Abstract: Small, high-quality soundfiles are algorithmically recombined and their behavior altered to create rich, non-looping sound environments. These environments consist of sound effects as well as musical tones; for example, the sound of a single water drop or a single ocean wave can be replicated and regenerated according to algorithmic rules to create a long-running non-looping sound effect. Sonic parameters such as pitch, start time, intensity, and apparent spatial location are given initial values which are then changed in realtime via genetic algorithms to generate new values. When applied in Web-based 3D environments (e.g., VRML, Java3D, etc.), the present invention dramatically reduces the necessity for downloading large soundfiles. The present invention may also be used in real-world systems to produce long-running, interactive, non-looping sound environments.

Abstract: A virtual interface is provided which allows a user to navigate through a representation of a physical target area, such as an office, school or home environment. Using the virtual interface, a user can alter the configuration of a system which transmits information to users via peripheral or background auditory cues in response to physical actions of the users in the environments.

Abstract: A method of making a substrate in which sets of optically anisotropic spheroidal balls are disposed, as for use in an electrical twisting ball display. First and second sets of spheroidal balls, are deposited on a receiving surface composed of an elastomer substrate material in an adhesive state, the spheroidal balls thus deposited adhering to the receiving surface. Balls of the first and second sets are physically distinguishable from one another. Balls of the first set can be deposited in a first arrangement, and balls of the second set, in a second arrangement. Each ball of each set has an optical anisotropy and an anisotropy for providing an electrical dipole moment, the electrical dipole moment rendering the ball electrically responsive such that when the ball is rotatably disposed in an electric field while the electrical dipole moment of the ball is provided, the ball tends to rotate to an orientation in which the electrical dipole moment aligns with the field.

Abstract: A virtual interface is provided which allows a user to navigate through a representation of a physical target area, such as an office, school or home environment. Using the virtual interface, a user can alter the configuration of a system which transmits information to users via peripheral or background auditory cues in response to physical actions of the users in the environments.

Abstract: A method of making a substrate in which sets of optically anisotropic spheroidal balls are disposed, as for use in an electrical twisting ball display. First and second sets of spheroidal balls, are deposited on a receiving surface composed of an elastomer substrate material in an adhesive state, the spheroidal balls thus deposited adhering to the receiving surface. Balls of the first and second sets are physically distinguishable from one another. Balls of the first set can be deposited in a first arrangement, and balls of the second set, in a second arrangement. Each ball of each set has an optical anisotropy and an anisotropy for providing an electrical dipole moment, the electrical dipole moment rendering the ball electrically responsive such that when the ball is rotatably disposed in an electric field while the electrical dipole moment of the ball is provided, the ball tends to rotate to an orientation in which the electrical dipole moment aligns with the field.

Abstract: A method of making a substrate in which sets of optically anisotropic spheroidal balls are disposed, as for use in an electrical twisting ball display. First and second sets of spheroidal balls, are deposited on a receiving surface composed of an elastomer substrate material in an adhesive state, the spheroidal balls thus deposited adhering to the receiving surface. Balls of the first and second sets are physically distinguishable from one another. Balls of the first set can be deposited in a first arrangement, and balls of the second set, in a second arrangement. Each ball of each set has an optical anisotropy and an anisotropy for providing an electrical dipole moment, the electrical dipole moment rendering the ball electrically responsive such that when the ball is rotatably disposed in an electric field while the electrical dipole moment of the ball is provided, the ball tends to rotate to an orientation in which the electrical dipole moment aligns with the field.

Abstract: A zoomorphic computer for controlling a computer system includes an animal or humanoid shaped shell having an attached transceiver for two way communication with a computer system. A position detecting unit determines position of the zoomorphic shell relative to the computer system, with change of position of the zoomorphic shell relative to the computer system changing state the zoomorphic shell or the computer system. The zoomorphic shell can have movable elements such as arms or tails, attached to the zoomorphic shell, and support a feedback unit that communicates with the computer system, modifying position of a movable element in response to computer system output.

Abstract: A method of making a substrate in which sets of optically anisotropic spheroidal balls are disposed, as for use in an electrical twisting ball display. First and second sets of spheroidal balls, are deposited on a receiving surface composed of an elastomer substrate material in an adhesive state, the spheroidal balls thus deposited adhering to the receiving surface. Balls of the first and second sets are physically distinguishable from one another. Balls of the first set can be deposited in a first arrangement, and balls of the second set, in a second arrangement. Each ball of each set has an optical anisotropy and an anisotropy for providing an electrical dipole moment, the electrical dipole moment rendering the ball electrically responsive such that when the ball is rotatably disposed in an electric field while the electrical dipole moment of the ball is provided, the ball tends to rotate to an orientation in which the electrical dipole moment aligns with the field.

Abstract: An information visualization system which uses dynamic queries in combination with movable viewing operation regions (VORs) for searching of two dimensional databases. Boolean and real-valued queries are made by overlapping viewing operation regions which include filters to search for specific data in the database. The viewing operation regions include interactive interfaces such as sliders and/or buttons to control the value of the filter function and define a composition operation generated by overlapping the VORs. The system provides a graphical display of database values and direct manipulation tools for exploring relationships between the database.

