWA sensor(s) readings are used to compute at least one of a pulse transit time (PTT) or a pulse wave velocity (PWV) of the user.

Abstract: The cardiovascular vital signs of a user are measured. One or more user activity metrics is received from one or more user activity sensors. A type of activity the user is currently engaged in is inferred from the received user activity metrics. Additional context that is associated with the inferred type of activity may also be identified. A determination is made as to if it is time to measure the cardiovascular vital signs of the user, where this determination is based on the inferred type of activity and may also be based on the identified additional context. Whenever it is determined to be time to measure the cardiovascular vital signs of the user, this measurement is made.

Abstract: User interface control using a keyboard is described. In an embodiment, a user interface displayed on a display device is controlled using a computer connected to a keyboard. The keyboard has a plurality of alphanumeric keys that can be used for text entry. The computer receives data comprising a sequence of key-presses from the keyboard, and generates for each key-press a physical location on the keyboard. The relative physical locations of the key-presses are compared to calculate a movement path over the keyboard. The movement path describes the path of a user's digit over the keyboard. The movement path is mapped to a sequence of coordinates in the user interface, and the movement of an object displayed in the user interface is controlled in accordance with the sequence of coordinates.