Abstract: Systems and related methods for controlling delivery of a stimulus to a pinna of a subject with a stimulator worn on the pinna are described. A wearable stimulation device includes a mechanical, electrical, or other type of stimulator secured to a pinna of a subject. A personal computing device in communication with the wearable stimulation device controls delivery of stimuli and other aspects of operation of the device. The personal computing device presents various types of information relating to operation and control of the device to a user of the wearable stimulation device. In some aspects recommendations regarding neural stimuli and other stimuli or experiences to be delivered in association with the neural stimuli are provided via a computing system in communication with the personal computing device or the wearable stimulation device.

Abstract: Computationally implemented methods and systems include acquiring a request for particular image data that is part of a scene, transmitting the request for the particular image data to an image sensor array that includes more than one image sensor and that is configured to capture the scene that is larger than the requested particular image data, receiving only the particular image data from the image sensor array, and transmitting the received particular image data to at least one requestor. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.

Abstract: Systems and methods for vending devices having ad-watching as consideration are described. In some implementations, a vending apparatus includes a dispensing portion operable to dispense a product (e.g. electricity) to a user; a communication portion operable to provide a communicable content (e.g. an advertisement) to the user; and a control system operatively coupled to the dispensing portion and the communication portion. The control system receives a signal indicative of a consent by the user to receive or review the communicable content at least partially in exchange for the product, and after receipt of the signal, causes the communication portion to provide the communicable content to the user and causes the dispensing portion to dispense the product to the user. In further implementations, the apparatus may include a monitoring system operable to determine whether the user is receiving or reviewing the communicable content.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a garment system including a flexible compression garment, at least one sensor, and at least one therapeutic stimulation delivery device operable responsive to sensing feedback from the at least one sensor, effective to provide therapeutic radiation to a body part of a subject. Embodiments disclosed herein also relate to methods of using such garment systems.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a physiological parameter of a subject through interrogation of an eye of the subject with an optical signal are described. Interrogation is performed unobtrusively. The physiological parameter is determined from a signal sensed from the eye of a subject according to a schedule, under the control of a scheduling controller.

Abstract: Systems and related methods for controlling an ear stimulation device with a personal computing device are described. Multiple factors, including a mood of the user, a user control input, and a secondary factor input are used in controlling the ear stimulation device. Secondary factors include, a variety of factors relating to or influencing the state of the user, including but not limited to, environmental conditions, sleep, diet, or various activities of the user. User inputs can be open-ended or selected from a menu, for example. In an aspect, a correlation module correlates mood of the user to other factors, and control of stimulation is based thereon. In various aspects, the system is also responsive to inputs from sensors or computing networks. In an aspect, the earpiece delivers an audio output such as music from an audio player.

Abstract: Systems and related methods for controlling delivery of a stimulus to a pinna of a subject with a stimulator worn on the pinna are described. A wearable stimulation device includes a mechanical, electrical, or other type of stimulator secured to a pinna of a subject. A personal computing device in communication with the wearable stimulation device controls delivery of stimuli and other aspects of operation of the device. The personal computing device also controls delivery of a sound signal (for example, music) to the user of the stimulation device in association with the neural stimulus. In some aspects recommendations regarding neural stimuli and other stimuli or experiences to be delivered in association with the neural stimuli are provided via a computing system in communication with the personal computing device or the wearable stimulation device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for monitoring an individual subject and facilitating a motion regimen of the individual subject. In an aspect, a system includes, but is not limited to, a deformable substrate; a sensor assembly configured to generate one or more sense signals based on detection of at least one of a movement of the body portion or at least one physiological parameter of the body portion; a processor configured to receive the one or more sense signals, the processor including circuitry configured to identify a physiological state of the individual subject based on at least one of the movement of the body portion or the at least one physiological parameter of the body portion; and an effector operably coupled to the processor and configured to effect at least one predetermined motion of the body portion corresponding to a motion regimen responsive to control by the processor.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for monitoring an individual and facilitating a motion regimen of the individual. In an aspect, a system includes, but is not limited to, a deformable substrate; a sensor assembly to generate sense signals based on detection of a movement of the body portion and a physiological parameter of the body portion during a motion regimen executed by the individual; a processor including circuitry configured to identify a pain state of the individual based on at least one of the movement or the physiological parameter, and to compare at least one of the pain state, the movement, or the physiological parameter to threshold target values; and a communicator configured to generate communication signals responsive to instruction by the processor, the communication signals associated with comparison between at least one of the pain state, the movement, or the physiological parameter to threshold target values.

Abstract: Computationally implemented methods and systems include acquiring user preference information of a user that indicates one or more customized food preferences of the user including at least one or more ingredient integrity preferences related to integrity of one or more ingredients; determining that there is no capable automated customized food generation machine present in nearby vicinity of the user that is able to currently generate one or more customized food items in compliance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user; and identifying one or more substitute automated customized food generation machines present in the nearby vicinity of the user that are able to currently generate at least one substitute customized food item that is only in partial compliance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.

