Abstract: Apparatuses for playing signals received from the Internet or other information highway on one or more speakers are described. The apparatus has a receiver for receiving information from a preselected address; a processor for interpreting the signals; and at least one sound emitting device for playing the processed signal. The apparatus has an ornamental design on the outside which is related to the topic of the signals received from the address. The apparatus could include a smartphone as the receiver.

Abstract: An apparatus for playing signals received from the internet or other information highway on one or more speakers are described. The apparatus has a receiver for receiving information from a preselected address; a processor for interpreting the signals; a user interface for choosing between a connection to a personal computer and the preselected address; and at least one sound emitting device for playing the processed signal. The apparatus has an ornamental design on the outside which is related to the topic of the signals received from the address.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the state of a guard, in which a biological sensor is attached to the guard, and a wireless transmitter is attached to the sensor via a microprocessor. The transmitter transmits any changes in the biological state of the guard to a remote receiver. The remote receiver can be programmed to automatically send an alert to various entities, which can then send in replacements.

Abstract: A compact package for making an orthopedic cast is disclosed. The package comprises a fabric folded and compressed, having an initial over-all surface area, that, when saturated with water, expands to final over-all surface area that is larger by a factor greater than 50 than the initial over-all surface area. The expansion of the fabric occurs during a first time period. The package also includes a water-curable material, impregnated into the fabric, so that when the material is saturated with water, the material cures over a second period of time to become rigid, wherein the second period of time is substantially longer than the first period of time. When the package is used, the fabric impregnated with the material may be immersed in water and expanded. Once expanded and unfolded, the fabric may be placed around a portion of a body for which the orthopedic cast is desired. When the second time period elapses, the material has become rigid so as to form the orthopedic cast.

Abstract: A play ball comprising an outer casing having two adjacent openings, a vent and a balloon is provided. The outer casing is substantially non-porous. An uninflated balloon is inserted into the outer casing through an opening. During inflation of the balloon, air from within the outer casing is vented. A handle is attached to the outer casing through the adjacent openings in the casing. The handle is stretchable and can be in the form of an elastomeric band.

Abstract: A method for providing continuing education involves editing an entertainment program that contains relevant facts about a particular subject. The program is accessible over the internet to participants, who are quizzed periodically during the program based on the facts. The program continues when the correct answers are input. Once the program is completed, a completion certificate is sent to the participants.

Abstract: A method for creating a specialized medical database uses software installed on a computer having a microprocessor and a database. The software allows a user to input search terms into the computer, whereby the software then searches the internet, including social media sites and chat rooms for posts that include the search terms. The posts are then analyzed by software that can obtain identification of the individuals. The software then contacts each of the individuals to verify the information in the post, to obtain additional information and to obtain contact information regarding each of the individuals' physicians. The software then contacts the physician to verify the information supplied by the individual. All of the information obtained in this process is then placed in a sortable format in the memory of the computer.

Abstract: A method for teaching uses lectures performed at a remote location and transmitted to remote computers, in combination with remote teaching assistants. The method has the following steps: performing a lecture; capturing the lecture; transmitting the lecture to a plurality of remote locations either simultaneously with or at a later time than the lecture performance; providing students at each of the remote sites; providing an instructor at another remote site; displaying the lecture for viewing by the students; and providing remote educational support for the students by the instructor.

Abstract: A phonics training system provides immediate, audible and virtual answers to questions regarding various images such as objects, animals and people, posed by a user when the user views such images on a video display terminal of the system. The system can provide virtual answers to questions without the need for an instruction or teacher and includes a computer having a video output terminal and an electronic library containing common answers to basic questions. This system can also include an artificial intelligence system.

Abstract: A network targets an individual operating a microcomputer that is linked to an Internet to offer this individual goods or services appropriate to his needs that are available at a place within reach of the individual's present location. The microcomputer is provided with a GPS receiver that indicates the present location of the individual, this location and the identity of the individual being transmitted from the microcomputer to a web site. At the web site, a computer associated with a data bank storing the profiles of a multitude of consumers is programmed to find out whether the identified individual is included in the data bank, and to determine from his profile whether there are available at a place reachable from his present location appropriate goods or services. If a match is found, an offer to supply such goods or services is conveyed from the web site to the microcomputer.

Abstract: A fragrance dispensing device has a shape correlated with the fragrance being dispensed and when affixed with a nozzle can be inserted into a person's nose to provide aromatherapy or other herbal medications. The fragrance dispensing has a hollow body having a shape of a character and having a slit valve or a one-way valve disposed within the wall of the hollow body. A scented cartridge is inserted into the hollow body through the valve or some other resealable opening in the hollow body. The amount of fragrance dispensed is based, in part, upon the volume of the hollow body and the partial pressure of the fragrance within the cartridge. Where additional scent is desired, the hollow body can be repeatedly compressed to discharge additional discrete charges of fragrance into the environment.

