Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor thin film includes the steps of: forming an amorphous semiconductor thin film on a substrate; forming a crystalline semiconductor thin film partially in each element region by applying laser light to the amorphous semiconductor thin film to selectively perform a heating process on the amorphous semiconductor thin film, thereby crystallizing the amorphous semiconductor thin film in a region irradiated with the laser light; and inspecting the crystallinity degree of the crystalline semiconductor thin film. The step of inspecting includes the steps of determining a contrast between the luminance of a crystallized region and the luminance of a non-crystallized region by applying light to the crystalline semiconductor thin film and the amorphous semiconductor thin film, and performing screening of the crystalline semiconductor thin film on the basis of the determined contrast.

Abstract: State information of a user is detected via a biometric information sensor (21) and so on and the state information is accumulated in a nonvolatile memory (14) by associating it with a content ID of content that is being used. A recommendation request including the state information detected at that time via the biometric information sensor (21) and so on and a predetermined extraction condition is generated and transmitted. Provided information transmitted in response to the recommendation request is received and is provided to the user. When an information provision request is received, information to be provided is extracted from the information stored in the nonvolatile memory (14) based on the state information and extraction condition included in the received information provision request and the extracted information is transmitted to a requesting source.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting and providing content data such as visual data and audio data. Pieces of content data are associated with corresponding metadata. The metadata includes information regarding a status at the time of generation of the content data. For example, at the time a picture is taken. The status may include information such as a time, location, and bio-information of a user. A recollection value, representing the significance in recollecting the user's memory, is calculated for each piece of content data using the associated metadata. Content data is selected for output based on the recollection values. Various types of content data may be selected at appropriate times so that the content data will affect the user's memory or feeling.

Abstract: Content is selected on the basis of changes of a walking tempo. The walking tempo is detected (S5). In a state determination process (S7), it is determined whether the walking tempo tends to increase, be constant, or decrease. A walking tempo corrective coefficient is calculated on the basis of the determined result and a corrective walking tempo is calculated with the walking tempo corrective coefficient (S9). It is determined whether or not music is changed on the basis of the corrective walking tempo rather than the actually detected walking tempo (S11). When music is changed, relevant music content is searched. Controls are performed in such a manner that when the walking tempo is decreasing, the foregoing state is kept for a while, when the walking tempo is increasing, music is quickly selected according to the increase of the walking tempo, and when the walking tempo is stable, music is not selected.

Abstract: Provided is a device for playing audio with improved convenience, wherein music can be played such that oneness with the actions of the user can be obtained at all times, without giving the user any unnaturalness whatsoever such as unpleasant sensations. After starting playing of music data through such as an audio signal output processing unit 31, action tempo of the user is detected by an exercise information analyzing circuit 23, based on detection output from an exercise information sensor 24, and in the event that the difference between the detected action tempo of the user and the tempo of the music data being played is not a predetermined range, music data with a tempo of which the difference as to the action tempo of the user is within the predetermined range is searched by searching means such as a music playing data generating device unit 22, and a control unit 10 changes the music data to be played so as to play this searched music data.

Abstract: A replay mode control device in which the replay mode in reproducing music or video contents is controlled so as to be suitable for a user. A headphone of a mobile music reproducing device is provided with a vibration sensor for detecting movements of the user in the up-and-down direction. A walking movement detection unit detects the walking interval of the user based on an output of the vibration sensor. A replay mode controller manages control to adjust the replay rate of music contents to the walking interval of the user.

Abstract: An operating rod is subjected to a surface hardening heat treatment without a post finishing process which enhances a responsiveness of the operating rod by preventing powders from being attracted to a sliding surface of the operating rod. The capacitive control valve includes a solenoid rod portion communicating with a moveable core of the solenoid portion, an operating rod connected with the solenoid rod portion, the operating rod including a valve body used for opening or closing a control fluid passage hole, and a fixed core arranged opposite relative to the moveable core. The fixed core includes a guide hole defined therein which guides the operating rod through the guide hole in a freely moveable manner, the operating rod extending longitudinally through an internal bore. The operating rod being subjected to surface hardening treatment at a relatively low temperature that does not exceed 500° C.

Abstract: A content reproduction list generation device includes an operation section, a storage section, and a reproduction list generation section. The storage section is configured to store a change pattern indicating reproduction tempo changes during content reproduction. The reproduction list generation section is configured to specify a change pattern in accordance with an input into the operation section, associate content with the specified change pattern, and generate a content reproduction list for informing a reproduction section of the reproduction order and reproduction tempo of content to be reproduced in accordance with the specified change pattern and the associated content.

Abstract: A data reproducing apparatus is disclosed. The data reproducing apparatus comprising reproducing means for reading data from a recording medium, and data varying means for varying the data that is read from the recording medium whenever the data is read therefrom or once every a plurality of times it is read therefrom.

Abstract: Proton conductors, electrochemical devices employing same and methods of manufacturing same are provided. The proton conductor includes silicon oxide, bronsted acid and a derivative of a carbonaceous material predominantly composed of carbon and proton (H+) dissociating groups introduced to carbon atoms of the carbonaceous material. The proton conductor is produced by a step of forming a compound predominantly composed of silicon oxide and bronsted acid by a sol-gel method, and a step of mixing the compound with a derivative of a carbonaceous material obtained on introducing proton (H+) dissociating groups to carbon atoms forming a carbonaceous material predominantly composed of carbon.

