Abstract: A manually operated propelling method for skateboard or longboard skating comprising of an attachable foot pedal mechanism. The mechanism translates linear motion from the user to rotational motion at the wheel of the skateboard. This mechanism allows the rider to propel the skateboard forward without having to remove a foot from the skateboard deck. This is achieved by pushing a spring loaded pedal mounted on the board, which moves a bracket containing a unidirectional ratchet styled gear, which then drives a driving gear that is clamped to the one of the skateboard trucks, which in turn interacts with a driven gear attached to one or more wheels of the skateboard.

Abstract: This disclosure teaches an improved pyramidal file structure and method of use thereof. A pyramidal file structure can comprise a body and a header. The body can comprise a plurality of layers. The layers divided into tiles. Each of the tiles can be capable of comprising a plurality of images. The header can define a layer plan, a tile plan, and an image plan. A method of storing a scan within a pyramidal file structure can comprise defining in a header of a pyramidal file structure a pyramidal data structure. The header can define a layer plan, a tile plan, and an image plan. The method can also comprise storing in each tile of the pyramidal data structure of the pyramidal file structure a plurality of images. The pyramidal data structure can comprise a plurality of layers, each of the layers comprising one or more of the tiles.

Abstract: This disclosure teaches a system and method for controlling a specimen scanner remotely. In one embodiment, a method for controlling a specimen scanner remotely can comprise the step of communicating with a specimen scanner to a network. The specimen scanner can comprise a camera, a stage, one or more lenses, and one or more light sources. The method can comprise the additional step of providing a graphical user interface to a remote computer connected to the network. The graphical user interface can be operable to control the camera, choose one of the one or more lenses, and adjust the one or more light sources. The method can further comprise the step of receiving instructions from the remote computer, and controlling the specimen scanner based on those instructions.

Abstract: This disclosure also teaches a system and method for scanning a specimen into a focus-stacked scan. In one embodiment, a method for scanning the specimen into a focus-stacked scan can comprise illuminating the specimen with a light. The specimen can comprise a topography. The depths of the topography can be variable along a z-axis. The method can also comprise dividing the specimen into a plurality of regions. Each of the regions can comprise a regional peak in the topography. Additionally, the method can comprise sampling each of the regions at a plurality of focal planes orthogonal to the z-axis by capturing, at each focal plane, an image of the region. The image can be focused on the focal plane. Lastly, the method can comprise focus-stacking, for each of the region the images within the region, into a focus-stacked image, and stitching together the focus-stacked images.

Abstract: This disclosure also teaches a system and method for scanning a specimen to create a multidimensional scan. In one embodiment, a method for scanning the specimen to create a multidimensional scan can comprise illuminating a specimen with a light and dividing the specimen into a plurality of regions. The specimen can comprise a topography. The depths of the topography can be variable along a z-axis. Each of the regions can comprise a minimum depth and a maximum depth. The topography is between the minimum depth and the maximum depth. The method can also comprise sampling each of the regions at a plurality of focal planes orthogonal to the z-axis by capturing, at each focal plane, an image of the region. The image can be focused on the focal plane. Lastly, the method can comprise stitching together the images into a dimensional image for each of the focal planes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for hosting and/or interacting with a social network use a set of postings. Individual postings include a question and may include a set of selectable answers to the question. Users provide their response to the question in a posting. Users can see the answers of other users in their social network and others that are on the platform to the same question. Users can provide predictions for particular users in their social network or for others on the platform, and vice versa.