Abstract: A method for establishing an index of usability associated with a replacement payment card is provided. The method may include receiving a payment card replacement request in a vending facility. The method may further include identifying at least one possible risk factor associated with a user utilizing the replacement payment card. The method may also include creating a risk assessment based on the at least one identified possible risk factor. The method may further include establishing an index of usability for the replacement payment card based on the created assessment, whereby a value of the index of usability correlates to a plurality of restrictions placed on using the replacement payment card. The method may also include storing the established index of usability in a database.

Abstract: A moving target service receives path of locations of a moving target monitored by a navigation device. The moving target service calculates at least one optimized course for at least one user to follow to intersect with the moving target at one or more future locations predicted based on the path of the locations and based on at least one context record. The moving target service outputs the at least one optimized course to a display interface accessible to the at least one user for directing the user to navigate from a starting point to at least one of the one or more future locations.

Abstract: A method for establishing an index of usability associated with a replacement payment card is provided. The method may include receiving a payment card replacement request in a vending facility. The method may further include identifying at least one possible risk factor associated with a user utilizing the replacement payment card. The method may also include creating a risk assessment based on the at least one identified possible risk factor. The method may further include establishing an index of usability for the replacement payment card based on the created assessment, whereby a value of the index of usability correlates to a plurality of restrictions placed on using the replacement payment card. The method may also include storing the established index of usability in a database.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product controls a driving mode of a self-driving vehicle (SDV). One or more processors compare a control processor competence level of an on-board SDV control processor in controlling the SDV to a human driver competence level of a human driver in controlling the SDV while the SDV encounters a current roadway condition which is a result of current weather conditions of the roadway on which the SDV is currently traveling. One or more processors then selectively assign control of the SDV to the SDV control processor or to the human driver while the SDV encounters the current roadway condition based on which of the control processor competence level and the human driver competence level is relatively higher to one another.

Abstract: An intelligent document system provides one or more users, who are recipients of documents, with a way to “interact” with the documents for example for the purpose of understanding the content of the documents, and taking appropriate action in response to receiving the documents. Interacting with one or more documents can include navigating the documents guided by semantic content of the documents, asking questions that are answered based on the content of the documents. In some examples, the documents are “dynamic” in that users can manipulate data in the document for example for multiple different views or analyses. In some examples, the documents are augmented semantics and ontology that will allow the user to accurately navigate the document and achieve the natural interfacing they desire.

Abstract: An assistive shopping cart system for guiding a user and monitoring the user's physical and cognitive conditions in a shopping environment is described. The assistive shopping cart system provides assistance and guidance to a user based on a user profile. The assistive shopping cart system routes the user through the shopping environment using a shopping route generated based on the user profile. The assistive shopping cart system also detects and tracks user physical and cognitive conditions and user actions in the shopping environment. The user actions are used to aid in the completion of a purchase/transaction and generate shopping notifications for the user and others to understand the process of the shopping experience.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product controls a driving mode of a self-driving vehicle (SDV). One or more processors compare a control processor competence level of an on-board SDV control processor in controlling the SDV to a human driver competence level of a human driver in controlling the SDV while the SDV encounters a current roadway condition which is a result of current weather conditions of the roadway on which the SDV is currently traveling. One or more processors then selectively assign control of the SDV to the SDV control processor or to the human driver while the SDV encounters the current roadway condition based on which of the control processor competence level and the human driver competence level is relatively higher to one another.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating the autonomous presentation of a self-driving vehicle are provided. In one example, a method can include a system operatively coupled to a processor, where the system: determines a feature of a self-driving vehicle based on information regarding an entity in a pending transaction; determines a task to be performed by the self-driving vehicle based on the feature; and generates an instruction for the self-driving vehicle to perform the task.

Abstract: Smart speaker system mechanisms, associated with a smart speaker device comprising an audio capture device, are provided for processing audio sample data captured by the audio capture device. The mechanisms receive, from the audio capture device of the smart speaker device, an audio sample captured from a monitored environment. The mechanisms classify a sound in the audio sample data as a type of sound based on performing a joint analysis of a plurality of different characteristics of the sound and matching results of the joint analysis to criteria specified in a plurality of sound models. The mechanisms determine, based on the classification of the sound, whether a responsive action is to be performed based on the classification of the sound. In response to determining that a responsive action is to be performed, the mechanisms initiate performance of the responsive action by the smart speaker system.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product controls a driving mode of a self-driving vehicle (SDV). One or more processors compare a control processor competence level of an on-board SDV control processor in controlling the SDV to a human driver competence level of a human driver in controlling the SDV while the SDV encounters a current roadway condition which is a result of current weather conditions of the roadway on which the SDV is currently traveling. One or more processors then selectively assign control of the SDV to the SDV control processor or to the human driver while the SDV encounters the current roadway condition based on which of the control processor competence level and the human driver competence level is relatively higher to one another.

