Abstract: A cushion for use with orthopedic casts for encasing wrists, forearms and/or hands, when a finger, such as the thumb, is not itself encased in the cast, is provided. The cushion is manufactured from a moisture-proof, non-absorbent, closed-cell synthetic material, in the shape of a portion of a section of a hollow tube, so that when the cushion is placed against a flat surface, an inner surface of the cushion encloses a cavity or an empty space open at one end of the cushion. When the supplemental cushion is in use, the webbing that connects the human thumb and index finger is positioned in that empty space, and more particularly encased within the empty space of the cushion, so that chaffing and injury to that webbing during thumb movement and extension are minimized, while the wrist, forearm and/or hand are encased in the cast.

Abstract: A method is provided of using a telephone device to view full content on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to the telephone device. The telephone device includes a display screen, a button which facilitates communication of the full content between the telephone device and a local control device connected to the nearby display screen, and a wireless transmitter. The full content is stored in the telephone device. Only a portion of the full content is displayed on the display screen of the telephone device. The full content is communicated from the telephone device to the local control device via a signal sent by the wireless transmitter upon selection of the button. The local control device receives the signal and provides the full content to the nearby display screen for display thereon.

Abstract: A temporary building structure is provided. The temporary building structure includes a top wall and an opposing floor surface covered by the top wall. The top wall and the floor surface define a first building area and a second building area. The first building area includes a floor surface configured to receive a sound source. The structure further includes a portable sound limiting acoustic shell including an acoustic canopy covering at least a portion of the first building area in which the sound source is positioned. The acoustic canopy is positioned proximate the floor surface, such that the acoustic canopy concentrates sound generated by the sound source within the first building area and isolates the generated sound from the second building area.

Abstract: A method is provided of using a telephone device to view full content on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to the telephone device. The telephone device includes a display screen, a button which facilitates communication of the full content between the telephone device and a local control device connected to the nearby display screen, and a wireless transmitter. The full content is stored in the telephone device. Only a portion of the full content is displayed on the display screen of the telephone device. The full content is communicated from the telephone device to the local control device via a signal sent by the wireless transmitter upon selection of the button. The local control device receives the signal and provides the full content to the nearby display screen for display thereon.

Abstract: A temporary building structure is provided. The temporary building structure includes a top wall and an opposing floor surface covered by the top wall. The top wall and the floor surface define a first building area and a second building area. The first building area includes a floor surface configured to receive a sound source. The structure further includes a portable sound limiting acoustic shell including an acoustic canopy covering at least a portion of the first building area in which the sound source is positioned. The acoustic canopy is positioned proximate the floor surface, such that the acoustic canopy concentrates sound generated by the sound source within the first building area and isolates the generated sound from the second building area.

Abstract: A portable device is provided that is adapted to remotely control content on a nearby display screen. The portable device includes a button which, upon selection, sends commands with respect to current content on the nearby display screen. The portable device is adapted to send a command that specifies an electronic address of new content from an electronic network for display on the nearby display screen.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for viewing content. The apparatus includes a portable device and a payment module. The portable device enables viewing of content on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to the portable device. The portable device includes a button and a transmitter. The button initiates wireless communication between the portable device and a payment module. The transmitter electronically wirelessly communicates a signal from the portable device to the payment module upon selection of the button. The signal includes customer identity information that identifies an account that can be charged for viewing the content. The payment module receives the signal, allows the display screen to be used for viewing the content, and charges the account for viewing the content.

Abstract: A portable device is provided for allowing a user operating the portable device to communicate with a remotely located entity. An object or a device connected to an object emits a signal containing an electronic address of the remotely located entity. The portable device includes a button and a wireless receiver. The button facilitates communication between the portable device and the remotely located entity. The wireless receiver receives and automatically captures the signal emitted by the object or the device connected to the object without selection of any buttons on the portable device. The portable device automatically establishes communication with the remotely located entity upon selection by the user of the button. Selection of the button causes the portable device to automatically contact the electronic address contained within the emitted signal.

Abstract: A method and article of manufacture are provided for communicating confidential information during an electronic chat session. The chat session has a plurality of participants, including human users and associated software controlled agents. The software controlled agents have artificial intelligence. A first human user requests a first software controlled agent associated with the first human user to request information from a second software controlled agent associated with a second human user. The second agent receives authorization to release the requested information. The second agent transmits the requested information, wherein the transmitted information is not revealed to the human users.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for viewing full content on a display screen. The apparatus includes a portable device adapted to allow viewing of full content on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to the portable device. The portable device includes a memory that stores the full content; a display screen that displays only a portion of the full content; a button which facilitates communication of the full content between the portable device and a local control device connected to the nearby display screen; and a wireless transmitter that communicating the full content from the portable device to the local control device via a signal sent by the wireless transmitter upon selection of the button. The signal is received by the local control device which provides the full content to the nearby display screen for display thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for viewing content on a display screen. The apparatus includes a portable device adapted to allow viewing of content on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to the portable device. The portable device includes a memory that stores the content, or a portion thereof, and an electronic address of the content; a display screen which displays the content, or a portion thereof; a button which facilitates communication of the content between the portable device and a local control device connected to the nearby display screen; and a wireless transmitter that communicates the electronic address of the content from the portable device to the local control device via a signal sent by the wireless transmitter upon selection of the button. The local control device retrieves the content from a remote location and provides the content to the nearby display screen for display thereon.

