Abstract: A layer having individual elements made of an elastic material, with the length thereof exceeding the diameter thereof, which are secured on a carrier at a distance to one another, wherein the elements can be moved towards and away from one another, the elements can contact when moving towards one another, the outer surfaces of the elements provided with a surface modification, and the surface modification containing substances that can form reversible, non-covalent bonds. Also, a method for producing the layer, and the use of the layer.

Abstract: A layer having individual elements made of an elastic material, with the length thereof exceeding the diameter thereof, which are secured on a carrier at a distance to one another, wherein the elements can be moved towards and away from one another, the elements can contact when moving towards one another, the outer surfaces of the elements provided with a surface modification, and the surface modification containing substances that can form reversible, non-covalent bonds. Also, a method for producing the layer, and the use of the layer.

Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed including software components that are executed on a computing device to enable finding, adding, and sending messages to users within a social network. In various embodiments, a requesting user may request finding, adding, and/or sending messages to one or more other users in a social network, the other users presently being on one or more contact lists associated with the requesting user. The requesting user's contact list may be used to verify that he knows the other users and respond to the requesting user's request based on the requesting user's own contact list, without supplying additional information from the other users. In various embodiments, the requesting user's contact list may be partitioned into two sections, one section including the other users who are also in the social network and the other including the other users who are not in the social network.

Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed including software components that are executed on a computing device to enable multimedia communications. A message card constituting an integrated messaging unit is used to transmit and receive multimedia data between two or more computing devices. The card may contain text, picture, animation, sound, video, metadata, and other messaging data and information, some of which may be encapsulated in software stickers embedded in the message card. The cards may be stacked, stored, searched for, modified, augmented with stickers, and the like. The stickers may have various looks and functions including providing a message, animation, video, picture, hologram, be peeled off, be scratched to reveal content, detect movement of the computing device, detect finger tapping, show emotions, provide quick reply to messages, and the like. The looks, contents, and behaviors of the message cards and/or the stickers may be programmable by the user.

Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed including software components that are executed on a computing device to enable multimedia communications. A message card constituting an integrated messaging unit is used to transmit and receive multimedia data between two or more computing devices. The card may contain text, picture, animation, sound, video, metadata, and other messaging data and information, some of which may be encapsulated in software stickers embedded in the message card. The cards may be stacked, stored, searched for, modified, augmented with stickers, and the like. The stickers may have various looks and functions including providing a message, animation, video, picture, hologram, be peeled off, be scratched to reveal content, detect movement of the computing device, detect finger tapping, show emotions, provide quick reply to messages, and the like. The looks, contents, and behaviors of the message cards and/or the stickers may be programmable by the user.