Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reactively controlling one or more user interfaces associated with a device based on sensed conditions in an environment associated with at least one of the user interfaces are provided. A method of controlling at least one user interface associated with a device includes sensing conditions in an environment which includes the at least one user interface of the device. Then, the method includes presenting data at the at least one user interface as a function of the sensed conditions. For example, the sensing step may include detecting a proximity of a user with respect to the user interface such that the presenting step includes presenting data at the user interface as a function of the detected proximity. The proximity of the user to the user interface may be measured as a distance value between the user and the user interface such that data is presented at the user interface in a different manner or mode based on the distance value.

Abstract: According the present invention, there is provided a method and system for automatically launching an application in a computing device (e.g. Internet appliance, or the like) by authenticating a user via a digital camera in the computing device, comprising: obtaining a digital representation of the user via the digital camera; filtering the digital representation with an digital edge detection algorithm to produce a resulting digital image; comparing the resulting digital image to a pre-stored digital image of the user; retrieving user information including an application to be launched in response to a successful comparison result, the user information being associated with the pre-stored digital image of the user; and launching the application.

Abstract: According the present invention, there is provided a method and system for automatically launching an application in a computing device (e.g. Internet appliance, or the like) by authenticating a user via a digital camera in the computing device, comprising: obtaining a digital representation of the user via the digital camera; filtering the digital representation with an digital edge detection algorithm to produce a resulting digital image; comparing the resulting digital image to a pre-stored digital image of the user; retrieving user information including an application to be launched in response to a successful comparison result, the user information being associated with the pre-stored digital image of the user; and launching the application.