Abstract: Various systems and methods are disclosed herein to increase the quality of the sound delivered to a user and allow personalization to optimize listening performance and comfort under atypical listening conditions, environment specific adjustment, and data capture to assist in the personalization of the system to the user's needs and preferences. Features disclosed include sound level rating systems that aggregate noise data detected by user's mobile phones or hearing devices to provide a database of real-time noise levels. Additionally, a user's sound settings may be saved in the system by location so that they may be recalled when re-entering a specific location. A remote clinician may tune a hearing device, or a user can tune the device using a pre-recorded audio sample. Also, a user may replay the last X seconds of audio recorded by their hearing device.

Abstract: A crank mechanism is provided which has a first driven member constituted by a first shaft, and a second driven member constituted by a sleeve member-disposed around said first shaft. The sleeve member is retained in support means such that the sleeve member and the first shaft can rotate relatively to one another. A rotating arm is connected to the sleeve member, and attachment means is slidable along said rotating arm. First linkage means is provided between said attachment means and said first shaft, and second linkage means is provided between said sleeve member and said first shaft, whereby said attachment means can selectively describe any of a range of circular or elliptical paths. In the preferred embodiment, the linkage means are adjustable and include a counter-rotating arm associated with said first shaft, and a second shaft and a third shaft and gears associated therewith and with said first shaft, which gears transmit rotational movement from said first shaft to said sleeve member.

Abstract: Signature verification and authentication systems are disclosed which include documents each of which bears a cryptographic representation of at least one property of a signature of an authorized user thereof modified in accordance with at least one of a set of indicia identifying the document with its authorized user. Apparatus are disclosed whereby said cryptographic representations can be decrypted and authenticated, using said indicia as a key. Apparatus are disclosed for producing such cryptographic representations on documents, which apparatus include cryptographic means for producing cryptographic representations of signatures and means for modifying the operation of these cryptographic means in accordance with one or more of said indicia. Methods of signature verification and authentication using documents bearing such cryptographic representations are disclosed.