Abstract: Games in which players cooperate to help each other score points or win prizes are described. In a game, players are grouped into rooms where they can collect puzzle pieces using a random selection technique, such as a spinner. The spinner can provide puzzle pieces, points, additional spins, and/or loss of spins. The player can position a puzzle piece on a game board, offer to give a puzzle piece to another player in the room, and/or offer to trade a puzzle piece for another player's puzzle piece. The other players can accept or reject proposed gifts and/or trades. The player can collect and use the puzzle pieces to complete the puzzle. The player can earn points for completing the puzzle, which may be used to win a prize.

Abstract: A notebook computer which is controlled by a stylus executing gestures on the computer screen. The stylus and the computer include complementary electronic circuitry by which the proximity of the stylus tip to the computer is sensed. The proximity sensing is used to detect to approach of the stylus tip to the computer screen, and gestural commands are then entered on the screen by moving the stylus. The entry of a command is terminated by removing the stylus tip from proximity with the screen, which is detected by the computer, which then implements the command. Alternative methods of implementing the commands include time-outs and command termination buttons.

Abstract: A system for linking elements representing stored information in a data base comprising a link structure formed in a section of the data base independent of the elements, a pointer in the link structure indicating the location of a first element, and a second pointer in the link structure indicating the location of a second element. The data base contains items comprising textual data and a plurality of categories into which the items may be categorized such that each item may be linked to more than one category. The invention automatically assigns an element in a data base to a parent category if it has been assigned to a child category of the parent. The invention will allow a user to modify data in a data base in a view mode, and will resolve ambiguities by guessing as to the most likely interpretation intended by the user. The invention will allow a user to change the number or organization of categories in the data base while the user is in a view mode.