Abstract: The present invention teaches methods and software, intended to help participants in an online meeting to coordinate their participation in a general discussion, involving all meeting participants, and participation in small-group discussions. According to one embodiment of the invention, during a general discussion, involving all meeting participants, members of a subgroup are supported in acting as one group. According to another invention, a division of meeting participants into subgroups is preserved when switching from small group discussions to a general discussion and from a general discussion to small group discussions.

Abstract: The present invention teaches methods and software, intended to help a participant in an online meeting to understand other participants more efficiently. According to one embodiment of the invention, a user of videoconferencing technology may choose the size of the panes, displayed in a window and showing information about meeting participants. According to another embodiment of the invention, meeting participant panes may be spatially arranged in a window, and the spatial structures or layouts are substantially the same for all participants in the meeting. According to yet another embodiment, a participant in a meeting, who shares a content through using a “screen share” feature, may choose including an image of the screen-shared content to the participant's self-view, which self-view is preferably displayed in a floating window when the participant switches to a computer application, different from the videoconferencing application at hand.

Abstract: The present invention teaches methods and software, intended to help a participant in an online meeting to understand other participants more efficiently. According to one embodiment of the invention, a participant in a meeting can initiate a poll, in which a question is asked verbally, and responses are provided by choosing an item from a pop-up dialogue panel. According to another invention, a requesting meeting participant (e.g., a presenter) can enable a monitoring feature, so that other participants can continuously assess the session.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for making beverages by immersing an infusible material, such as loose tea-leaves, in a liquid, such as hot water. The apparatus comprises two rigid-frame containers, a liquid-impermeable open-top beverage container, which can be an existing container selected by the user, and a movable liquid-permeable infuser container. According to embodiments of the invention, the infuser container may assume two different stationary positions relative to the beverage container, a lower stationary position and a higher stationary position. In the lower stationary position, the infusible material is covered by liquid and may be infused for a desired length of time. Thereafter the infuser container may be temporarily placed in the higher stationary position, in which position the infusible material is located above the liquid, to reduce or stop the dripping of the infusible material.

Abstract: The present invention teaches inertial scrolling method and apparatus, according to which the distance, for which the content of a display window scrolls as a result of an inertial scrolling user action, is limited to substantially the distance between (a) the point or area of the display window, which is contacted, or pointed at, by the user when an inertial scrolling is initiated and (b) the border of the display window in the direction of the scrolling. According to an embodiment of the invention, the limitation may be disabled in case of more forceful scrolling user actions. According to another embodiment, the area of the display window, proximal to the point or area, which is contacted, or pointed at, by the user when an inertial scrolling is initiated, is visually highlighted during inertial scrolling.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for making beverages by immersing an infusible material, such as loose tea-leaves, in a liquid, such as hot water. The apparatus comprises a liquid-impermeable beverage container, and an infuser container, which can be inserted to, or extracted from the beverage container. The infuser container is liquid-permeable, while being impermeable to the infusible material. According to the invention, the infuser container, containing infusible material and being immersed in the liquid contained in the beverage container, may be extracted from the beverage container after a desirable length of time and securely placed above the liquid in an elevated tilted position, in which position the liquid remaining in the infuser container drips back to the beverage container.

Abstract: The present invention teaches inertial scrolling method and apparatus, according to which the distance, for which the content of a display window scrolls as a result of an inertial scrolling user action, is substantially limited to the distance between (a) the area of the display window pointed at by the user when an inertial scrolling action is initiated and (b) the border of the display window in the direction of the scrolling. According to an embodiment of the invention, the limited-distance scrolling is only enabled in case of less forceful scrolling user actions.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for making beverages by immersing an infusible material, such as loose tea-leaves, in a liquid, such as hot water. The apparatus comprises two rigid-frame containers, a liquid-impermeable open-top beverage container, which can be an existing container selected by the user, and a movable liquid-permeable infuser container. According to embodiments of the invention, the infuser container may assume two different stationary positions relative to the beverage container, a lower stationary position and a higher stationary position. In the lower stationary position, the infusible material is covered by liquid and may be infused for a desired length of time. Thereafter the infuser container may be temporarily placed in the higher stationary position, in which position the infusible material is located above the liquid, to reduce or stop the dripping of the infusible material.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method and apparatus for helping the user of computer devices, such as desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, smartphones, and augmented reality devices, to view information displayed during and after scrolling, when scrolling is performed with variable increment scrolling input devices, such as scroll wheels or touch-sensing devices. According to an embodiment of the invention, the area of the displayed document, which corresponds to either the location of the screen pointer immediately before scrolling or the point of the initial user contact with a touchscreen, is highlighted with visual cues during and shortly after scrolling to support the continuity of user's attention.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method and apparatus for helping the user of computer devices, such as desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, smartphones, and augmented reality devices, to view information displayed during and after scrolling, when scrolling is performed with variable increment scrolling input devices, such as scroll wheels or touch-sensing devices. According to an embodiment of the invention, the area of the displayed document, which corresponds to the location of the screen pointer immediately before scrolling or the point of the initial user contact with a touchscreen, is highlighted with visual cues during and shortly after scrolling to support the continuity of user's attention.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method and apparatus for executing predetermined device functions on devices having touch-sensitive displays. The user executes a certain function by first moving the point of contact of a finger or stylus with a touch-sensitive display generally away from the initial points of contact, and then move the point of contact back toward the initial point of contact. According to some embodiments, the invention is implemented to more efficiently unlock user interfaces of computer devices having touch-sensitive displays.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method and apparatus for (a) processing a voice input from the user of computer technology, (b) recognizing potential objects of interest, and (c) using electronic displays to present visual artefacts directing user's attention to the spatial locations of the objects of interest. The voice input is matched with attributes of the information objects, which are visually presented to the viewer. If one or several objects match the voice input sufficiently, the system visually marks or highlights the object or objects to help the viewers direct his or her attention to the matching object or objects. The sets of visual objects and their attributes, used in the matching, may be different for different user tasks and types of visually displayed information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for helping a user to locate new information displayed in a window on a computer display after scrolling the window to a new portion of a document by providing temporary visual clues distinguishing “old” information, also displayed in the window before scrolling, from information not displayed in the window before scrolling. The visual clues are displayed only if the “old” information is displayed in the window before scrolling for more than a predetermined amount of time. According to preferred embodiments the temporary visual clues are implemented to avoid user distraction from his or her main task.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing low-overhead support for task and information management provided to users of computer systems. Before starting to work on a project a user selects the project as active, and lists of resources employed by the user when working on the project are created on the basis of information about the subsequent computer system events generated by user's actions. The user can access lists of resources when he or she selects the project again. According to preferred embodiments, a database containing a project-tagged interaction log is created through means of the computer system, and the user is provided with a number of personal information management (PIM) tools, such a calendar, a to do list, and a notepad. Information entries created with the PIM tools are linked to active projects. Interaction log is utilized to delete irrelevant resources and make more important information more accessible than less important information.