Abstract: A motion system for moving objects in a space, e.g., for moving virtual reality (VR) participants about space used to provide a VR environment. The system includes a controller and a position monitoring assembly. The system has a modular floor including a plurality of tile assemblies defining a support surface for a first and a second object. Each of the tile assemblies includes: (a) a planar tile with an upper surface for supporting the first and second objects; and (b) a drive system. The drive system includes a vibration-inducing assembly operable to oscillate the planar tile in a horizontal plane and further includes a preferential friction assembly operable to selectively reduce friction between the upper surface and any supported object. The controller generates control signals, based on position information, to independently control the tile assemblies of the modular floor to move the first and second objects on the support surface.

Abstract: In one embodiment, processing location data collected with a mobile device having a positioning system includes accepting trajectory data representing successive geographic positions of the mobile device, where the positions are associated with corresponding times. A set of coordinate segments is determined to represent in the accepted trajectory data, such that the trajectory data represent repeated traversals of at least some of the coordinate segments. A textual characterization is associated with each segment of the determined set of coordinate segments, and then a representation of the trajectory data (for example, an electronic diary) is formed using the textual characterization of the coordinate segments and stored. In some examples, a text based query associated with the accepted trajectory data is accepted and a response is determined using the stored representation of the trajectory data.

Abstract: A motion system for moving objects in a space, e.g., for moving virtual reality (VR) participants about space used to provide a VR environment. The system includes a controller and a position monitoring assembly. The system has a modular floor including a plurality of tile assemblies defining a support surface for a first and a second object. Each of the tile assemblies includes: (a) a planar tile with an upper surface for supporting the first and second objects; and (b) a drive system. The drive system includes a vibration-inducing assembly operable to oscillate the planar tile in a horizontal plane and further includes a preferential friction assembly operable to selectively reduce friction between the upper surface and any supported object. The controller generates control signals, based on position information, to independently control the tile assemblies of the modular floor to move the first and second objects on the support surface.

Abstract: In one embodiment, processing location data collected with a mobile device having a positioning system includes accepting trajectory data representing successive geographic positions of the mobile device, where the positions are associated with corresponding times. A set of coordinate segments is determined to represent in the accepted trajectory data, such that the trajectory data represent repeated traversals of at least some of the coordinate segments. A textual characterization is associated with each segment of the determined set of coordinate segments, and then a representation of the trajectory data (for example, an electronic diary) is formed using the textual characterization of the coordinate segments and stored. In some examples, a text based query associated with the accepted trajectory data is accepted and a response is determined using the stored representation of the trajectory data.