Abstract: An indication of a portion of a lesson to be viewed by students is received. Computing devices of the students are notified that the portion of the lesson is to be viewed and student interaction information that indicates whether the students are viewing the portion of the lesson plan on the computing devices is received. An amount of the students viewing the portion of the lesson is determined based on the student interaction information and task information that indicates the determined amount of the students that are viewing the portion of the lesson is provided.

Abstract: A learning technology is disclosed. To prepare knowledge to be learned, the knowledge is divided into a number of atoms. Each atom is a quickly learned and combinable unit of the knowledge. A number of payoffs of combinations of at least some of the atoms is arranged. Each payoff yields an insight into the knowledge directly unfounded in the atoms themselves. Tests are devised to be given periodically and repeatedly to reinforce the knowledge learned. To learn knowledge, a number of atoms are learned, and then a payoff of a combination of these atoms is learned. Repeated testing of the atoms and the payoff is preferably performed to reinforce the knowledge gained. The invention can be embodied as an article of manufacture having media, and learning material in the media. The media may include books, other written materials, optical media storing computer programs, Internet web sites, and so on.

Abstract: Paying users for access to their personal information by others is disclosed. Users register with an information provider. Personal information regarding the users is stored by the information provider, or at the users themselves. Organizations pay the information provider for access to the users' personal information. The information provider pays to each of these users a portion of the amount collected from the organization for access to their personal information.

Abstract: The incremental construction of active user profiles for subsequent content customization based thereon, interspersed with content display, is disclosed. Content is displayed based at least on an active profile for a user, where the active profile may initially be empty. The content includes an inquiry area that has one or more questions. The answers to these questions allow for better construction of the profile. The user may answer the questions, or may ignore them and select other content to display. In the latter case, new content is shown to the user, with preferably the same questions displayed to the user in the inquiry area. In the former case, the active profile for the user is updated based on the answers, and the existing content is preferably refreshed to reflect the updated active profile. The inquiry area of the refreshed content then displays new questions.

Abstract: Extending external telephone calls as conference calls with other communicatively proximate wireless devices is disclosed. An external call is established between a primary wireless device and a remote device, through a remote master station for the primary wireless device according to a first communication manner. The primary wireless device invites at least one other communicatively proximate wireless device to join the external call according to a second communication manner. For those of the at least one other wireless device that accepted the invitation to join the external call, the primary wireless device extends the external call as a conference call with these devices according to the second communication manner. The extension of the external call as a conference call is accomplished without a local master station, and without the remote master station being aware of the conference call.

Abstract: The delivery of an order to the current location of the user who had placed the order, using real-time location access information of the user, is disclosed. The user makes an order for one or more tangible, physical items, providing therewith a number of locations at which the user can receive the order, as well as real-time location access information of the user. A deliverer, at time of delivery, determines the current location of the user from the locations provided by the user, using the real-time location access information provided by the user. The deliverer delivers the order to the user at his or her current location as has been determined.

Abstract: An exercise machine to stretch one or more muscle groups or joints of a body part, has at least one engagement member pivotally mounted on the frame to engage a body part associated with the muscle group or joint that is to be stretched and to position such part at a desired location. The engagement member is pivotally displaceable through a predetermined range of movement with respect to the frame. Movement in a first direction is effective to apply a stretching force to the associated muscle group. Movement of the engagement member in the first direction is done through a linear actuator. An angle indicator provides a readout of the position of said engagement member in the range. At any selected position in the range the engagement member can be blocked against movement in a direction opposite to the first direction and the force exerted by said body part upon the engagement member in the second direction is measured.