Abstract: A data input system is described of the type which has a virtual keyboard which enables a user to type a text sequence into a computing device. The data input system has an input probability generator which is configured to compute keypress evidence. The keypress evidence comprises probabilities that user input events at the virtual keyboard correspond to characters or keyboard functions. The data input system has a trained keypress encoder, having been trained using keypress evidence and corresponding words. The trained keypress encoder encodes the keypress evidence into a numerical encoding. The data input system has a completion/correction predictor which is configured to take as input, the numerical encoding and an encoding of one or more text items of the text sequence already input to the computing device, in order to predict a text item in the text sequence.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to the agents, compositions, and methods for inhibiting corrosion in various substrates, for example in metal substrates. The compositions for inhibiting corrosion comprise at least one organic heterocyclic compound and at least one metal salt or mixed metal salt selected from rare earth, alkali earth and transition metals.

Abstract: A method for identifying a patient for cancer therapy can include administering a diagnostic dose of a detectably labeled first binding agent to a patient, the detectably labeled binding agent being capable of binding a molecular target. The method also includes selecting a patient for administration of a therapeutic dose of a second binding agent capable of binding a cellular target, wherein the selected patient exhibits a positive reading for the detectably labeled first binding agent. Furthermore, the method can include administering a therapeutic dose of the second binding agent to the patient.

Abstract: A universal snap-engagement system for removably connecting separate components together. The first component has a wall defining a channel with an array of flexible teeth extending from the wall into the channel to at least partially obstruct the channel recess. The teeth are spaced-apart and define open slots there between. A separate second component includes a connection peg that has a front wall and a longitudinally-extending sidewall. The sidewall has a groove this is spaced from the front wall and that extends transversely about the peg. The peg is receivable within the channel such that the flexible teeth are deflected by the peg and return to an original non-defected position when seated within the groove to securely connect the first component to the second component. As an alternative, the teeth can extend from the peg and the groove can be formed in the wall of the first component.

Abstract: A composition for coating a surface includes a carrier and an indicator distributed throughout the carrier. The indicator is configured to modify an appearance of the coating. The indicator facilitates determining a thickness of the coating in response to the appearance of the coating.

Abstract: A surface treatment, especially for titanium and aluminum alloys, forms a pigmented sol-gel film covalently bonded on the metal surface to produce desired color, gloss, reflectivity, electrical conductivity, emissivity, or a combination thereof usable over a wide temperature range. The coating retains its characteristics and impact resistance following exposures to temperatures at least in the range from ?321° F. to 750° F. An aqueous sol containing an organometallic alkoxide containing either Ti or Al and an organosilane with an organic acid catalyst and stabilizer is applied to etched or grit blasted substrates by dipping, spraying, or drenching, to produce bonds in a single application comparable in strength and performance to standard anodize controls. The sol-gel coating may be graded in its ceramic character by adjusting the organosilane component between TEOS and silanes that have more distinctive organic character by virtue of organic ligands attached to the silicon.

Abstract: A covering 10 for protecting an item that is placed within the covering 10 is provided. The covering 10 includes a substantially continuous tubing 11 having an inner surface 22, an outer surface 20, and a first opening 32 providing access to a cavity 34 of the continuous tubing 11. The continuous tubing 11 is adapted to have items to be protected inserted into cavity 34 of the tubing 11 through the first opening 32. A method for creating the protective covering 10 is also provided. In one preferred embodiment of the invention the method includes sealing an automobile bumper in the tubing 11 for protection of the bumper during material handling thereof.

Abstract: A robotic self-feeding device uses a multiplicity of dishes, utensils and control methods to handle a wide variety of food, including sandwiches. Its operating sequence has a hover mode in which a utensil is automatically steered over a food holder and is constrained from moving away from the food holder. The user points to the desired food with the utensil and triggers pickup which is automatically accomplished. Its gripper can operate tong utensils to grasp food. It can cut food. The process of eating is thus easy and intuitive for people who may have a wide variety of severe paralysis disabilities.

Abstract: A robotic self-feeding device uses a multiplicity of dishes, utensils and control methods to handle a wide variety of food, including sandwiches. Its operating sequence has a hover mode in which a utensil is automatically steered over a food holder and is constrained from moving away from the food holder. The user points to the desired food with the utensil and triggers pickup which is automatically accomplished. Its gripper can operate tong utensils to grasp food. It can cut food. The process of eating is thus easy and intuitive for people who may have a wide variety of severe paralysis disabilities.

Abstract: A system for locating and retrieving objects of a variety of sizes, shapes, weights, positions and orientations is disclosed. The system comprises a robot arm, a control computer, a gripper, an operating sequence, a set of objects and a set of machine-readable or bar code labels mounted on said objects, and a scanner. The system locates a requested object, calculates its position and moves the gripper into position for pickup. Alternate embodiments include mounting on a wheelchair and use in medical, dental, library and stockpicking environments.

Abstract: A commerical/entertainment network provides interactive communications for patrons and comprises: a plurality of theaters; a plurality of node/filters, connected in tiers; and, a remote broadcast center. Patrons at respective communication positions in the theaters may individually and successively engage in voice conversations with persons at the remote broadcast center and may collectively originate preference data for processing and subsequent telephone transmission to the broadcast center responsive to an audio/video signal displayed in the theater for simultaneous viewing by all patrons and responsive to broadcast data received and simultaneously routed to each of the communication positions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing digital data for transmission and reception in a narrow bandwidth, the method comprising preliminarily smoothing raw data according to a spatial convolution or running average technique, sampling the convoluted or averaged data to produce a subset having information from the full set of raw data, but fewer data points, determining the energy of the subset with a transform coder, encoding the transformed image, predicting the full set of raw data points at and between the points in the subset by means of a prediction algorithm, subtracting the raw data from the thus-predicted values to develop a difference signal, encoding one field of the difference signal and transmitting the encoded transformed data and the encoded difference signal to a receiver employing the same prediction algorithm. The signal is decoded in the receiver to produce both the transformed image and the difference signal.