Abstract: The invention is a video compression method and device utilizing attention data collected from advertisers and by attention sensors in display units carried by one or multiple viewers. The attention data is sent to a server where it is used to produce an aggregated attention map in which attention data from multiple viewers are combined. Aggregated attention data maps produced from multiple reruns of the same video are combined to produce rerun-aggregated attention maps. The rerun-aggregated attention maps are given a timestamp. Anticipated attention maps are produced by selecting a rerun-aggregated attention map with a later time stamp. The advertiser's attention maps, viewer's attention maps, aggregated attention maps, rerun-aggregated attention maps, and anticipated rerun-aggregated attention maps are combined to produce a viewer tailored attention map which is used to compress video data. The compressed video data is sent to the viewers' displays where it is decompressed and displayed.

Abstract: A computer-controlled method of recommending survey content to a user includes receiving an input from a user through a user interface that initiates creation of a survey, accessing information about the user, retrieving pre-existing content from a content repository based upon the information, and presenting the pre-existing content to the user.

Abstract: This invention is a data collection system for collecting data from one or more sensors worn by, or implanted in, a person or from one or more sensors in the environment of the person. The data collection comprises one or more sensors equipped with a short range communication link; a mobile communication device configured to communicate through the short range communication link with the sensors, and equipped with a wide area network communication link; a server in communication through the wide area network with the mobile communication device; and a financial institution also in communication through said wide area network with said server. Sensor data is transmitted from the sensors to the mobile communication device, where it is processed and then retransmitted to the server, and used to calculate a payment as a function of a business agreement. The financial institution executes the payment.

Abstract: A telepresence system comprising a workstation which allows a user to specify a venue located at a remote site. The workstation accepts control information from, and conveys sensory information to, the user. The telepresence system also comprises several remotely controlled systems at remote locations, which carry sensors collecting sensory information from their environment. Each remotely controlled system also requires human assistance to operate according to control information sent by the user. The telepresence system also comprises a means for allocating one of the remotely controlled systems to the specified venue. The telepresence system also comprises a means for allocating a human assistant to assist the allocated remote system.

Abstract: This invention is a method of generating an assessment items. It comprises configuring an assessment generation engine running on a database or an information network such as the Web to produce when a topic is specified a) an incomplete statement or a question about said topic, which are called the semantic context; and b) a right answer and at least one wrong answer, each answer in a form suitable to complete the incomplete statement or to answer the question; The method also comprises operating the assessment generation engine to produce an assessment item comprising the semantic context, the true answer and the wrong answers. The method yet comprises producing the assessment item in a material form configured to be administered to an assessment taker.