Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for measuring a velocity of a droplet passing through a microfluidic channel.

Abstract: A method of operating a recommendation system comprises receiving an indication that a first user has knowledge of a first media item, and receiving an indication that a second user has expressed interest in the first media item, wherein the first user and the second user are associated. The first user is prompted to recommend the first media item to the second user, based on the first user's knowledge of the media item and the second user's indication of interest in the media item.

Abstract: A method of generating media pair similarity ratings comprises presenting a user with a first media item, and querying the user regarding additional media items that are most similar to the first media item. Input is received from the user indicating the additional media items that are most similar to the first media item; and a pair similarity rating is set for the first media item and at least one of the additional media items based at least in part on the input indicating the additional media items most similar to the first media item.

Abstract: A method of matching media objects comprises identifying an unknown media item as being the same media item as one of a plurality of known media items by comparing identifying information of the unknown media item with identifying information of one or more known media items. Comparing the identifying information comprises generating a match score for the unknown media item and at least one of the plurality of known media items by comparing the identifying information and determining that the media items match if the match score exceeds a fuzzy match threshold score. If the match score is below the fuzzy match threshold score but above a weak match threshold score, a crowdsource determination of whether the media items match is generated by receiving from two or more users a user determination of whether the media items match.

Abstract: A method of operating a recommendation system comprises receiving one or more elements of identifying information for a first user, and receiving one or more user demographic elements associated with the first user based on the received identifying information. The recommendation system generates an initial media preference profile from correlation between the one or more user demographic elements and media preferences known to be associated with the one or more user demographic elements.

Abstract: Optical systems are disclosed for use in identifying an analyte, such as glucose in blood or interstitial fluid (ISF), using a biomaterial, such as glucose binding protein (GBP), that is brought into contact with the analyte. An optical system includes a first filter adapted to reflect light emitted from a light-emitting diode to illuminate a fluorescent body, and further adapted to transmit light emitted from the fluorescent body, and a second filter adapted to separate light transmitted by the first filter into signal band light and reference band light.

Abstract: A mobile phone case with an embedded wireless interface for enabling communications between a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor and a mobile phone is described. The mobile phone case includes an autonomous battery and an autonomous alarm speaker for enabling communication with a CGM sensor in situations where the mobile phone is unavailable.

Abstract: A method of operating a recommendation system comprises presenting a plurality of subscribed streaming media item recommendations to a user based on known user preferences. The subscribed streaming media item recommendations include streaming media items from at least one subscribed streaming media service, from a plurality of available streaming media services. An advertisement is presented for an unsubscribed streaming media service to which the user does not subscribe, from the plurality of available streaming media services. The advertisement comprises a plurality of streaming media items available from the unsubscribed streaming media service, based on known user preferences and presented in a format substantially similar to a format of the presented subscribed streaming media item recommendations.

Abstract: A method of providing multi-person media item recommendations comprises receiving media preference information for a plurality of users, and generating a composite media recommendation score for a plurality of media items for a specified group of at least two of the plurality of users using the media preference information for the two or more users for the plurality of media items. A media recommendation is provided for the specified group of at least two of the plurality of users based on the generated composite media recommendation scores for the plurality of media items for the specified at least two of the plurality of users.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a velocity or an inflation rate of a droplet in a microfluidic channel. The droplet is exposed to two or more temporally separated flashes of light, each flash including light of one wavelength band, and imaged using a detector configured to distinguish light in the wavelength bands. Two or more images of the droplet are acquired, each corresponding to one of the flashes, and all within a single video frame or photographic exposure. The images can be processed separately and the position or size of the droplet in each image is calculated. A velocity or inflation rate is then determined by dividing the change in position or size by the amount of time allowed to pass between the flashes.

Abstract: Peer-to-peer media item recommendations are provided by presenting a selected list of media items to a first user to consider for recommendation to a friend, receiving an indication from the first user that one or more of the presented media items are to be recommended to the friend, and presenting the one or more indicated media items to the friend. The presented list comprises media items the friend hasn't rated, and is selected using a media recommendation engine.

