Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a first information processing unit, a presenting unit, an accepting unit, and a second information processing unit. The first information processing unit performs first information processing for providing a user with a service. The presenting unit presents a question to the user. The accepting unit accepts an answer to the question from the user. The second information processing unit performs second information processing regarding a charge for the service. The second information processing unit performs, as the second information processing, processing for collecting a determined charge for the service from the user in a case where the accepting unit does not accept an answer from the user. The second information processing unit performs, as the second information processing, processing for discounting the determined charge or processing for not collecting the determined charge in a case where the accepting unit accepts an answer from the user.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a providing unit, a receiving unit, a presenting unit, and an output unit. The providing unit provides a service to a user. The receiving unit receives an operation performed by the user when using the service provided by the providing unit. The presenting unit presents options to the user using the service. The output unit outputs an option selected in the operation for selecting the option from among the options presented by the presenting unit when the receiving unit receives the operation. Specifically, the option is variably selected in accordance with an attribute of the user. When the providing unit provides the service, the providing unit outputs an image based on the option selected in the operation.

Abstract: A black color material includes a squarylium compound represented by the following formula (1); and a blue color material:

Abstract: A colorant comprising an aggregate of a molecule having a squarylium skeleton and having a maximum absorption wavelength at about 500 nm to about 600 nm in a molecular dispersion state.

Abstract: A display medium includes: a first substrate having transparency and provided with a transparent electrode on one face thereof, a member having a plurality of penetration holes, the member being placed on a surface of the transparent electrode, the penetration holes penetrating the member from the transparent electrode surface side, the ratio of the length of each of the penetration holes to the largest hole diameter being two or more; a second substrate placed so as to face the transparent electrode side of the first substrate; an electrolytic solution containing a metal ion and placed so as to fill a space between the first and second substrates; and a counter electrode placed in a position so as to be insulated from the transparent electrode and in contact with the electrolytic solution.

Abstract: A black color material includes a squarylium compound represented by the following formula (1); and a blue color material:

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner including a binder resin and metal particles containing Au, Ag, Cu, Pt, or an alloy thereof having a volume average particle diameter of from about 1 nm to about 300 nm, or an average maximum length of from about 10 nm to about 200 nm. The invention also provides a novel toner including metal particles which absorb light at plasmon frequencies.

Abstract: A display medium includes: a first substrate having transparency and provided with a transparent electrode on one face thereof, a member having a plurality of penetration holes, the member being placed on a surface of the transparent electrode, the penetration holes penetrating the member from the transparent electrode surface side, the ratio of the length of each of the penetration holes to the largest hole diameter being two or more; a second substrate placed so as to face the transparent electrode side of the first substrate; an electrolytic solution containing a metal ion and placed so as to fill a space between the first and second substrates; and a counter electrode placed in a position so as to be insulated from the transparent electrode and in contact with the electrolytic solution.

Abstract: A colorant comprising an aggregate of a molecule having a squarylium skeleton and having a maximum absorption wavelength at about 500 nm to about 600 nm in a molecular dispersion state.

Abstract: A service providing apparatus in which a learning control unit performs control as to whether or not to perform learning of a first estimation unit based on an output of an environment decision unit for outputting information about environment of a user and outputs of the first estimation unit and a second estimation unit for making stochastic decisions on service targeted for supply.

Abstract: An information processing system including: a first importance level estimation unit that employs information for emails previously received by a user to classify an email to one of a plurality of first importance level categories; and a second importance level estimation unit that employs the information for the emails previously received by the user and employs a determination reference that differs from the one used by the first importance estimation unit, to determine importance level of emails belonging to each of the first importance level categories from one of a plurality of second importance level categories, which differ from the first importance level categories, the second importance level estimation unit designating the second importance level categories in correlation with the first importance level categories, respectively. Information for the second importance level categories obtained by the second importance level estimation unit is subjected to a predetermined process.

