Abstract: Spatially associated reminder systems and methods enable users to create reminders and associate those reminders with entering/exiting particular trigger areas. A user's portable computing device triggers an alert/displays a reminder based upon a user entering and/or exiting a trigger area. A user interface supported by the portable computing device allows a user to terminate the reminder so it will not trigger again, to defer the reminder so it triggers again after an elapsed time, to reset the reminder so that it triggers again only if a user leaves the area and then returns, to request a last chance, causing the portable computing device to remind the user again upon exiting the area to ensure the user did not forget to act upon the reminder, or to edit the reminder. The user interface also enables users to graphically define trigger areas within the physical world to be associated with personal digital reminders using geospatial imagery.

Abstract: A portable navigation device and associated methods are provided for enabling users to find geospatial orientations within the real physical world using their tactile senses. In one embodiment the portable navigation device acts as a geospatial compass, enabling users to find cardinal directions such as North in response to processor controlled tactile feedback sensations provided with respect to geospatial orientation sensor readings. In another embodiment the portable navigation device acts as a geospatial trajectory assisting device, enabling users to find travel direction indicated by a preplanned route or map in response to processor controlled tactile feedback sensations provided with respect to geospatial orientation sensor readings. In this way a user may perform a manual scanning operation wherein they manipulate the portable navigation device through a range of physical orientations and find a desired geospatial target orientation based upon their sense of touch.

Abstract: A method and system provides sensory cues to a user via a portable computing device as they wander a physical space, alerting the user as to the presence of spatially associated information linked to a location that is within a proximity region defined around that user's then current physical location. The size and/or shape of the proximity region can be defined in accordance with the speed and/or direction of motion of the user.

Abstract: A system, method, and service for computer moderated matchmaking in which at least one final candidate is selected from a plurality of potential candidates based upon both social compatibility and epidemiological compatibility determinations made with respect to a user. In some embodiments communication is selectively facilitated between the user and the at least one final candidate. In some embodiments the user may set threshold values and/or other customizable preference values with respect to the epidemiological compatibility determination.

Abstract: A digital mirror system is provided that emulates a traditional mirror by displaying real-time video imagery of a user who stands before it. The digital mirror system provides a plurality of digital mirror modes, including a traditional mirror mode and a third person mirror mode. The digital mirror system provides a plurality of digital mirroring features including an image freeze feature, an image zoom feature, and an image buffering feature. The digital mirror system provides a plurality of operational states including a digital mirroring state and an alternate state, the alternate state including a power-conservation state and/or a digital picture frame state. The digital mirror system provides a user sensor that automatically transitions between operational states in response to whether or not a user is detected before the digital mirror display screen for a period of time.

Abstract: A computer-based educational tool is provided to enable children to more easily learn the visual representations of letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and words, by drawing upon their existing verbal knowledge. More specifically, a child is allowed to utter the name of a letter, number, shape, color, or word and have the corresponding visual representation of that letter, number, shape, color, or word be displayed visually upon a screen in response to his or her verbal utterance. Speech recognition tools and techniques are utilized for capturing and recognizing the verbal utterances of the child. Unique visual and aural display methods is utilized for presenting content to the child in developmentally beneficial ways.

Abstract: A method of rewarding conversational activity of a user maintaining a promotional conversation with an automated agent includes causing an automated agent to be presented to a user engaging a local computer, causing promotional information to be conveyed to the user in a promotional conversation via the automated agent, causing the automated agent to prompt the user for information in the promotional conversation, assessing the user's participation level in the promotional conversation, computing reward units based on the user's assessed participation level, and disbursing the computed reward units to a reward account associated with the user, wherein disbursed reward units are redeemable by the user for a reward.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for automatically providing reading place-markers to a user reading a textual document upon an electronic display. A gaze-tracking element monitors a user's gaze while he or she reads the textual document and determines a look-away event. In response to a look-away event, the system automatically provides a reading place-marker by accentuating an area at or near where the user looked away from the text. In this way the user may more easily return to the location at which he or she ceased reading. In some embodiments the place-marker is automatically removed upon determination that the user's gaze has returned to the marked location within the text. In some such embodiments the reading-place marker is removed in response to the user resuming a characteristic reading gaze motion at or near the marked location. In this way the marker is removed when no longer needed.

