Abstract: According to examples, an apparatus may include a processor that may, responsive to a secondary display being detected, cause a window including an option for a user to proceed with a location detection operation of the secondary display to be displayed on a primary display. The processor may also cause an icon to be displayed on the secondary display, track a movement of a cursor from the primary display to the icon displayed on the secondary display, and determine a position of the secondary display with respect to the primary display based on the tracked movement of the cursor. The processor may further store the determined position of the secondary display with respect to the primary display.

Abstract: Techniques for adjusting a posture of an operating system mode for a touch-enabled computing device based on combinations of user preferences and user input modality signals. Various adjustments to the posture of the operating system mode do not impact whether particular user interface elements are present but rather alter characteristics with which these particular user interface elements are rendered. Posture adjustments to an operating system mode occur based on combinations user input modality signals and user preferences not to enter another mode in which particular user interface elements are no longer displayed within a task bar along a peripheral edge. An object of designing an operating system mode to have multiple different postures with common user interface elements displayed in the task bar while adjusting the characteristics thereof is to preserve the user familiarity across postures while optimizing graphical layouts to accommodate for a current user input modality.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein are directed towards systems, methods, and computer storage media for, among other things, providing personalized notification management. Notifications can be communicated to a user upon receipt or queued for subsequent handling based on a probability that the user will interact with the notification within a threshold elapsed time from presentation, if it is presented. The probability is determined based on a user's past interactions with similar notifications. The interactions of other users with notifications can also be considered to determine the probability. The notifications can be managed by a notification broker.

Abstract: A method and system for providing access to virtual desktops may include receiving an input indicating hovering of a pointer over an icon in a toolbar, identifying one or more existing virtual desktops, determining a state for each of the one or more existing virtual desktops by identifying one or more instances of any applications that are currently running in each of the one or more existing virtual desktops and determining a running state for each of the one or more instances, and displaying a preview of each of the one or more existing virtual desktops in response to the hovering of the pointer over the icon. The preview may include displaying the running state for one of the one or more instances for each existing virtual desktop.

Abstract: A method and system for providing access to virtual desktops may include receiving an input indicating hovering of a pointer over an icon in a toolbar, identifying one or more existing virtual desktops, determining a state for each of the one or more existing virtual desktops by identifying one or more instances of any applications that are currently running in each of the one or more existing virtual desktops and determining a running state for each of the one or more instances, and displaying a preview of each of the one or more existing virtual desktops in response to the hovering of the pointer over the icon. The preview may include displaying the running state for one of the one or more instances for each existing virtual desktop.

Abstract: Techniques for adjusting a posture of an operating system mode for a touch-enabled computing device based on combinations of user preferences and user input modality signals. Various adjustments to the posture of the operating system mode do not impact whether particular user interface elements are present but rather alter characteristics with which these particular user interface elements are rendered. Posture adjustments to an operating system mode occur based on combinations user input modality signals and user preferences not to enter another mode in which particular user interface elements are no longer displayed within a task bar along a peripheral edge. An object of designing an operating system mode to have multiple different postures with common user interface elements displayed in the task bar while adjusting the characteristics thereof is to preserve the user familiarity across postures while optimizing graphical layouts to accommodate for a current user input modality.

Abstract: Techniques for adjusting a posture of an operating system mode for a touch-enabled computing device based on combinations of user preferences and user input modality signals. Various adjustments to the posture of the operating system mode do not impact whether particular user interface elements are present but rather alter characteristics with which these particular user interface elements are rendered. Posture adjustments to an operating system mode occur based on combinations user input modality signals and user preferences not to enter another mode in which particular user interface elements are no longer displayed within a task bar along a peripheral edge. An object of designing an operating system mode to have multiple different postures with common user interface elements displayed in the task bar while adjusting the characteristics thereof is to preserve the user familiarity across postures while optimizing graphical layouts to accommodate for a current user input modality.

Abstract: A method and system for providing access to virtual desktops may include receiving an input indicating hovering of a pointer over an icon in a toolbar, identifying one or more existing virtual desktops, determining a state for each of the one or more existing virtual desktops by identifying one or more instances of any applications that are currently running in each of the one or more existing virtual desktops and determining a running state for each of the one or more instances, and displaying a preview of each of the one or more existing virtual desktops in response to the hovering of the pointer over the icon. The preview may include displaying the running state for one of the one or more instances for each existing virtual desktop.

Abstract: Techniques for adjusting a posture of an operating system mode for a touch-enabled computing device based on combinations of user preferences and user input modality signals. Various adjustments to the posture of the operating system mode do not impact whether particular user interface elements are present but rather alter characteristics with which these particular user interface elements are rendered. Posture adjustments to an operating system mode occur based on combinations user input modality signals and user preferences not to enter another mode in which particular user interface elements are no longer displayed within a task bar along a peripheral edge. An object of designing an operating system mode to have multiple different postures with common user interface elements displayed in the task bar while adjusting the characteristics thereof is to preserve the user familiarity across postures while optimizing graphical layouts to accommodate for a current user input modality.