Abstract: An embodiment of a device includes at least one sensor, a determiner, and a notifier. The at least one sensor is configured to be located on a body portion of a subject and to sense an object. The determiner is configured to determine, in response to the sensor, whether the body portion may contact the object. The notifier is configured to notify the subject in response to the determiner determining that the body portion may contact the object. Such a device (e.g., attached to, or part of, a shoe) may be useful to warn a subject of a potential collision between an object (e.g., stairs, furniture, door jamb, curb, toy) and a body part (e.g., foot, toes) in which the subject has lost feeling, the ability to feel pain, or proprioception. And such a warning may help the subject to avoid inadvertently and repeatedly injuring the body part.

Abstract: Systems and related methods for controlling an ear stimulation device with a personal computing device, based on analysis of an image of a user of the personal computing device captured with a camera associated with the personal computing device, are described. One or more parameter is determined from the processed image, including, but not limited, to user identity, emotion, physiological condition, or placement of a stimulator earpiece, and control of the ear stimulation device is based thereon. If the earpiece is located incorrectly, in an aspect, delivery of a stimulus is prevented. In another aspect, the user is notified of the need to reposition an incorrectly located earpiece.

Abstract: A semiconductor-transistor-based system and device that are designed to, but are not limited to: electronically outputting electronic-semiconductor-transistor-voltage-level-based-state-machine-assisted-user-menu-selection display associated with electronic-semiconductor-transistor-voltage-level-based-state-machine-assisted collection of user-physiological information, associated with electronic-semiconductor-transistor-voltage-level-based-state-machine-assisted collection of user-conduct information, and associated with electronic-semiconductor-transistor-voltage-level-based-state-machine-assisted obtaining of food-based information. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

Abstract: Systems are described for analyzing an environment. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a plurality of sensors, each sensor configured for positioning proximate a respective environmental object, each sensor configured to generate output signals corresponding to a proximity of a human appendage with the sensor or an impact between the human appendage and the respective environmental object; a remote device configured to distinctly identify each of the plurality of sensors and to receive the output signals from each sensor; a processor configured to process the output signals to provide an indication of at least one of the proximity of the human appendage with the sensor or when an impact between the human appendage and the respective environmental object occurs based on a threshold value being exceeded; and an output reporter configured to generate communication signals responsive to instruction by the processor.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments provide nuclear fission igniters for nuclear fission reactors and methods for their operation. Illustrative embodiments and aspects include, without limitation, a nuclear fission igniter configured to ignite a nuclear fission deflagration wave in nuclear fission fuel material, a nuclear fission deflagration wave reactor with a nuclear fission igniter, a method of igniting a nuclear fission deflagration wave, and the like.

Abstract: Carbon nanotube template arrays may be edited to form connections between proximate nanotubes and/or to delete undesired nanotubes or nanotube junctions.

Abstract: Systems and related methods for controlling an ear stimulation device with a personal computing device, in response to determination of electrical contact of an electrode in a stimulator earpiece with an ear of a user of the personal computing device, are described. If the electrode is not in good electrical contact with the ear of the user, delivery of the stimulus is prevented and the user is notified of the status of the electrode. In various aspects, the user is instructed to reposition the earpiece or replace, clean, moisten, or apply gel to at least a portion of the electrode.

Abstract: A helmet testing apparatus includes a sensor configured to be selectively positionable within an interior head cavity of a helmet to acquire compliance data regarding a liner of the helmet and a processing circuit configured to determine a rating for the helmet based on the compliance data and predetermined compliance parameters for the helmet.

Abstract: A hands-free intercom may include a user-tracking sensor, a directional microphone, a directional sound emitter, a display device, and/or a communication interface. The user-tracking sensor may determine a location of a user so the directional microphone can measure vocal emissions by the user and the directional sound emitter can deliver audio to the user. The hands-free intercom may provide privacy to the user. The hands-free intercom may prevent an eavesdropper from hearing the user's vocal emissions, for example, by canceling the vocal emissions at the eavesdropper's ear. The directional sound emitter may deliver out-of-phase sound to cancel the vocal emissions. The hands-free intercom may also, or instead, cancel ambient noise at the user's ear. The hands-free intercom may measure or predict a filtration of the sound to be canceled and compensate for the filtration when canceling the sound.

Abstract: Various heaters and arrays of heaters that utilize nanostructures or carbon structures, such as nanotubes, nanotube meshes, or graphene sheets, are disclosed. In various arrangements, at least a pair of contacts are electrically coupled with a given nanostructure or carbon structure to pass a current for heating.