Abstract: A system for gaze-responsive video advertising is provided that includes a video display for playing advertisements to a user, a gaze-tracking element, and a processor. The processor (a) determines whether the user's gaze falls within a predetermined spatial boundary of an advertisement display area, (b) plays a video-based advertisement within the predetermined spatial boundary in response to the determining, (c) stops play of the video-based advertisement in response to determining that the user's gaze falls outside of the predetermined spatial boundary for an amount of time exceeding a predetermined time threshold, and (d) resumes play of the video-based advertisement after the stopping in response to determining that the user's gaze falls within the predetermined spatial boundary of the advertisement display area. In some embodiments, exposure credits are awarded to the user for confirmed duration increments of video watching.

Abstract: Real-time location-based messaging methods and systems enable users of portable computing devices to communicate with other users of portable computing devices based upon the current geographic location of the one or more users. A user can select or define a geographic coordinate(s) in the physical world and a proximity/area around the geographic coordinate(s) as a means of identifying one or more users of portable computing devices to whom the first user will communicate with. The user can select the geographic coordinate(s) and/or define a proximity or area around the geographic coordinate(s) using a geospatial dataset and an interactive graphical user interface for navigating the geospatial dataset and selecting coordinates and/or proximities and/or area within the real physical world.

Abstract: A meeting locator system enables users, each having a mobile phone equipped with locative sensing capabilities, to receive locative data from one another. The meeting locator system displays the location of each user upon a visual map on a mobile phone of at least one user. The visual map is automatically scaled to simultaneously display the location of each user. The meeting locator system computes midpoint location (geometric or geographic) between the users and displays the midpoint over the visual map as an approximate location where the users are likely to meet. The midpoint location can be updated and further adjusted based upon an estimated travel time for each user to reach the midpoint. The estimated travel time is computed based upon a current speed of each user, a recent average speed of each user, a computation of path lengths between each user, and/or other travel conditions and is displayed.

Abstract: An interactive apparatus is described comprising a multiple portable gaming systems interconnected with a wireless communications link. Each gaming system comprises a visual display, a user interface, a communications link, a computer system and gaming software. The gaming system can display the real-time real-world images captured by a video camera mounted on the gaming system overlaid with simulated gaming objects and events. In this way a combined on-screen off-screen gaming experience is provided for the user that merges real-world events with simulated gaming actions.

Abstract: A location-based demographic profiling system and method is disclosed that enables users to access information about physical establishments indicating the demographic makeup of the patrons currently located within the establishment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed of a wireless system for customers to interact with attendants (e.g waiters) in restaurants. The system provides for a computing system that transmits electronic menus to wireless portable digital assistants (PDA's) and enables customers to place orders and make real-time service requests. For example, the customer is able to select food items from the menus, indicate preparation instructions for each food item, send comments to the attendants, and request drink refills. The customer is able to check on the status of food preparation via the PDA and observe the food being prepared by a camera link. Upon finishing the meal the restaurant can transmit an electronic bill to the customer.

Abstract: Numerous embodiments exemplarily described herein offer a solution to the problem of overcrowding of spatially associated information by providing geo-demographic tags as a means of targeting spatially associated information at persons who meet certain demographic characteristics. In this way, a user who walks past a busy street corner can configure his or her portable computing device to alert him or her to information that is most appropriate for his or her personal demographic characteristics. In some embodiments, only information that is demographically relevant to a user will trigger an alert and/or be displayed by that user's portable computing device. In some embodiments, the plurality of distinct pieces of spatially associated information that are within a certain proximity of a given user will be presented to the user in a displayed order or hierarchy that is dependent upon the demographic relevance of that information to that particular user.