Abstract: A method and article of manufacture are provided for communicating confidential information during an electronic chat session. The chat session has a plurality of participants, including human users and associated software controlled agents. The software controlled agents have artificial intelligence. A first human user requests a first software controlled agent associated with the first human user to request information from a second software controlled agent associated with a second human user. The second agent receives authorization to release the requested information. The second agent transmits the requested information, wherein the transmitted information is not revealed to the human users.

Abstract: A user's chatterbot participates in a chat session with other users and the other users' chatterbots. The originator of an incoming instant message is identified to such a degree that a buddy on a buddy list is able to determine that the instant message was sent by a user's chatterbot (e.g., “Jackie's chatterbot”), and not the user (“Jackie”). The chatterbots can communicate with other chatterbots while the chatterbots' users listen to the chatterbots converse. The chatterbots may respond to messages originated by other chatterbots' messages and buddies' (users') messages.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for viewing full content on a display screen. The apparatus includes a portable device adapted to allow viewing of full content on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to the portable device. The portable device includes a memory that stores the full content; a display screen that displays only a portion of the full content; a button which facilitates communication of the full content between the portable device and a local control device connected to the nearby display screen; and a wireless transmitter that communicating the full content from the portable device to the local control device via a signal sent by the wireless transmitter upon selection of the button. The signal is received by the local control device which provides the full content to the nearby display screen for display thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for viewing content. The apparatus includes a portable device and a payment module. The portable device enables viewing of content on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to the portable device. The portable device includes a button and a transmitter. The button initiates wireless communication between the portable device and a payment module. The transmitter electronically wirelessly communicates a signal from the portable device to the payment module upon selection of the button. The signal includes customer identity information that identifies an account that can be charged for viewing the content. The payment module receives the signal, allows the display screen to be used for viewing the content, and charges the account for viewing the content.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for viewing content on a display screen. The apparatus includes a portable device adapted to allow viewing of content on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to the portable device. The portable device includes a memory that stores the content, or a portion thereof, and an electronic address of the content; a display screen which displays the content, or a portion thereof; a button which facilitates communication of the content between the portable device and a local control device connected to the nearby display screen; and a wireless transmitter that communicates the electronic address of the content from the portable device to the local control device via a signal sent by the wireless transmitter upon selection of the button. The local control device retrieves the content from a remote location and provides the content to the nearby display screen for display thereon.

Abstract: A portable device is provided for allowing a user operating the portable device to communicate with a remotely located entity. An object or a device connected to an object emits a signal containing an electronic address of the remotely located entity. The portable device includes a button and a wireless receiver. The button facilitates communication between the portable device and the remotely located entity. The wireless receiver receives and automatically captures the signal emitted by the object or the device connected to the object without selection of any buttons on the portable device. The portable device automatically establishes communication with the remotely located entity upon selection by the user of the button. Selection of the button causes the portable device to automatically contact the electronic address contained within the emitted signal.

Abstract: A portable device is provided that is adapted to remotely control content on a nearby display screen. The portable device includes a button which, upon selection, sends commands with respect to current content on the nearby display screen. The portable device is adapted to send a command that specifies an electronic address of new content from an electronic network for display on the nearby display screen.

Abstract: An apparatus that provides switch signals includes an upper portion, a lower portion, compressible material disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion, memory and a processor. The upper portion includes an outer surface having portions that define at least two different regions. At least one of the different regions has a switch function. The upper portion also includes a three-dimensional orientation sensor that generates three-dimensional orientation signals in response to movement of the upper portion. The lower portion has a bottom surface adapted to be placed against an immovable surface. The memory electronically stores information regarding the portions of the outer surface that define at least one region having a switch function. The processor includes processor logic that uses the electronically stored information in the memory and the orientation signals to detect whether a region having a switch function was pressed, and if so, outputs a switch signal.

Abstract: A method is provided of using a telephone device to view full content on a nearby display screen which is not physically connected to the telephone device. The telephone device includes a display screen, a button which facilitates communication of the full content between the telephone device and a local control device connected to the nearby display screen, and a wireless transmitter. The full content is stored in the telephone device. Only a portion of the full content is displayed on the display screen of the telephone device. The full content is communicated from the telephone device to the local control device via a signal sent by the wireless transmitter upon selection of the button. The local control device receives the signal and provides the full content to the nearby display screen for display thereon.