Abstract: Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture are disclosed for isolating and reviewing data. The data is provided via a data source, and subsequently a rule may be provided, as well as a metaphor, to a user for perception of said metaphor via a user interface.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting and processing tire tread depth data from a plurality of tires is provided. A sensor measures the tread depth of one of the tires and produces a tread depth signal representing the tire tread depth. The tread depth signal is transmitted over a communications medium from the sensor to the serial port of a computer. The computer includes a database or spread sheet for storing an entry associating a respective tire tread depth with each tire. The computer displays a graphic representing each of the tires. The graphic includes a representation of the bottom of a truck on which the tires are installed. The graphic has a respective region representing each of the tires. A region of the graphic is selected. The selected region of the graphic is linked to a corresponding one of the plurality of data representing tire tread depth in the database or spreadsheet.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for managing a plurality of data values which define an attribute of an object. The system includes a computer having a display. The computer has a user defined database or spread sheet which stores the data values. A facility is provided for defining an arbitrary, user defined graphic representing the object; that is displayed by the computer. A region is identified within the graphic. A value is associated with the region. The value represents a visual attribute. The identified region of the graphic is linked to a data field of the database or spreadsheet. The data field stores one of the plurality of data values. A rule is applied to determine the value of the visual attribute as a function of the data value stored in the data field. The visual attribute of the region is automatically changed according to the rule when the data value changes. An exemplary system displays a graphic representing the bottom of a truck.

Abstract: A microfiche reader with a compact housing having an upper housing portion or hood and a lower housing portion or base, has an upper surface which supports a fiche carrier in a projection plane. The hood has a lower surface spaced above the base to provide a work area for manipulation of the microfiche carrier. To further minimize size and overheating of the microfiche, a light source, condensing lens and mirror form a preassembled module which is located in the hood beneath and behind the projection screen and above the film plane. The projection lens and focus adjustment are carried by a slide or drawer which is movable between a position in registry with the light beam during use to a withdrawn position for easy access for changing lenses. The use of the light source module in the hood and the projection lens in the base enables the use of various size screen hoods on the same base without changing mirror angles in the base.