Abstract: In accordance with the method, system and program of the present invention, multiple broadcasts of products are detected in a common transmittable data format at a portable computer system associated with a particular user from multiple retailer server systems when the portable computer system is within a particular proximity of multiple diverse store locations each respectively associated with one of the multiple retailer server systems. The broadcasts of products are analyzed at the portable computer system according to consumer preferences for the particular user. Output of a selection of products from among the multiple broadcasts of products is controlled to an output interface controlled by the portable computer system, in response to the analysis, such that a portable computer system may manage product selections from multiple diverse store locations for a particular user according to the consumer preferences for the particular user.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-program product for a dynamically adjustable and configurable garbage collector is provided. Values for an environment variable or set of variables or parameters are obtained by the dynamic garbage collector. The variables may be set through user input or upon configuration of a computer platform. The values of the variables may be modified or updated during execution of the garbage collector, which receives or retrieves the newly modified values. The garbage collector then performs memory management functions according to a behavioral algorithm that incorporates the values of the environment variables or parameters or according to a behavioral algorithm that is selected by the environment variable.

Abstract: According to the present invention, environment indicators computed for a particular environment from among multiple environments are converted into a common transmittable data format. The environment indicators are transmitted in the common transmittable data format to a data processing system, wherein the data processing system has access to a personal storage device proffered by a particular user. An environment sensitivity profile for the particular user associated with the particular environment, is retrieved from the personal storage device to the data processing system. An environment indicator analyzer application executing on the data processing system analyzes the multiple environment indicators received at the data processing system according to the environmental sensitivity profile and determines control signals for adjusting multiple environmental control systems that control the particular environment.

Abstract: Environmental indicators computed for a particular environment are converted into a transmittable data format each of the environmental indicators is computed by electronic environmental measurement device from among multiple diverse electronic environmental measurement devices. Environmental indicators are transmitted to a portable data processing system associated with a user, which analyzes each of the environmental indicators according to an environment sensitivity profile stored at the portable data processing system for the user. Control signals are determined by the portable computer system for adjusting multiple environment control systems that control the particular environment in response to the analysis, such that a particular environment is temporarily managed by a portable data processing system according to environmental sensitivities of a particular user located within that particular environment.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for changing the alpha levels of an application window to reflect the status of a non-interactive computing task are provided. An alpha level is determined to represent a status of a non-interactive computing task. A transparency of at least a selected portion of a displayable object associated with the non-interactive computing task is graphically adjusted according to the alpha level, such that the status of the non-interactive computing task is displayed by the associated displayable object, where one type of displayable object includes an application window.

Abstract: A method, system and program for displaying specified resource usage are provided. A usage status is determined for resources utilized by a computer system. Responsive to detecting a window displayed within a user interface in association with a particular system element (e.g. software, hardware, network) from among multiple system elements, adjusting a shading of a preexisting window element within the window to indicate the usage status of at least one of the resources as utilized by the particular system element, such that a display area for specifying the usage of at least one of the resources avoids consuming additional screen real estate for a status indicator.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for selectively adjusting windows in response to a scroll wheel rotation are provided. A rotation of a scroll wheel position is detected. Then the transparency of at least one displayable object located at a particular z-order level within a graphical interface is adjusted according to the rotation of the scroll wheel position.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for selectively adjusting displayable objects in response to a scroll wheel rotation are provided. A rotation of a scroll wheel position is detected. Then, the current scroll wheel mode selection is detected. Then the z-order of a plurality of ordered windows within the graphical interface are rotated according to the adjusted scroll wheel position.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for adding various tints to a translucent displayable object to convey a status of a computing task are provided. A tint level is specified to represent a status of a non-interactive computing task. Then, the tint of at least a selected portion of a displayable object associated with the non-interactive computing task is graphically adjusted according to the tint level, such that the status of the non-interactive computing task is displayed by the associated displayable object.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for adjusting the transparency of windows to reflect recent use are provided. Current use of multiple displayable objects is detected. A transparency associated with each of the displayable objects is automatically selectively adjusted to reflect the current use of each of the displayable objects, such that recent use of the displayable objects is graphically represented independent of the z-order of the displayable objects.

