Abstract: Methods and apparatus for talent assessment according to various aspects of the present technology may operate in conjunction with hardware and software to provide a talent assessment system, such as a talent assessment system accessible to a remote user comprising a database and a server. The server may provide a talent assessment to the remote user and stores results of the talent assessment in the database. The server may compare the results to target values and recommend an action for the organization according to differences between the results and the target values.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for talent assessment according to various aspects of the present technology may operate in conjunction with hardware and software to provide a talent assessment system, inclusive of technical, functional, business, and soft skill competencies. The talent assessment system and its supporting framework may include an automated process, deeper reporting, organization benchmarking of self-assessment results, as well as manager review and assessment to provide a multi-degree perspective. Assessments may feature right and wrong answers, as well as abstract reasoning.

Abstract: A method for disabling and re-enabling third-party advertisements is disclosed. An Internet accessible “virtual world” or interactive on-line community can have its advertisements disabled by the entering and subsequent validation of a registration code that is associated with a toy into a website, once validated, displaying a virtual representation of the toy on the website, providing virtual world content so that the virtual representation of the toy is caused to interact with the virtual world content and the toy virtual representations of other users, displaying advertisement on the website in a first mode and allowing customization of the virtual world content including the disabling of advertisements in a second mode. In a similar manner the third party advertisements can be re-enabled.

Abstract: A method and computer system for providing a virtual presentation is provided. A plurality of different groups of virtual objects within a virtual world on a display device, wherein at least one of the different groups is selectable by a user. The desired group of virtual objects are to be displayed within a virtual optical viewfinder. A selection tool is provided within the virtual optical viewfinder and is controllable by the user to select a target virtual object from the desired group of virtual objects displayed within the virtual optical viewfinder. The user is presented with a magnified image of the target virtual object and revealing an identity of the target virtual object that has been selected in response to selection of the target virtual object by the user.

Abstract: A virtual presentation for entertaining a user, and includes generating a virtual environment that includes at least one virtual object, and displaying a virtual character in the virtual environment. The virtual character is to be controlled in the virtual environment to interact with the virtual object responsive to commands input by the user via a user computer. The method further includes evaluating a parameter associated with at least one of the virtual object and the virtual character and, responsive to the evaluating, preparing a communication from the virtual character to be transmitted to the user. The communication includes content related to the parameter evaluated and is transmitted from the virtual character to the user with the user computer.

Abstract: A party pack is purchased from an electronic store that includes everything necessary to have a party including games, prizes, food items, an invitation template, and prizes for the party recipients.

Abstract: Provided is a method of developing user-generated challenges in a virtual environment. The method includes receiving registration information transmitted over a communication network, validating the registration information, establishing a user account on a computer and associating a first virtual character with the user account. A user is granted access to a course creation tool comprising a plurality of different course portions that are to be arranged in the virtual environment to construct a course to be navigated from a start point to an end point. Included along the course, to be encountered by another virtual character between the starting point and the end point, is a challenge region that is to interfere with a progression of the another virtual character along the course in a direction generally toward the end point. Two or more virtual obstacles represented by icons are selectable for inclusion in the challenge region.

Abstract: A method and computer system for providing a virtual presentation is provided. A plurality of different groups of virtual objects within a virtual world on a display device, wherein at least one of the different groups is selectable by a user. The desired group of virtual objects are to be displayed within a virtual optical viewfinder. A selection tool is provided within the virtual optical viewfinder and is controllable by the user to select a target virtual object from the desired group of virtual objects displayed within the virtual optical viewfinder. The user is presented with a magnified image of the target virtual object and revealing an identity of the target virtual object that has been selected in response to selection of the target virtual object by the user.

Abstract: A method for disabling and re-enabling third-party advertisements is disclosed. An Internet accessible “virtual world” or interactive on-line community can have its advertisements disabled by the entering and subsequent validation of a registration code that is associated with a toy into a website, once validated, displaying a virtual representation of the toy on the website, providing virtual world content so that the virtual representation of the toy is caused to interact with the virtual world content and the toy virtual representations of other users, displaying advertisement on the website in a first mode and allowing customization of the virtual world content including the disabling of advertisements in a second mode. In a similar manner the third party advertisements can be re-enabled.