Abstract: A polygonal device for teaching students who prefer kinesthetic learning methods is presented in which the polygonal device can represent two-dimensional polygons of varying shapes and sizes. One or more of the sides, or legs, of the polygonal device are extendable, and the angles of the polygonal device may be manipulated to a desired angle. The devices presented include, but are not limited to, triangles, quadrilaterals, parallelograms, rectangles, squares, trapezoids, and kites. In each of these devices, the legs of the device are non-detachable, i.e. the device does not come apart during normal manipulation and operation.

Abstract: A polygonal device for teaching students who prefer kinesthetic learning methods is presented in which the polygonal device can represent two-dimensional polygons of varying shapes and sizes. One or more of the sides, or legs, of the polygonal device are extendable, and the angles of the polygonal device may be manipulated to a desired angle. The devices presented include, but are not limited to, triangles, quadrilaterals, parallelograms, rectangles, squares, trapezoids, and kites. In each of these devices, the legs of the device are non-detachable, i.e. the device does not come apart during normal manipulation and operation.

Abstract: A method (300) for determining an alarm condition for a confined space comprises detecting motion or an intrusion (305) in the confined space by a secondary sensor and generating (310) an alarm signal by the secondary sensor in response to detected motion or an intrusion. The method further comprises the steps of determining (315) whether the alarm signal represents a false alarm condition; and inhibiting (325) a primary sensor in response to a determined false alarm condition. The provision of a secondary sensor is used to identify false alarms and inhibit operation of the primary sensor or alarm in response thereto.

Abstract: A method (300) for determining an alarm condition for a confined space comprises detecting motion or an intrusion (305) in the confined space by a secondary sensor and generating (310) an alarm signal by the secondary sensor in response to detected motion or an intrusion. The method further comprises the steps of determining (315) whether the alarm signal represents a false alarm condition; and inhibiting (325) a primary sensor in response to a determined false alarm condition. The provision of a secondary sensor is used to identify false alarms and inhibit operation of the primary sensor or alarm in response thereto.

Abstract: The invention in one embodiment is a method for installing an operating system on a computer. The method includes generating an external configuration file containing information about a plurality of devices that might be associated with the computer; identifying a particular device associated with the computer, the particular device being one of the plurality of devices; installing a driver on the computer according to the information stored in the external configuration file and the particular device's identity; and installing the operating system according to information stored in the external configuration file and the particular device's identity.