Abstract: Techniques for learned user preference- and behavior-based notification filtering are described herein. In one or more implementations, notifications obtained from computer applications are filtered for presentation to a user. Example notifications include notifications about emails, text messages, phone calls, web-page specific messages, antivirus application messages, and so forth. As part of filtering the notifications, interactions of a user with the notifications and with events for which the notifications can be generated are monitored. The monitored interactions are used to learn user preferences and behaviors for notifications in different contexts of user interaction with computing devices. Data is collected that describes characteristics of a current context. Based on the current context, importance scores are computed for new notifications using the learned user preferences and behaviors. The importance scores can then be used to determine which of the new notifications to present to the user.

Abstract: Techniques for surfacing task-related applications in a heterogeneous tab environment are described. In at least some implementations, a task group is created based on an implicit association between source content from a source application and target content from a target application based on a request to launch the target application from the source application. According to various implementations, the heterogeneous tab environment presents the task group and a trigger event is defined based on the task group. Detecting the trigger event causes surfacing of the task group in the tab environment.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein are directed towards systems, methods, and computer storage media for, among other things, providing personalized notification management. Notifications can be communicated to a user upon receipt or queued for subsequent handling based on a probability that the user will interact with the notification within a threshold elapsed time from presentation, if it is presented. The probability is determined based on a user's past interactions with similar notifications. The interactions of other users with notifications can also be considered to determine the probability. The notifications can be managed by a notification broker.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided that address issues related to data privacy by enabling users to elect various levels of data sharing. A user of a user device is enabled to indicate their comfort level with sharing, transmitting, or otherwise exposing individual activity records (data entities) with respect to various activity categories. The exposure of activity records may be controlled with respect to on-device and off-device components. Furthermore, privacy profiles may be automatically generated for the user, and the privacy profiles may be automatically activated in corresponding situations.

Abstract: A computer-implemented technique is described herein that receives captured stroke information when a user enters handwritten notes using an input capture device. The technique then automatically performs analysis on the captured stroke information to produce output analysis information. Based on the output analysis information, the technique uses an assistant component to identify a response to the captured stroke information and/or to identify an action to be performed. The technique then presents the response, together with the original captured stroke information. In addition, or alternatively, the technique performs the action. In one case, the response is a text-based response; that text-based response may be presented in a freeform handwriting style to give the user the impression that a virtual assistant is responding to the user's own note. In another case, the response engages the user in an interactive exercise of any type.

Abstract: Techniques for surfacing task-related applications in a heterogeneous tab environment are described. In at least some implementations, a task group is created based on an implicit association between source content from a source application and target content from a target application based on a request to launch the target application from the source application. According to various implementations, the heterogeneous tab environment presents the task group and a trigger event is defined based on the task group. Detecting the trigger event causes surfacing of the task group in the tab environment.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided that address issues related to data privacy by enabling users to elect various levels of data sharing. A user of a user device is enabled to indicate their comfort level with sharing, transmitting, or otherwise exposing individual activity records (data entities) with respect to various activity categories. The exposure of activity records may be controlled with respect to on-device and off-device components. Furthermore, privacy profiles may be automatically generated for the user, and the privacy profiles may be automatically activated in corresponding situations.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided that address issues related to data privacy by enabling users to elect various levels of data sharing. A user of a user device is enabled to indicate their comfort level with sharing, transmitting, or otherwise exposing individual activity records (data entities) with respect to various activity categories. The exposure of activity records may be controlled with respect to on-device and off-device components. Furthermore, privacy profiles may be automatically generated for the user, and the privacy profiles may be automatically activated in corresponding situations.

Abstract: Techniques for learned user preference- and behavior-based notification filtering are described herein. In one or more implementations, notifications obtained from computer applications are filtered for presentation to a user. Example notifications include notifications about emails, text messages, phone calls, web-page specific messages, antivirus application messages, and so forth. As part of filtering the notifications, interactions of a user with the notifications and with events for which the notifications can be generated are monitored. The monitored interactions are used to learn user preferences and behaviors for notifications in different contexts of user interaction with computing devices. Data is collected that describes characteristics of a current context. Based on the current context, importance scores are computed for new notifications using the learned user preferences and behaviors. The importance scores can then be used to determine which of the new notifications to present to the user.

Abstract: A computer system provides an automated tool that processes audio data and data about computer operating context to automatically capture information, such as information from conversations and meetings. The computer operating context can include, for example, environmental data sensed, or other contextual information maintained or tracked, by the computer. The audio data and computer operating context are processed by the computer to detect starting conditions for data extraction. After detecting a starting condition, the processor initiates speech processing on the audio information to generate corresponding text data. The processor processes the text data using text filters that define salient patterns in the text data. Such salient patterns can correspond to, for example, tasks to be performed, follow-up appointments and other events, messages to be sent, important points or notes, and the like.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are described for implementing a digital personal assistant. The digital personal assistant is capable of determining that a user has asked a question or made a statement that is intended to engage with a persona of the digital personal assistant. In response to determining that the user has asked such a question or made such a statement, the digital personal assistant provides a response thereto by displaying or playing back a multimedia object associated with a popular culture reference within or by a user interface of the digital personal assistant. Additionally or alternatively, in response to determining that the user has asked such a question or made such a statement, the digital personal assistant provides the response thereto by generating or playing back speech that comprises an impersonation of a voice of a person associated with the popular culture reference.