Abstract: A method of operating a processor control machine, and a machine having a processor for producing human perceptible output related to an image display feature presented in an original image using the model data structure (the model) from which the original image was produced. In response to the display of an output producing region displayed coextensively with the first image segment including a display feature representing a data item in the model, a human perceptible output is produced using the data item. This is done at the same time as the first image is being displayed, giving the perception to a machine user of providing information related to the display feature in the first segment. The human perceptible output is a second image displayed by the output producing region, called a viewing operation region, or VOR. The VOR consists of one or more explicit input regions and one or more explicit output regions, spatially separated from the one or more input regions.

Abstract: A tristate light valve ball for an electrical twisting ball device composed of spheroidal balls rotatably disposed in an elastomer substrate. The ball is composed of segments arrayed substantially parallel to one another, each segment being adjacent to at least one other segment and to no more than two other segments. Adjacent segments are adjoined to one another at substantially planar interfaces. The segments include: a first, interior, nontransparent segment having a first optical modulation characteristic; a second exterior, transparent segment, adjacent to the first segment and having a second optical modulation characteristic; a third, interior, nontransparent segment having a third optical modulation characteristic; and a fourth, exterior, transparent segment adjacent to the third segment. For example, the ball can be made with a black first segment adjacent to a white third segment, surrounded on either side by clear second and fourth exterior segments.

Abstract: A user-directed method for operating a processor-controlled machine permits a user to operate on an object-based model data structure from which a first image has been produced in order to produce a second image for display in the spatial context of the first image, and then to interact with objects in the displayed second image. The method is cooperates as cooperating with the functionality of an application program, such as a graphical object editor. The user requests the display of a viewing operation region (VOR) coextensively with a first image segment of the first displayed image. In response to the user's request signal, a viewing operation associated with the VOR operates on the object-based model data structure that produced the first image to produce an output model data structure from which is produced a second view, or image, of the portion of the first image coextensively positioned with the VOR, displaying the second view in the VOR.

Abstract: A technique for producing a second image for display in the context of an original image uses a model data structure, in contrast to an image-based data structure, and a model-based operation, called a viewing operation, in contrast to an image-based operation, to produce the second image. The second image is displayed in the spatial context of the original image, as that context is defined by a viewing operation region, or VOR, at the same time as the original image is being displayed, giving the perception to a machine user of providing information related to the original image in the spatial context of the original image. The VOR functions as a type of "visual filter", binding the second view of the original image to the display area defined by the VOR. In one illustrated embodiment, the method operates within the environment of a rendering application executing in a graphical user interface environment.

Abstract: A user interface technique operates in the environment of a processor-controlled machine for executing a program that operates on a set of underlying data and displays a visible representation thereof. The system further provides a visual depiction of a set of tools. The tools include click-through tools that can be combined with other tools (including other click-through tools) to provide composite tools. A click-through tool includes a generally transparent delineated active area that is movable so that it can be placed over a desired portion of the visible representation. When the user interacts with the visible representation through the active area, the action takes on an attribute of the particular click-through tool. A click-through tool can be superimposed on another click-through tool, whereupon an action taken through the two click-through tools onto the visible representation takes on attributes of both tools.

Abstract: A method for operating a processor-controlled machine, and a machine having a processor, operate on an object-based model data structure from which a first image has been produced in order to produce a second image for display in the spatial context of the first image. A viewing operation region (VOR) is displayed coextensively with a first image segment of the first image in the display area of the machine's display device. The first image segment includes a display object representing a model data item in the object-based model data structure. In response to the display of the VOR, a second image is produced using the model data item in the object-based model data structure. The second image is displayed in the VOR, in the spatial context of the first image, simultaneously with the display of the first image, replacing the first image segment in the display area. The method may operate cooperatively with a graphical object editor application executing in a graphical user interface environment.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a processor-controlled machine to produce a composite view of an original, or first, image by combining the functions of multiple viewing operations and using the model data structure from which the first image was produced (called the "FIMDS".) A first viewing operation region (1VOR) in a first viewing position in the display area of the display device has displayed in the 1VOR a second image produced according to a first viewing operation (VO1), associated with the 1VOR, that maps the FIMDS to image definition data defining the second image. Request signal data is received from a signal source to present a second viewing operation region (2VOR) in the display area coextensive with at least a portion of the 1VOR, forming a composite viewing operation region in the overlapping region.

Abstract: A user-directed method for operating a processor-controlled machine allows a user to operate on an object-based model data structure from which a first image has been produced in order to apply any of a number of spatially and temporally bounded changes to the first image in a second image displayed in the spatial context of the first image. The method is implemented as an enhancement to the functionality of an application program, such as a graphical object editor. The user requests the display of a viewing operation region (VOR) coextensively with a first image segment of the first image in the display area of the machine's display device. In response to the user's request signal, a viewing operation associated with the VOR operates on a copy of the object-based model data structure that produced the image to produce a second modified view of the portion of the image coextensively positioned with the VOR, displaying the second, modified view in the VOR.

Abstract: A method of rendering a color image on a designated output medium is disclosed which maps colors to the gamut of the designated output medium while preserving the semantic consistency of the object color and illumination information in the image. The method performs gamut mapping earlier in the image synthesis process than current gamut method methods, at the point where information about object primitives and their spectral attributes in a scene description is available, but after the fixed scene geometry has been determined by the rendering system. The method makes use of the output of a symbolic rendering system which produces symbolic pixel expressions, having basis spectra variables which represent the interplay of light and object primitives in the scene description, and spectral data having color information about the light and object primitives in the scene, and which is indexed to the basis spectra variables.