Abstract: The privacy product—used with an information system which has a data processor (71) signal connected (72) to a display device (81) and has an input device (51, 51A) signal connected (52, 52A) to the data processor with the input device being manipulated (21) by a person to control cursor motions—comprises a computer readable signal bearing medium (11) signal connected (14) to the data processor with the medium having a chaff component (12) which causes the data processor to cause the display device to display (82) a chaff path (31A) which is indistinguishable from the cursor path (31) by a sequent person.

Abstract: An imager (11) has a locate mode (13) which detects light (31A, 31B) having a preset light property from at least one locator (21) in the imager field of view (12); and has a react mode which is caused by the locate mode to select light from a code region (22, 32A, 32B, 33B) over light not from the code region (81) and which outputs a signal (41) representing code in the code region.

Abstract: A metallurgical process involves providing an ingredient enclosure and placing a plurality of granules of a first material in the ingredient enclosure. The first material contains a first ingredient in a metallurgical process. A metallurgical process furnace having a chamber in which ingredients for the metallurgical process are added is provided and the ingredient enclosure and the first material are added to the chamber. The chamber is heated after the addition of the ingredient enclosure and the first material to the chamber, although it may also be heated prior to such addition. In one form, the granules comprise mill scale and the metallurgical process furnace is a blast furnace.

Abstract: In one form, a moving interactive virtual reality product comprises a sensor. The sensor can measure positions and motions of an actor relative to a reference frame. The sensor is designed to be capable of outputting a sensor signal, which represents the positions and motions of the actor which are measured by the sensor. A display can be included for providing images for the actor. In one form, the product includes a motor carriage which uses the sensor signal to move the display to match the positions and motions of the actor measured by the sensor.

Abstract: A thermometer implant (10), especially useful in medical diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, comprises a thermometer body (15) containing a fluid (13) which expands, and contracts to a fluid length (14) that indicates a target temperature at a target time, and which is located in a body from where the expanding fluid is not visible at the target time, with the fluid length (14) at the target time being measured outside the body.

Abstract: The product comprises an imager (21), a coded data source (11), and a variable property having a first use, with light emanating from the coded data source (11) representing the first use and specifying which portion of light detected (12) by the imager (21) represents the variable property, where the coded data source (11) can be from a plurality of coded data sources and the imager (11) can be from a plurality of imagers (21).

Abstract: Working with an information system operating an application—are an imager, a coded data source, and a computer-readable signal-bearing medium signal (FIG. 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 91, 92, 93) connected to the information system where light from the data source—which represents data—is detected by the imager which inputs a signal—which represents the light—to the information system; where a use component of the medium causes the data to be made available to the application with the application being specified by the data; and where: the image can be from a plurality of imagers signal connected to the information system; the coded data source can be from a plurality of coded data sources; the application can be from a plurality of applications operated by the information system; and the medium can have a plurality of components which cause uses of data, management of imagers, and output signals.

Abstract: A signal processing means (40) outputs a signal (41) representing a number when a combination of at least two imagers (11), (12) detects a spatial arrangement of a plurality of code portions of a coded data source (60)—where the spatial arrangement of the plurality of code portions represents the number, and where imager combinations can comprise spatial, temporal, and light property combinations.

Abstract: An imager (11) has a locate mode (13) which detects light (31A, 31B) having a preset light property from at least one locator (21) in the imager field of view (12); and has a react mode which is caused by the locate mode to select light from a code region (22, 32A, 32B, 33B) over light not from the code region (81) and which outputs a signal (41) representing code in the code region.

Abstract: An imager (12) having a field of view extending along three orthogonal axes detects positions (37) of a data appliance manipulated by a person in the field of view, detects the value of a toggle property (42, 72) of the data appliance manipulated by the person, and outputs a signal (13) which is equivalent to the position, left click, and right click signals from a computer mouse.

Abstract: The annotating product adapted for use with an information system and with an exhibit having a plurality of objects has an imager (11) which is signal connected to the information system (91) and has codes (31) representing (33) objects (81) from the plurality of objects, the imager detecting light (32) from several codes together and sending an indicate signal (12) which represents at least one of the several objects to the information system which then sends an annotate signal (22) to cause a display (21) to output data about objects represented by the indicate signal.

Abstract: A novel form of virtual reality product is described which uses a powered mobile structure that follows a person as the person roams freely around a real physical terrain of arbitrary size that may simultaneously be portrayed in the virtual space. Virtual objects may be included in the portrayal. The product includes coded data source and imager combinations that provide information used by a control system and motive means to keep the structure in a known spatial relationship to the moving person. These also may provide data for avatar control and other purposes in the virtual space. The product may be used to stress persons in a virtual environment by requiring them to deal with, for example, varied and challenging terrain underfoot and long traverses.

Abstract: An imager (11) has a locate mode (13) which detects light (31A, 31B) having a preset light property from at least one locator (21) in the imager field of view (12); and has a react mode which is caused by the locate mode to select light from a code region (22, 32A, 32B, 33B) over light not from the code region (81) and which outputs a signal (41) representing code in the code region.

Abstract: The product comprises an imager (21), a coded data source (11), and a variable property having a first use, with light emanating from the coded data source (11) representing the first use and specifying which portion of light detected (12) by the imager (21) represents the variable property, where the coded data source (11) can be from a plurality of coded data sources and the imager (11) can be from a plurality of imagers (21).

Abstract: The tracking product images several coded data sources (41A-41C) concurrently to cause a track signal (12) which represents each of the several coded data source locations and represents each of the several coded data source identities.

Abstract: A temperature-indicating target length (15) of an expanding fluid thermometer (11) imbedded inside an object (91) moving in the flow (81) is achieved at a target point (21) along a flow and is measured by a measuring means at a location outside of the flow; where the measuring means can be radiating energy (31) projecting an image (32) of the target length outside the flow, and the measuring means can be causing the fluid length to be locked at the target length, removing the object from the flow, and measuring the target length outside the flow.

Abstract: An imager (11) has a locate mode (13) which detects light (31A, 31B) having a preset light property from at least one locator (21) in the imager field of view (12); and has a react mode which is caused by the locate mode to select light from a code region (22, 32A, 32B, 33B) over light not from the code region (81) and which outputs a signal (41) representing code in the code region.

Abstract: The beam guide (11a) useful in radiation oncology is removably inserted within a body, and scans beams of charged particles into target volumes therein by varying a magnetic field, with magnetic fields serially guiding beams as the guide flexes.

Abstract: The product—which is adapted for use with an information transmission system—presents an original image; uses criteria to present a test image, where the test image has a non-alphanumeric element perceptively distinguishable from a corresponding element of the original image and to invite responses which locate the distinguishable element of the test image; and generates data relating the responses to the criteria.

Abstract: Expanding fluid thermometers are implanted in a body—for example in and adjacent to a cancerous tumor—and are read by x-ray imaging.