Abstract: An easy-to-use and user-friendly apparatus is provided that displays motivation for exercise to a user to allow the user to continue comfortably exercising. An audio signal output processor reproduces audio data and a music sound is thus emitted from a loudspeaker. The user practices exercise, such as walking or jogging, in synchronization with the tempo of the music sound. At the start of exercise, an exercise information analyzer calculates an amount of exercise of the user based on personal profile information relating to the body of the user, including the body weight, the body height, age and sex of the user received via a keyboard, and characteristic information, such as play time and tempo of reproduced music data acquired via a communication I/F and a controller. The controller outputs the amount of exercise to a display to notify the user of the amount of exercise.

Abstract: By allowing the movement of a user to affect the playback of content, the entertainment characteristic or uplifting spirits derived from content playback itself can be enhanced. The timing at which the user places his/her foot on the ground while walking or the timing at which the user shakes or changes from swinging in one direction to swinging to another direction is detected. Then, content, such as a music piece or moving pictures, is played back by allowing the timing of beats or bars of the music piece or the timing of scene changes or cut changes of the moving pictures to be synchronized with the timing of the movement of the user.

Abstract: Conditions for starting the playback of the next cut in the middle of the cut of a drama are assumed to be such that, for the first cut, a viewer/listener blinks two times in the detection time zone, and for the second cut, the pupil diameter of the viewer/listener has become 8 mm or more in the detection time zone. The CPU of a playback apparatus determines whether or not the conditions are satisfied when the cut is played back, and when the conditions are satisfied, the playback of the next cut is started even in the middle of the cut. In the case of music, when the rhythm of the respiration of the viewer/listener or the motion of the body is not in tune with the rhythm of the music, the playback of the next music is started even in the middle of the music.

Abstract: An audio signal reproducing apparatus includes a storage unit for storing digital audio data of music pieces each having a tempo corresponding to either a first tempo or a second tempo, the second tempo being different from the first tempo, if a walking tempo of a user is either the first tempo or the second tempo, a reproducing circuit for reproducing the digital audio data, a detecting unit for detecting the walking tempos of the user, a calculating circuit for calculating a change in the walking tempo detected by the detecting unit, and a control circuit for retrieving the digital audio data from the storage unit in accordance with the walking tempo detected by the detecting unit and sending the retrieved digital audio data to the reproducing circuit.

Abstract: Reproducing characteristics of an audio sound are controlled by an audio controller 8 and reproducing characteristics of a video image are controlled by a video controller 11. Whether or not a viewpoint of the user is directed to a display 13 side of a television receiver is detected by a viewpoint detector 14. On the basis of a detection signal from the viewpoint detector 14, a discriminating unit 15 discriminates which of a normal monitoring state, a “while watching” state, and the “concentration” state the present state corresponds to, and generates a control signal to control the reproducing characteristics so as to be adaptive to the state. If it is determined that the present state changes from the “while watching” state to the “concentration” state, a sound volume is reduced and the reproducing characteristics are automatically switched so as not to obstruct the concentration.

Abstract: A gas diffusing electrode, an electrochemical device, such as fuel cell, employing same and methods of manufacturing same are provided. The gas diffusing electrode at least includes layers made of at least electro-conductive carbon powder or granule and sputtered platinum layers made of platinum laid alternately to form a multilayer structure. The electrochemical device can be down-sized while maintaining a relatively high power generating capacity.

Abstract: A music content playback apparatus includes: a selection section that selects a piece of music content out of a plurality of pieces of music content; a recognition section that recognizes playback elapse state about a previous piece of music content played immediately before the piece of music content is selected; and a playback section that plays back the selected piece of music content from a playback point corresponding to the playback elapse state.

Abstract: There is provided a mobile phone that detects bio-information on the user and makes information communications reflecting the detected bio-information. The mobile phone (1) includes sensors (18) that detect bio-information data. The bio-information data detected by the sensors (18) are sent to a sensor data analyzer (19) in which psychology corresponding to the detected bio-information data is analyzed based on bio-information data stored in a psychology memory (20) and psychology of the user. The sensor data analyzer (19) extracts characteristic signal patterns from the bio-information data detected by the sensors (18) and analyzes psychology corresponding to the extracted signal patterns. The psychology includes, for example, “pleased and delightful”, “discouraged”, “excited”, etc. and these states of mind are stored in association with bio-information data in the psychology memory (20).

Abstract: A gas diffusive electrode, an electrochemical device employing same, and methods of manufacturing and using same are provided. The gas diffusive electrode includes platinum powder and carbon powder or grain, to which carbon powder or grain whose particles are provided with a water-repellent film is further mixed. The gas diffusive electrode maintains an enhanced gas permeability.

Abstract: In a health exercise assist system, a portable music playback apparatus acquires a preset exercise plan, a history of exercise information, and a music playback history and stores them. An information processing apparatus produces a service request including at least one of the preset exercise plan, the history of exercise information, and the music playback history acquired from the portable music playback apparatus, and transmits it to a service information providing apparatus. In accordance with the service request received from the information processing apparatus, the service information providing apparatus produces service information and returns the produced service information to the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus provides the received service information to a user of the audio playback apparatus.