Abstract: An apparatus and method for motivating students in mathematics education, computer technology education and information encoding. The apparatus consists of a container holding multi-state sources and a reading device, if necessary, that can determine the state of the sources in the container when it is closed. Students determine the states of the sources and use a predetermined algorithm to determine the information or data represented in the container. The apparatus and method can be presented to an audience as a magic trick.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and algorithm for the economical, intuitive rotational control of a three dimensional object displayed on a computer monitor. The computer input device consists of a tracked ball, with a directed source emanating from it, that is housed in an enclosure which allows for the free rotation of the ball. The ball sits on a bearing within a base equipped with an array of sensors. Activated sensors are grouped in such a way that the positions of the detected sources can be determined. A 3×3 orientation matrix is then computed to allow applications programs to present a graphical object in the same orientation as the orientation that the user has given to the ball in the input device.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and algorithm for the economical, intuitive rotational control of a three dimensional object displayed on a computer monitor. The computer input device consists of a tracked ball, with a directed source emanating from it, that is housed in an enclosure which allows for the free rotation of the ball. The ball sits on a bearing within a base equipped with an array of sensors. Activated sensors are grouped in such a way that the positions of the detected sources can be determined. A 3×3 orientation matrix is then computed to allow applications programs to present a graphical object in the same orientation as the orientation that the user has given to the ball in the input device.