Abstract: A mobile phone case with an embedded wireless interface for enabling communications between a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor and a mobile phone is described. The mobile phone case includes an autonomous battery and an autonomous alarm speaker for enabling communication with a CGM sensor in situations where the mobile phone is unavailable.

Abstract: Media is recommended to a user based on domain knowledge and correlation-based recommendation scores. A domain knowledge-based recommendation score is calculated for a user, and a correlation-based recommendation score is calculated for the user. A user recommendation score is calculated for the user regarding a media item, derived from the domain knowledge-based recommendation score and the correlation-based recommendation score. One or more media items are recommended to the user, such as by ordering or selecting media based on their user recommendation scores.

Abstract: Peer-to-peer media item recommendations are provided by presenting a selected list of media items to a first user to consider for recommendation to a friend, receiving an indication from the first user that one or more of the presented media items are to be recommended to the friend, and presenting the one or more indicated media items to the friend. The presented list comprises media items the friend hasn't rated, and is selected using a media recommendation engine.

Abstract: Media is recommended to a user based on domain knowledge and correlation-based recommendation scores. A domain knowledge-based recommendation score is calculated for a user, and a correlation-based recommendation score is calculated for the user. A user recommendation score is calculated for the user regarding a media item, derived from the domain knowledge-based recommendation score and the correlation-based recommendation score. One or more media items are recommended to the user, such as by ordering or selecting media based on their user recommendation scores.

Abstract: Media preference ratings are consolidated by receiving one or more first media item ratings for a user using a first rating system, and receiving one or more second media item ratings for the user from a third party using a second rating system. The one or more second media item ratings from the second rating system are translated into media item ratings in the first rating system, and the one or more media item ratings from the third party translated in the first rating system are combined with the one or more first media item ratings to form a composite media item rating set.

Abstract: A method of increasing the spatial uniformity of the detected intensity of a beam of light from a laser in a system including the laser and a light detector. In one embodiment the method includes the steps of generating a beam of light with the laser; and moving the beam of light and the light detector relative to each other, such that the detector averages the spatial intensity of the beam of light over time. In another embodiment the invention relates to a system for increasing the detected spatial uniformity of the intensity of a beam of light. In one embodiment the system comprises a light detector; a laser source for generating the beam of light; and a means for moving the beam of light and the detector relative to one another such that the detector averages the intensity of the light beam over time.

Abstract: A method of increasing the spatial uniformity of the detected intensity of a beam of light from a laser in a system including the laser and a light detector. In one embodiment the method includes the steps of generating a beam of light with the laser; and moving the beam of light and the light detector relative to each other, such that the detector averages the spatial intensity of the beam of light over time. In another embodiment the invention relates to a system for increasing the detected spatial uniformity of the intensity of a beam of light. In one embodiment the system comprises a light detector; a laser source for generating the beam of light; and a means for moving the beam of light and the detector relative to one another such that the detector averages the intensity of the light beam over time.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to an optical apparatus for producing light of a predetermined intensity from light sources of less than the predetermined intensity. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a first light source; a second light source; a double dove anti-Gaussian generator in optical communication with the first light source; and a compensator in optical communication with the second light source. Light from the first light source passes through the double dove anti-Gaussian generator and light from the second light source passes through the compensator, and are combined to produce a flattened Gaussian intensity distribution. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating an image into subunits and reading the separate subimages out of the detectors in parallel.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to an optical apparatus for producing light of a predetermined intensity from light sources of less than the predetermined intensity. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a first light source; a second light source; a double dove anti-Gaussian generator in optical communication with the first light source; and a compensator in optical communication with the second light source. Light from the first light source passes through the double dove anti-Gaussian generator and light from the second light source passes through the compensator, and are combined to produce a flattened Gaussian intensity distribution. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating an image into subunits and reading the separate subimages out of the detectors in parallel.