Abstract: The present invention is a vertical wind turbine having a turbine with a plurality of blades or wind vanes. The blades are constructed and attached to the shaft of the turbine so as to allow them to twist open to present more surface area to wind currents when a threshold rotational velocity is reached. Also presented are a novel outer shell that is placed over at least part of the shaft and a novel turbine blade.

Abstract: A system for sale of consumer goods, the system including means for issuing to a customer from a printer a non-validated token representing an article of merchandise following election by the customer from a selection panel. The article is to be paid for by the customer at a check-out unit when checking the token at said unit. Said checkout unit has means for providing a validated token from a token printer or dispenser as a replacement token or by validating a reusable token. The validated token carries a transaction code elected from the group of: a serially generated transaction code or a randomly generated transaction code. Said checkout unit has means for communicating with an article dispenser means and providing the article dispenser means with said transaction code following payment of the article.

Abstract: A multimedia controller apparatus provides for computer programmed volume control and summing of audio signals in an enhanced multimedia environment. The apparatus is capable of receiving and processing inputs from a CD-ROM FM synthesizer, general MIDI audio, microphone, PCM sampled sound, and telephony systems. From these inputs, it produces outputs for PCM sampled sound, telephony systems, and stereo line-out. Additionally, it provides for the integration of telephonic support functions into a multimedia system. The multimedia controller apparatus comprises a volume control portion for receiving and controlling the volume of a plurality of analog input signals. The volume controlled input signals are then combined by an aggregation portion. A telephony processing portion is also provided for processing the telephony input signals. Stereo outputs, mono outputs, digital samplable outputs, and telephony outputs can be formed from the combined analog and telephony signals by an output portion.