Abstract: A hand-held control device (10) for controlling a terminal (30) connectable by a communications network to an addressed resource. The device (10) comprises address input means for scanning and recognizing a text address (26) of the resource, such as a URL, e-mail address or telephone number, and command output means for uploading address information from the device (10) to the terminal (30) whereupon the terminal (30) is caused to connect to the addressed resource.

Abstract: A portable device comprising a processor, an amount of memory, and one or more environmental sensors is carried about the body, and periodically data is recorded from the sensors. When connected to a personal computer or the like, the records on the portable device can be transferred to the personal computer, analyzed, and used by an intelligent agent application, enabling the application to provide the portable device with the information necessary to alert the user when he/she is in a particular place at a particular time.

Abstract: A portable device comprising a processor, an amount of memory, and one or more environmental sensors is carried about the body, and periodically data is recorded from the sensors. When connected to a personal computer or the like, the records on the portable device can be transferred to the personal computer, analyzed, and used by an intelligent agent application, enabling the application to provide the portable device with the information necessary to alert the user when he/she is in a particular place at a particular time. The intelligent agent presents a user interface including a virtual character that responds to user activities to encourage generation of user activity information. The virtual character is a game-play character that can participate on the user's behalf in virtual games, and can be trained by the user for that purpose.