Abstract: A method, system and program for selectively adjusting transparency of windows within a user interface are provided. An n-level is determined within a z-order of at least one displayable object from among multiple displayable objects distributed within the z-order. A transparency level is selectively adjusted of the at least one displayable object within a user interface positioned at the n-level within the z-order, such that the transparency level of the at least one displayable object is selectively adjusted without adjusting the z-order of the displayable objects.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for automatically adjusting window representations based on activity are provided. Current activity of a window element displayed within a graphical interface is detected. A representation of the window element is automatically adjusted within the display area to reflect current activity of the window element, such that the representation of the window element is graphically represented. In particular, the window element representation may include a minimized icon or an open window. Further, window element activity may include use of the window element, adjustments to the transparency of the window element representation or current resource usage associated with the window element.

Abstract: A method, system and program for varying the heights of application images to convey application status are provided. At least one type of activity is detected for an application image associated with an application opened in a graphical interface. A three-dimensional height of the application image in said graphical interface is graphically adjusted to represent at least one type of activity, such that at least one type of activity is graphically distinguished for an application from the application image.

Abstract: A method, system and program for displaying transparent resource aids are provided. A user interface is displayed comprising at least one displayable object within a display area controlled by a computer system. Responsive to an initiating event, a transparent resource aid is placed within the display area in association with the initiating event, such that the at least one displayable object is not obscured by the transparent resource aid. The transparency resource aid may indicate resource usage of hardware, software, and graphical characteristics.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for specifying audio output according to displayable object graphical characteristics are provided. A graphical characteristic of at least one displayable object within a user interface is detected. An audio output of a sound associated with at least one displayable object is adjusted to reflect the graphical characteristic, such that the audio output is specified according to a graphical display within the user interface.

Abstract: A method, system and program for displaying transparency characteristic aids are provided. A user interface is displayed comprising at least one displayable object within a display area controlled by a computer system. Responsive to an initiating event, placing a transparency characteristic aid within the display area in association with the initiating event, such that the at least one displayable object is not obscured by the transparency characteristic aid. The transparency resource aid may indicate resource usage of hardware, software, and graphical characteristics.

Abstract: According to the present invention, current fitness indicators for a particular user are detected by a particular exercise machine monitoring device that monitors exercise performed by the particular user on a particular exercise machine. The current fitness indicators are transmitted in a particular transmittable data format to a universally accessible server system in accordance with a universal identifier associated with the particular user and stored at said universally accessible server system in accordance with the universal identifier as current fitness activity, such that real-time fitness activity for a user computed from fitness activity received from any of multiple diverse exercise machines over a period of time is monitored by a universally accessible server system according to a universal identifier for a particular user.

Abstract: A method, system and program for selectively applying translucent filters to graphical images according to visual disability needs are provided. A selection of a filter for a particular user is received. The filter is applied to at least a portion of an original image. The original image is then graphically displayed overlayed by the filter within a user interface, such that the original image is adjusted to specifically accommodate for a visual disability of the particular user.

Abstract: A method, system and program for selectively applying translucent filters to graphical images according to visual disability needs are provided. An image is received at a receiver communicatively connected via a network to an image server and connected to a display device for output of the image. A translucent style is specified for a particular user at the receiver. A translucent filter overlay is applied over the image according to the translucent style for output to the display device, such that the image output to the display device is adjusted to specifically accommodate for a visual disability of the particular user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting programs and source code files written in a programming language to equivalent markup language files is provided. The conversion may be accomplished by a static process or by a dynamic process. In a static process, a programming source code file is converted by an application to a markup language file. A document type definition file for a markup language is parsed; a source code statement from a source code file is parsed; an element defined in the document type definition file is selected based on an association between the element and an identifier of a routine in the source code statement; and the selected element is written to a markup language file. In a dynamic process, the program is executed to generate the markup language file that corresponds to the source code file or presentation steps of the program.