Abstract: An information processing system including: a sender information holding unit that stores an email address of a sender of an email in correlation with one of a plurality of sender categories; and an importance level estimation unit that determines, for each of the plurality of sender categories, importance levels of emails having sender addresses that belong to each of the plurality of sender categories from a plurality of importance level categories, while employing information of emails previously received by a user, and designates the importance levels in correlation with the sender categories; wherein information of the importance level categories obtained by the importance level estimation unit is subjected to a predetermined process.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a carbon nanotube device including an inner electrode, having connecting step, connecting a carbon nanotube to the inner electrode, wherein the connecting step comprises: attaching a conductor to an end or periphery thereof of a needle-shaped or rod-shaped carrying electrode; arranging the carbon nanotube in contact or close to a predetermined connection part of the inner electrode; approaching the end of the carrying electrode on which the conductor is carried to the connection part; and transferring the conductor carried on the carrying electrode to the connection part or periphery thereof to connect the carbon nanotube to the inner electrode.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a carbon nanotube device including an inner electrode, having connecting step, connecting a carbon nanotube to the inner electrode, wherein the connecting step comprises: attaching a conductor to an end or periphery thereof of a needle-shaped or rod-shaped carrying electrode; arranging the carbon nanotube in contact or close to a predetermined connection part of the inner electrode; approaching the end of the carrying electrode on which the conductor is carried to the connection part; and transferring the conductor carried on the carrying electrode to the connection part or periphery thereof to connect the carbon nanotube to the inner electrode. A carbon nanotube device manufactured by this method includes a conductive particle which electrically connects the inner electrode and the carbon nanotube.

Abstract: Carbon nanotube structures are provided, in which the networks with a desired area and volume, where the carbon nanotubes are electrically or magnetically connected, are formed and the method for easily manufacturing the carbon nanotube structures with less carbon nanotube structures. Carbon nanotube devices are also provided, to which the useful carbon nanotube structures mentioned above are applied. A method for manufacturing carbon nanotube structures includes the steps of applying carbon nanotubes to a low-viscosity dispersion medium to obtain a high-viscosity dispersing liquid which includes carbon nanotubes, and forming a network of the carbon nanotubes having electrical and/or magnetic connections therebetween by removing the low-viscosity dispersion medium from the high-viscosity dispersed liquid.

Abstract: Carbon nanotube structures are provided, in which the networks with a desired area and volume, where the carbon nanotubes are electrically or magnetically connected, are formed and the method for easily manufacturing the carbon nanotube structures with less carbon nanotube structures. Carbon nanotube devices are also provided, to which the useful carbon nanotube structures mentioned above are applied. A method for manufacturing carbon nanotube structures includes the steps of applying carbon nanotubes to a low-viscosity dispersion medium to obtain a high-viscosity dispersing liquid which includes carbon nanotubes, and forming a network of the carbon nanotubes having electrical and/or magnetic connections therebetween by removing the low-viscosity dispersion medium from the high-viscosity dispersed liquid.

Abstract: Carbon nanotube structures which enhances handling of carbon nanotubes, enabling them to be applied in a wide variety fields such as electronic devices, functional materials, and structural materials containing carbon nanotubes, and a method for producing them are provided. A method for manufacturing carbon nanotube structures includes the step of forming liquid bridges of a liquid at gaps among plural objects and/or at plural gaps among portions of an object. The plural carbon nanotubes are dispersed in the liquid and linked together, then arranged structurally to the liquid bridges, and the carbon nanotube structures are manufactured in this way.

Abstract: Carbon nanotube structures which enhances handling of carbon nanotubes, enabling them to be applied in a wide variety fields such as electronic devices, functional materials, and structural materials containing carbon nanotubes, and a method for producing them are provided. A method for manufacturing carbon nanotube structures includes the step of forming liquid bridges of a liquid at gaps among plural objects and/or at plural gaps among portions of an object. The plural carbon nanotubes are dispersed in the liquid and linked together, then arranged structurally to the liquid bridges, and the carbon nanotube structures are manufactured in this way.

Abstract: An image display medium provided with a pair of substrates both of which are substantially transparent, and a gas enclosed in space defined between them. Each of the pair of the substrates is provided with transparent electrodes (ITO). The space defined between the substrates encloses two types of particle groups having colors different from one another, have a negative charge polarity, and have different adhesiveness from each other with respect to the substrates. A white particle group having a positive polarity is further enclosed in the space. A voltage is applied to the electrodes 28 and 30 so as to apply an electric field determined in response to the types of particles to be transferred. Thus, a plurality of colors are selectively developed via the particle groups enclosed in the space for displaying different colors.

Abstract: A nanowire including a core portion 12 made of a carbon nanotube having at least one layer of a graphene sheet 12a, 12b, and a functional layer 14 formed around the core portion 12 and having at least one layer of a modified graphene sheet in which a graphene sheet has been modified; a method for producing the nanowire; a nanonetwork using the nanowires; a method for producing the nanonetwork; a carbon structure using the nanowire; and an electronic device using the nanowire.