Abstract: A selection of content from a content presentation is received. At least one topic from the selected content is extracted using natural language processing (NLP). The at least one topic is representative of a subject conveyed within the selected content. At least one perspective associated with the at least one topic is extracted using NLP. The at least one perspective is representative of a point of view conveyed within the selected content regarding the at least one topic. A topic rating of the extracted topics and associated perspectives is determined based upon the extracted topics and associated perspectives. The topic rating is representative of a topic diversity among the extracted topics and associated perspectives. The topic rating is presented within a graphical user interface (GUI).

Abstract: Systems and methods for establishing an ad-hoc collaboration between unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are provided. A method includes: configuring intent data of a first UAV using a controller of the first UAV; configuring a collaboration plan for the first UAV and a second UAV based on a determination of a shared intent between the first UAV and the second UAV; executing the collaboration plan by flying the first UAV and gathering data using the first UAV based on the collaboration plan; and sharing the gathered data with an operator of the second UAV.

Abstract: A database comprising data associated with one or more routes is maintained. The data associated with the one or more routes comprises difficulty level data for utilizing one or more mobility assistive tools to traverse the one or more routes. In response to receiving a query from a given computing device, one or more amounts of physical exertion for a given user to traverse at least a portion of the one or more routes utilizing a given mobility assistive tool are predicted. One or more routes for the given user to traverse are selected based at least in part on the predicted amounts of physical exertion. One or more contextual factors of the given user are estimated to at least one of optimize and prioritize the selected one or more routes for the given user based on analyzing user data.

Abstract: A secure chain of data blocks is maintained at a given computing node. The given computing node is part of a set of computing nodes in a distributed network of computing nodes wherein each of the set of computing nodes maintains the secure chain of data blocks. The secure chain of data blocks maintained at each computing node comprises one or more data blocks that represent one or more accident related transactions associated with a vehicle. In response to a risk assessment operation, one or more data blocks are added to the secure chain of data blocks maintained at the given computing node.

Abstract: Techniques related to vehicle operation. A processor determines that at least one condition is met related to a vehicle. In response to the at least one condition being met, the processor generates a natural language output having a query. The processor determines that an affirmative response to the query is received and causes a downshift of a transmission of the vehicle in response to the affirmative response.

Abstract: A system and method for energy conservation in a virtual universe, the method comprising: determining, at a server, available energy conservation options associated with an avatar of the virtual universe; determining, at the server, selected energy conservation options of the available energy conservation options; and applying, at the server, the selected energy conservation options to portions of the virtual universe associated with the avatar.

Abstract: Methods and systems for culturally sensitive operation of an electronic device. One or more cultural characteristics (CC) related to use of a communication device are determined and one or more cultural characteristics rules are learned. An amelioration action is triggered based on use of the communication device, the one or more cultural characteristics rules, and a confidence/risk level.

Abstract: A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code, including generating one or more ad-avatars in a virtual universe (VU) and monitoring information from the VU. Additionally, the method includes directing the one or more ad-avatars to perform one or more viral advertisements in the VU based on the information.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product controls self-driving vehicles (SDVs). An emergency message is transmitted to a receiver within a self-driving vehicle (SDV). The emergency message describes an emergency state of an emergency vehicle and an identified future route of the emergency vehicle, where the identified future route is a planned route to an emergency destination for the emergency vehicle that includes a first pathway. In response to the SDV receiving the emergency message, the SDV is redirected, via an auto-control hardware system on the SDV, to drive to a second pathway that does not conflict with the identified future route of the emergency vehicle.

Abstract: Aspects include detecting, at a first point in time, that a first person at a first location is within a vicinity of one or more other people and predicting, for each of the one or more people, a future location of the other person at a future point. The future point in time is subsequent to the first point in time and a confidence level is assigned to the prediction. A travel route from the first location to a destination location is generated based at least in part on the one or more predicted future locations and their assigned confidence levels. The generated travel route includes travel route locations that are more than a specified distance from at least one of the predicted future locations having an assigned confidence level greater than a confidence level threshold. Travel route guidance along the generated travel route is provided to the first person.