Abstract: A system and method in a virtual universe (VU) system for identifying spam avatars based upon the avatars' multimedia characteristics may have a table that stores multimedia characteristics of known spam avatars. It further may have an analysis unit that compares the multimedia characteristics of avatars against the multimedia characteristics of known spam avatars to determine if the avatar has known spam avatar characteristics. It may further have a scoring system to calculate a spam score based upon the similarities of the comparison and identifying the avatar as a spam avatar based upon the calculated spam score. It may further compare the calculated spam score with a spam score threshold wherein the avatar is identified as a spam avatar if the calculated spam score is equal to or greater than the calculated spam score. Multimedia characteristics include graphics, audio, movement, interactivity, voice, etc.

Abstract: A method is disclosed including presenting a concept to a user via one or more presentation devices and monitoring the user's response to the presentation of the concept by a sensing device. The sensing device may generate sensor data based on the monitored user's response. The method further includes determining based on the sensor data generated by the sensor that the user requires clarification of the presented concept. In response to determining that the user requires clarification of the presented concept, the method further includes identifying an analogy that is configured to clarify the presented concept and presenting the identified analogy to the user via one or more of the presentation devices.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing information during content breakpoints in a virtual universe. The system comprises a placement engine configured to detect a content breakpoint within a virtual universe, which is defined as at least one of a login process, a logoff process, a teleportation, a wait state, and during any point where a user changes information streams in the virtual universe. The system also comprises an insertion resolution engine configured to create a list of prioritized information to present to a user within the virtual universe and an information definition engine configured to present the prioritized information to the user of the virtual universe during the content breakpoint.

Abstract: An approach that provides interactive product evaluation and service within a virtual universe is described. In one embodiment, there is an evaluation indicating component that is configured to permit an owner of a virtual universe product to indicate a desire to have at least one avatar in the virtual universe evaluate the virtual universe product. An evaluation generating component is configured to generate an invitation that requests an evaluation of the virtual universe product. An evaluation collecting component is configured to collect the evaluation of the virtual universe product.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, system and computer program product for a receptionist function in vehicles for communications management, such as phone call and texting management, includes determining driving context of a moving vehicle, estimating a risk factor related to the operation of the vehicle based on the driving context, receiving an incoming communication directed to a mobile communication device within the vehicle, analyzing the incoming communication to determine a communication factor representing an assessment of the incoming communication, and determining an electronic action in response to the incoming communication based on the driving context, the risk factor and the communication factor.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided. Aspects include determining characteristic data associated with a physical environment, based on the characteristic, determining an elastic map for the physical environment, wherein the elastic map comprises a graph comprising a set of nodes and a set of edges, wherein each edge connects two nodes and a set of configurable parameters that define an elastic coupling for each edge, determining an initial physical configuration of the set of nodes in the physical environment based on the elastic map, causing a set of mobile sensors to establish the initial configuration in the physical environment, simulating a mobile sensor elastic coupling between each mobile sensor based on the elastic energy function for each edge, collecting an environmental data point associated with the physical environment, and adjusting a configuration of the set of mobile sensors based on the environmental data point.

Abstract: A fashion display method, system, and non-transitory computer readable medium, include a customer identification circuit configured to identify a fashion style of a customer viewing a fashion display, a customer assessing circuit configured to determine an assessed trait of the customer by assessing the fashion style of the customer, and a display augmenting circuit configured to augment the fashion display to display a new fashion display customized to the customer based on the assessed trait.

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: 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: 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: 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 system and method tracks touches in a healthcare environment in order to analyze paths of transmission and contamination for the purpose of eliminating and containing transmission of colonizing, drug-resistant pathogens. Touches are identified and tracked with the use of recording devices. Each touch is logged and a touch graph is generated to identify transmission paths.

Abstract: Aspects include a method, system, and computer program product for providing a communication from a first communication device. The composition of a first message by a user in a first composition area of the first communication device is detected. The first message may be part of a first conversation stream between the user and a party on a second communication device. A triggering signal received at the first communication device allows the user to prepare a second message as part of a second conversation stream. In response to the triggering signal: a second composition area is opened at the first communication device for preparing the second message. The second message is transmitted in response to receiving a signal to send the second message.

Abstract: A moving target service accesses locations of moving targets each carrying a separate device accessing an augmented reality environment through an augmented reality service, the augmented reality environment comprising one or more moving virtual targets, the one or more moving virtual targets only accessible within the augmented reality environment when each device is physically present at one or more particular locations within a real world environment. The moving target service identifies a selection of the moving targets of a density within a region exceeding a density threshold. The moving target service calculates at least one optimized course for a user to follow within the real world environment to intersect with one or more of the selection of moving targets in the region to access the moving virtual target through the augmented reality service on a separate device accessible to the user.

Abstract: Smart speaker mechanisms are provided for processing audio sample data captured by the audio capture device is provided. The mechanisms capture one or more audio samples from a monitored environment and store the captured one or more audio samples in the audio sample buffer. The one or more captured audio samples are analyzed to determine whether the one or more captured audio samples represent a potential wake sound for initiating a responsive action by the smart speaker device. The potential wake sound is a variable sound determined to not be a normal ambient sound of the monitored environment. In response to determining that the one or more captured audio samples represent a potential wake sound for initiating a responsive action by the smart speaker device, the mechanisms initiate performance of the responsive action by the smart speaker device.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for creation and distribution of dynamic multi-content cards in a virtual universe. More specifically, the method creates a card containing contact information for viewing in a virtual universe (VU) and distribute the card in the VU. Additionally, the system includes a card selection tool configured to create a card containing contact information for viewing in a virtual universe (VU) and distribute the card to another resident in the VU.

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-based communications system is provided. In aspects of the invention, the computer-based communications system is configured to adjust a time period for delaying a message from being sent by a user. A message is drafted by a user to be sent to a recipient. A selection is received for send the message to the recipient. A time period is adjusted for sending the message to the recipient based on user-centric considerations where the time period for delaying sending the message is not explicitly specified by the user. The message is delayed being sent for the time period. After the time period, the message is sent to the recipient.

Abstract: Techniques that facilitate orchestration engine blueprint aspects for hybrid cloud composition are provided. In one example, a system includes a learning component and a hybrid cloud composition component. The learning component learns one or more blueprint-level aspects associated with information for one or more computing resources of a cloud-based computing platform based on historical data associated with the cloud-based computing platform. The hybrid cloud composition component generates a set of resource definitions for the cloud-based computing platform based on the one or more blueprint-level aspects. The hybrid cloud composition component also modifies a blueprint associated with the cloud-based computing platform based on the set of resource definitions.

Abstract: A system for producing a computer program code collaboratively using blockchain includes a plurality of computer nodes, the plurality of computer nodes forming a distributed network for collaborative work. Each of the computer nodes communicates directly with the others, and is operated by a user in accordance with a common smart contract. Contributions of each of the users are entered into the blockchain at respective computer nodes as blocks when transactions have been completed in accordance with the following steps: writing code for inclusion in said computer software program; submitting the code for the computer software program to the distributed network to complete a transaction to add a block with the code to the blockchain of the computer software program; detecting by the distributed network of the submission of code for the computer software program; and adding the code as a block to the blockchain of the computer software program.