Abstract: An apparatus for playing signals received from the internet or other information highway on one or more speakers are described. The apparatus has a receiver for receiving information from a preselected address; a processor for interpreting the signals; a user interface for choosing between a connection to a personal computer and the preselected address; and at least one sound emitting device for playing the processed signal. The apparatus has an ornamental design on the outside which is related to the topic of the signals received from the address.

Abstract: A system and method of conveying offers to a user in which at least one company is registered in a database on a first computer server and offering software is installed on a computer of the company. The offering software calculates a discount offer to be offered by the company and sends it to the first computer server, via a communication system. The method of the invention also includes installing monitoring software on a second computer server, so that the first computer server can monitor search queries of users received by the second computer server. When a search query sent by a user to the second computer server matches an offer stored on the first computer server, the matching offer is automatically sent to the second computer server via the communication system. This offer is then sent to the user who sent in the matching search query.

Abstract: A network adapted to target an individual operating a microcomputer that is linked to an Internet to offer this individual goods or services appropriate to his needs that are available at a place within reach of the individual's present location. The microcomputer is provided with a GPS receiver that indicates the present location of the individual, this location and the identity of the individual being transmitted from the microcomputer to a web site on the highway. At the web site, a computer associated with a data bank storing the profiles of a multitude of consumers is programmed to find out whether the identified individual is included in the data bank, and to determine from his profile whether there are available at a place reachable from his present location appropriate goods or services. If a match is found, an offer to supply such goods or services is conveyed from the web site to the microcomputer.

Abstract: Apparatuses for playing signals received from the internet or other information highway on one or more speakers are described. The apparatus has a receiver for receiving information from a preselected address; a processor for interpreting the signals; and at least one sound emitting device for playing the processed signal. The apparatus has an ornamental design on the outside which is related to the topic of the signals received from the address.

Abstract: A compact package for making an orthopedic cast is disclosed. The package comprises a fabric folded and compressed, having an initial over-all surface area, that, when saturated with water, expands to final over-all surface area that is larger by a factor greater than 50 than the initial over-all surface area. The expansion of the fabric occurs during a first time period. The package also includes a water-curable material, impregnated into the fabric, so that when the material is saturated with water, the material cures over a second period of time to become rigid, wherein the second period of time is substantially longer than the first period of time. When the package is used, the fabric impregnated with the material may be immersed in water and expanded. Once expanded and unfolded, the fabric may be placed around a portion of a body for which the orthopedic cast is desired. When the second time period elapses, the material has become rigid so as to form the orthopedic cast.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods of conveying information related to a printed publication. A label having a readable code for attachment to or insertion into a printed publication is used. A reader adapted to read the code on the label or insert and to communicate the code to a computer or device including a microcomputer may be incorporated. An internet site or platform is adapted to receive the code from the computer or a device including a microcomputer and correlate the code to the information. The information related to the code can be displayed at the computer or device including a microcomputer.

Abstract: A system and method for identification of a responder for responding to an emergency is disclosed. A server receives user data generally in the form of an electronic transmission wherein the user data includes at least an emergency type, user identity, and location of the emergency. A user profile is then retrieved from a user database based on the user identity. One or more responders are identified to dispatch to the emergency by searching a responder profile database that includes real-time location information based upon a criteria set including, the availability of the responder as indicated in the responder profile, and the proximity of the responder to the location of the emergency. The server electronically contacts one or more responders that meet the criteria set. An acceptance is received at the server from one or more of the responders. The server then dispatches one or more of the accepting responders to the location of the emergency.

Abstract: A dispenser for water-activated compressed articles is formed from a container for receiving the water-activated compressed articles in a stacked configuration and an activation chamber connected to the container. The activation chamber can hold water and is accessible to a user for receiving a compressed article removed from the container. The container is adapted to dispense a one compressed article at a time. The dispenser provides a way to dispense and activate a compressed article, even when a water source is not immediately available.

Abstract: A network adapted to target an individual operating a microcomputer that is linked to an Internet to offer this individual goods or services appropriate to his needs that are available at a place within reach of the individual's present location. The microcomputer is provided with a GPS receiver that indicates the present location of the individual, this location and the identity of the individual being transmitted from the microcomputer to a web site on the highway. At the web site, a computer associated with a data bank storing the profiles of a multitude of consumers is programmed to find out whether the identified individual is included in the data bank, and to determine from his profile whether there are available at a place reachable from his present location appropriate goods or services. If a match is found, an offer to supply such goods or services is conveyed from the web site to the microcomputer.