Abstract: A client in communication with a server via a distributed computer network collects biometric information about a user at the client computer and transmits it to the server during a protocol exchange. The server validates the biometric information and provides a first resource if the validation is successful or a second resource if the validation is unsuccessful.

Abstract: A user authentication system collects measurements of physical and/or behavioral characteristics of a user. The measurements are processed by two or more processing engines to produce initial confidence measures, and a unified confidence measure is prepared from weighted inputs including the initial confidence measures.

Abstract: An improved capsule (15) for sensing a contractual force within a mammalian tract, comprising a shell (16), a flexible sleeve (17) affixed to the shell and defining a chamber (19) between the shell and the sleeve, and a pressure sensor (18) operatively arranged to sense pressure within the chamber, whereby a contraction force on the outside of the sleeve produces a corresponding pressure change within the chamber. The chamber may contain a fluid (22) and the fluid may be mineral oil.