Abstract: A system is configured to enable a user to assert voice-activated commands. When the user issues a non-ambiguous command, the system activates a corresponding control. The area of activity on the user interface is visually highlighted to emphasize to the user that what they spoke caused an action. In one specific embodiment, the highlighting involves floating text the user uttered to a visible user interface component.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for efficient development of software application programs with user interfaces. Customarily, several specialists, including designers and developers, cooperate during the development stage of an application program. The invention teaches a strategy for making resource files external to the other compiled executable files in an application such that the information from the resource file may be obtained at runtime as needed without the need for compilation. Furthermore, the external resource file may be edited at runtime to allow designers to modify the look and feel for an application's interface without having to depend on developers to implement changes in the interface. Compartmentalization of the effort in developing and porting an application is facilitated for protection of source code and better management of designers and developers working on different aspects of a software application due to externalization of the resource files needed primarily by the designers.

Abstract: The present invention combines speech recognition tutorial training with speech recognizer voice training. The system prompts the user for speech data and simulates, with predefined screenshots, what happens when speech commands are received. At each step in the tutorial process, when the user is prompted for an input, the system is configured such that only a predefined set (which may be one) of user inputs will be recognized by the speech recognizer. When a successful recognition is being made, the speech data is used to train the speech recognition system.

Abstract: A voice-activated user interface for an application is described. The voice activated user interface invokes a speech recognition component to recognize audio input from a user. If the audio input is a command, then a validation component is invoked to determine whether to validate the command prior to execution.

Abstract: A method and system for manipulating characters displayed on a display screen is provided wherein the method includes identifying a selected word, wherein the selected word includes at least one character to be modified. The method further includes correlating each of the at least one character with a unique numerical value and receiving a selection command and a modification command, wherein the selection command is the unique numerical value corresponding to a selected character. Furthermore, the method includes modifying the selected character responsive to the modification command to generate a modified word.

Abstract: Described is a method and system for providing timed profile changes to a mobile device. The mobile device initiates a timed profile change in response to the user or an event associated with the mobile device. The mobile device monitors the profile period and provides a user with information regarding the length of the profile period remaining, as well as other information. When the period of the selected timed profile expires, the mobile device returns to a previous profile associated with the mobile device.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for efficient development of software application programs with user interfaces. Customarily, several specialists, including designers and developers, cooperate during the development stage of an application program. The invention teaches a strategy for making resource files external to the other compiled executable files in an application such that the information from the resource file may be obtained at runtime as needed without the need for compilation. Furthermore, the external resource file may be edited at runtime to allow designers to modify the look and feel for an application's interface without having to depend on developers to implement changes in the interface. Compartmentalization of the effort in developing and porting an application is facilitated for protection of source code and better management of designers and developers working on different aspects of a software application due to externalization of the resource files needed primarily by the designers.

Abstract: The present invention allows windows, defined without any explicit resizing parameters, to be resized appropriately to the types of controls contained within them. The approach is to “walk-through” the dimensional definitions for the controls, their sizes and positions, and the dimensions of the window itself. With this information, rows and columns are defined and identified as resizable. When the window dimensions are changed, the changes in height and width are distributed among the resizable rows and columns.

Abstract: A system and computer-readable media for providing access to emergency data. Emergency data is collected from various sources and maintained such that it can be efficiently recalled in an emergency. In one implementation, the data is maintained in XML documents. An emergency application program provides a page and/or sub-pages via which a user interacts to obtain the data. The data is typed according to types of emergencies to facilitate user access to the appropriate data when needed. The emergency data may be automatically loaded from a remote source, such as a NET service, or provided by a retailer. Actions may be associated with emergency data, such as to provide an easy or automated way to send an alert, email message, and the like in the event of an emergency.

Abstract: A method and system for providing access to emergency data. Emergency data is collected from various sources and maintained such that it can be efficiently recalled in an emergency. In one implementation, the data is maintained in XML documents. An emergency application program provides a page and/or sub-pages via which a user interacts to obtain the data. The data is typed according to types of emergencies to facilitate user access to the appropriate data when needed. The emergency data may be automatically loaded from a remote source, such as a .NET service, or provided by a retailer. Actions may be associated with emergency data, such as to provide an easy or automated way to send an alert, email message, and the like in the event of an emergency.

Abstract: A computer system for persistently storing information entered by a user into an edit control of a property page. In a preferred embodiment, the computer system has a registry for storage of information identified by a key. An application program has a resource file that contains a definition of controls for the property page. The controls include the edit control designated as editable by the user and a buddy control that is adjacent to the edit control, that is designated as not visible, and that has text which specifies a key within the registry. The computer system displays the property page by detecting that the buddy control is adjacent to the edit control and is designated as not visible, by retrieving the text for the buddy control, by retrieving information from the registry using the key specified by the retrieved text, and by initializing the edit control to the retrieved information.

Abstract: A computer program product has a facility for uninstalling itself. The facility is both efficient and dynamic. The facility only backs up a minimal set of files that may be affected by an installation of the computer program product. The facility dynamically adapts to different possible installations so as to only store backup copies for the particular installation that is to be used. The facility leverages a number of installation files to determine what files to back up.

Abstract: A computer program product has a facility for uninstalling itself The facility is both efficient and dynamic. The facility only backs up a minimal set of files that may be affected by an installation of the computer program product. The facility dynamically adapts to different possible installations so as to only store backup copies for the particular installation that is to be used. The facility leverages a number of installation files to determine what files to back up.