Abstract: A system, method, and related techniques are disclosed for scoring user responses to constructed response test items. The system includes a scoring engine for receiving a user response to a test question and evaluating the response against a scoring rubric. The scoring rubric may include a binding stage, an assertion stage, and a scoring stage. Furthermore, the system includes a database for referencing elements used by the scoring engine which may comprise objects, object sets, attributes of objects, and transformations of any elements.

Abstract: A system, method, and related techniques are disclosed for scoring user responses to constructed response test items. The system includes a scoring engine for receiving a user response to a test question and evaluating the response against a scoring rubric. The scoring rubric may include a binding stage, an assertion stage, and a scoring stage. Furthermore, the system includes a database for referencing elements used by the scoring engine which may comprise objects, object sets, attributes of objects, and transformations of any elements.

Abstract: A system, method, and related techniques are disclosed for scoring user responses to constructed response test items. The system includes a scoring engine for receiving a user response to a test question and evaluating the response against a scoring rubric. The scoring rubric may include a binding stage, an assertion stage, and a scoring stage. Furthermore, the system includes a database for referencing elements used by the scoring engine which may comprise objects, object sets, attributes of objects, and transformations of any elements.

Abstract: A system (50) and method (10) providing a user with a qualitative indication of a freshness of location information with minimal user disruption can include the steps of obtaining (12) presentation data, associating (14) a location indication representative of a location when the presentation data was obtained, and altering (16) a data characteristic of the presentation data over time to provide an indication of a freshness of the location indication. The method can further include the step of presenting (19) the presentation data to a user. Note, presentation data for example can be data for a digital photograph or an audio sample. The step of altering the data characteristic can optionally involve altering (18) at least one among a contrast, brightness, sharpness, pixel resolution, vertical positioning, horizontal positioning, color setting, white balance, compression ratio, language setting, volume, pitch, and equalization setting.

Abstract: A communication construct used for sharing podcast information associated with a podcast can include a link sent to a remote device (103) while playing the podcast, appended metadata to the link, and a communication packet enabling a user to transfer the link and the appended metadata while the user is playing the podcast. The link can be a universal record locator (URL) to the podcast and the appended metadata can include constructs having start times or end times for the podcast, bookmarks for portions of the podcast, digital rights management information, display description, podcast category, or relevant images. The appended metadata can also include URLs for mobile blogging, a sender's weblog, a video blog, a social contact site, contact information from a sender, or a vCard record. The communication constructs enable podcatcher software in a user's computer or remote device to automatically download the podcast associated with the link.

Abstract: A system, method, and related techniques are disclosed for scoring user responses to constructed response test items. The system includes a scoring engine for receiving a user response to a test question and evaluating the response against a scoring rubric. The scoring rubric may include a binding stage, an assertion stage, and a scoring stage. Furthermore, the system includes a database for referencing elements used by the scoring engine which may comprise objects, object sets, attributes of objects, and transformations of any elements.

Abstract: A system, method, and related techniques are disclosed for scoring user responses to constructed response test items. The system includes a scoring engine for receiving a user response to a test question and evaluating the response against a scoring rubric. The scoring rubric may include a binding stage, an assertion stage, and a scoring stage. Furthermore, the system includes a database for referencing elements used by the scoring engine which may comprise objects, object sets, attributes of objects, and transformations of any elements.

Abstract: A system, method, and related techniques are disclosed for scoring user responses to constructed response test items. The system includes a scoring engine for receiving a user response to a test question and evaluating the response against a scoring rubric. The scoring rubric may include a binding stage, an assertion stage, and a scoring stage. Furthermore, the system includes a database for referencing elements used by the scoring engine which may comprise objects, object sets, attributes of objects, and transformations of any elements.

Abstract: A method for unifying speech user interface and graphic user interface commands includes the steps of receiving (52) user entered text via a GUI, processing (54) the user-entered text, monitoring (60) the user-entered text, adding input context (62) to the user-entered text, and, updating (74, 76, and 78) a speech recognizer with the user-entered text and semantic information. Updating the speech recognizer can include the step of accepting new text information and input context to update a speech grammar (74) and recognition vocabulary of the speech recognizer. The method can include the step of updating the GUI (72) by updating GUI directives (68) and elements (70) to maintain the GUI unified with the speech grammar. The method can further include the step of forming a window (402) enabling the display of a speech interface command as a user constructs the speech interface command using the GUI (400).

Abstract: The present invention discloses a solution that automatically informs a speaker to decrease his or her speaking rate, when that rate likely exceeds a rate that a listener can understand. This can be accomplished by determining a speaking rate for the speaker, which is compared against a speaking rate threshold. The speaking rate threshold can be based upon a listening rate, estimated or known, of the listener. The listening rate can be a variable value based in part upon a proficiency that the listener has with a language being spoken. The speaker can be informed to slow down by an activation of a sensory mechanism of a wearable computing device designed to vibrate, beep, blink, speak a message, display a message, and the like, whenever a speaking rate of the speaker exceeds the speaking rate threshold.

