Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for filtering and presenting elements of an immersive virtual environment. The elements may be filtered according to importance to the user, based on user-specified importance of each element, the number and type of past interactions with the elements, and the like. Further, the filtering may be performed on the basis of the user's preference for density of element presentation. The user may then be presented with a view of the virtual world in which elements having a higher degree of interest to the user are highlighted visually, and in which elements having a lesser degree of interest to the user are made partially transparent or invisible.

Abstract: An execution plan of a query for a parallel database system is determined. In one arrangement, the parallel database system is a relational database management system. The execution plan of the query is determined by an optimizer program. Execution plans are inserted into one or more explain tables that are accessible by a visual explain and compare module to display the steps of the execution plan in a graphical user interface. Parallel execution of steps of the execution plan can be depicted in the graphical user interface. Further, plural execution plans for a given query under different conditions may be compared.

Abstract: Techniques for capturing information during multimedia presentations. According to an embodiment, the presentation recording appliance (PRA) receives multimedia presentation information comprising video information and/or audio information. The PRA may also receive information from external sources other than the first source. The audio and video information received by the PRA is then processed and stored in a format which facilitates subsequent retrieval.