Abstract: A method (10) and system (50 or 200) for music selection based on pace can include tracking (12) a pace as used on an exercise equipment device (61), receiving (14) a pace value representative of the pace via a short range wireless transmission at an audio output device (51), searching (16) a media library within the audio output device for a media file with a pace closest to the pace value received, and presenting(18) a media file having the pace closest to the pace value received. The method can further optionally include t automatically playing (20) the media file if the pace closest to the pace value received is an exact match and adjusting (22) to the pace value the pace of a song when the song is within a user settable range or percentage of the pace value.

Abstract: Remotely controlled devices (110) are controlled by one or more wireless remote controllers (114). The remotely controlled devices (110) and wireless remote controllers (114) communicate to each other over a two-way wireless link. The system and method provide pre-defined profiles that limit the performance of the remotely controlled devices (110) in order to provide different operating characteristics with the same remotely controlled devices (110). The system and method further provide one or more forms of feedback to a user of the wireless remote controller (114), such as sounds, vibration, and the like. The feedback can be provided in response to detected events associated with the remotely control device (110), such as sharp turns and the like. The performance limits of the remotely controlled devices (110) is also able to be modified with operating time in order to simulate, for example, improved driver skills, fuel depletion and/or pit stops.

Abstract: An electronic device (160) and method (400) is provided for podcast searching and selecting. The electronic device can provide a display (210) for visualizing podcast attributes and presenting one or more visual icons (350) in a three-dimensional grid (320), wherein a visual icon identifies one or more attributes of a podcast. The electronic device can include a podcast browser (220) for searching and selecting one or more visual icons presented in the display, where the podcast browser provides multi-level viewing for the one or more visual icons.

Abstract: A system (160) and method (400) is provided for podcast quoting. The method can include quoting (410) a segment from a media source to produce a quoted segment (399), creating (420) a specification (500) for the quoted segment, and inserting (430) the quoted segment into a podcast (306) in accordance with the specification. A source (302) of the quoted segment, a start time (311), an end time (322), and an insertion point (333) can be included in the specification.

Abstract: A mobile communication device (10) embedded within a public safety officer's belt (11) can include a transceiver (14) integrated within the public safety officer's belt and a buckle (18) coupled to a first end of the public safety officer's belt having at least a portion of circuitry therein to enable the transceiver upon the buckling of the buckle to a mating portion (16) on a second end of the public safety officer's belt.

Abstract: A system (100) includes a wireless device (101) and at least one transponder (102). The wireless device (101) includes a memory (201) with an area (202) for storing coupling range profiles, a processor (203), a bus (210), a receiver (206), a transmitter (205), an alarm (208), a location module (209), a user interface (211), an antenna (212) for receiving transmitted location information, a power controller (204), an antenna (207) for transmitting and receiving, and a clock (213). The transponder includes a memory (301) with an area (302) for storing a unique transponder ID, a processor (303), a bus (308), power controller (304), a receiver (306), transmitter (305), and an antenna (307). The wireless device (101) compares current context information to a coupling range profile and, based on the results of the comparison, transmits to at least one transponder (102) at an appropriate power level.

Abstract: Charging systems (10, 70) are disclosed that generally employ forces generated by at least one magnet (16–22) or (76–82) to guide and urge a rechargeable, portable or mobile electronic device (12, 72) toward a charging position with respect to a charging base (14, 74) therefor. By using magnetic forces to guide or urge the device (12, 72) to the charging position, substantially frictionless charging systems (10, 70) can be provided herein for shifting the device (12, 72) to its charging position. Either repulsion or attraction forces can be employed. Accordingly, depending on which magnetic force is used to urge the device (12, 72) to its charging position, an opposite magnetic force is preferably provided to provide the user a tactile indication of improper alignment of the device (12, 72) and charging base (14, 74).

Abstract: A system (100) and method (200) for preventing unauthorized use of a device (114). The system (100) includes a biometric reader (110) and an authentication unit (112). The biometric reader (110) measures a biometric characteristic and transmits the measured biometric characteristic to the authentication unit (112) over a communications link (118). The device (114) is embedded within a garment (116), and the authentication unit (112) transmits an authorizing signal to the device (114) when the authentication unit (112) biometrically identifies a user. In one arrangement, the authentication unit (112) can include a database (134) for storing authorized biometric samples. The authentication unit (112) can compare the measured biometric characteristic with the authorized biometric samples when the authentication unit (112) receives the measured biometric characteristic from the biometric reader (110).

Abstract: Disclosed is a system, method, and computer program product for tracking at least one item. The method on a device includes determining a location of the device and determining whether the location of the device is within a predefined area. The method further includes determining whether the at least one item is within a range. If the at least one item is not within the range and if the location of the device is not within the predefined area, the location of the device is stored. If the device is operating in active mode, an alarm is sounded indicating that the at least one item is not within the range.