Abstract: Gaming systems and methods that provides a blocking symbol set bypass feature for a play of a game, wherein the player to elect whether or not to employ the blocking symbol set bypass for the symbol evaluation for that play of the game. When a blocking symbol set bypass is employed for a symbol evaluation for a play of the game, for at least part of the symbol evaluation, the gaming system can skip one or more symbols of a blocking symbol set in evaluating the displayed symbols of the displayed outcome of the play of the game to determine any displayed winning symbol combinations and any awards associated with the displayed symbols.

Abstract: Gaming systems and method that provide a player wheel set selection feature including a displayed wheel having a plurality of displayed player selectable sections for a play of a game, and wherein the quantity of sections selectable by the player is at least one and less than all of the sections of the wheel.

Abstract: An event scheduling system and method include receiving a message that includes an availability list of a first participant group of one or more members of a first party for an event to be scheduled. The availability list includes time slots that the first participant group is available for the event. A participant text window is presented on a display device that prompts a user associated with a second party to select members of the second party to form a second participant group. Responsive to receiving a user selection that identifies the members to form the second participant group, calendar data of the second participant group is accessed and cross-referenced with the time slots in the availability list. One or more confirmed time slots are determined in which both the first participant group and the second participant group are available for the event.

Abstract: A method comprises initiating a gaming session for a grid-based game, tracking a number of consecutive losing plays of the grid-based game during the gaming session, and providing a player of the grid-based game with an option to reuse a wild symbol that appears in one play of the number of consecutive losing plays in a next play when the number of consecutive losing plays exceeds a threshold. The method further comprises receiving first input from the player to reuse the wild symbol in the next play, generating, in response to the first input, a sequence of symbols comprising the wild symbol, and causing a display to display the sequence of symbols populated in the array of cells.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, the method including: detecting, at an audio provision system including at least one audio output device, an initiation of audio being provided via the at least one audio output device to a user; identifying and tracking, using at least one sensor of the audio provision system, a location of the user with respect to the at least one audio output device; and directing, using the audio provision system, audio provided by the at least one audio output device to the user, wherein the directing includes adjusting, based upon the location of the user, at least one attribute of the at least one audio output device, wherein the adjusting includes iteratively adjusting the at least one attribute as the location of the user changes. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Abstract: Gaming systems and method that provide a banked bonus player selection feature including a symbol display such as a displayed wheel having a plurality of displayed player selectable sections for a play of a multi-player game.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of operating a gaming system can include determining that a first event has been triggered on a first electronic gaming machine (“EGM”). The method can further include, responsive to determining that the first event has been triggered on the first EGM, causing a probability of triggering a second event on a second EGM to be adjusted based on a proximity of the second EGM to the first EGM.

Abstract: Gaming systems and method that provide a banked bonus player selection feature including a symbol display such as a displayed wheel having a plurality of displayed player selectable sections for a play of a multi-player game.

Abstract: Gaming systems and method that provide a play of a multi-stage game including a first stage during which a quantity of sections of a wheel are accumulated for subsequent use in a second stage of the play of the multi-stage game, and the second stage during which the accumulated quantity of sections of the wheel are employed to select sections of the wheel before the sections are displayed with awards displayed in association with the selected sections.

Abstract: A first electronic gaming machine (“EGM”) includes a processor circuit and a memory coupled to the processor circuit. The memory includes machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor circuit, cause the EGM to perform operations. The operations include determining that an event has been triggered on a second EGM. The second EGM can be separate from the first EGM. The operations can further include, responsive to determining that the event has been triggered on the second EGM, providing an incentive on the first EGM.

Abstract: Gaming systems and method that provide a play of a multi-stage game including a first stage during which a quantity of sections of a wheel are accumulated for subsequent use in a second stage of the play of the multi-stage game, and the second stage during which the accumulated quantity of sections of the wheel are employed to select sections of the wheel before the sections are displayed with awards displayed in association with the selected sections.

Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus may include at least one processor and storage accessible to the at least one processor. The storage may include instructions executable by the at least one processor to permit a first device to change one or more settings that are related to a video conference and that are associated with a second device's outbound stream of one or more of audio and video as part of the video conference. The instructions may also be executable to receive first input to change the one or more settings, where the first input may be instigated at the first device. Based on permitting the first device to change the one or more settings and based on receipt of the first input to change the one or more settings, the instructions may then be executable to change the one or more settings.

Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes at least one processor and storage accessible to the at least one processor. The storage includes instructions executable by the at least one processor to identify a first duration of an activity associated with a user and, based the identification, recommend media content having a second duration similar to the first duration to within a threshold.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, the method including: identifying, utilizing a message reminder system, at least two messages transmitted by a sender to at least one recipient; determining, utilizing the message reminder system, at least one of the at least two messages did not receive a response; and providing a notification indicating the at least one of the at least two messages needs a response. Other aspects are claimed and described.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and computer program products that improve production value of a video stream are disclosed. One apparatus includes a processor and a memory that stores code executable by the processor to receive, from a camera, a signal including data for an environment a portion of which is within a field of view of the camera and the data represents a set of attributes related to a current situation of the environment. The code is further executable by the processor to analyze the data to determine one or more improvements for the attribute(s) related to the current situation of the environment that, after implementation, would increase a production value of a video stream of the current situation of the environment and notify a user of the determination. Methods and computer program products that include and/or perform the operations and/or functions of the apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: receiving, at an information handling device, input from a user to display at least one piece of visual media comprising a plurality of media elements; identifying, using the media characterization system, at least one characteristic of the user; and dynamically changing, utilizing the media characterization system, at least one of the plurality of media elements to another media element option, wherein the another media element option is correlated to the user based upon the at least one characteristic. Other aspects are claimed and described.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and program products for dynamically shaping are computing display screen are disclosed. One apparatus includes a processor and a memory that stores code executable by the processor. The code is executable by the processor to receive an input from a user, determine if the input is a predefined input, and modify the size and/or shape of the computing display screen in response to the input being the predefined input. Methods and computer program products that perform the operations and/or functions of the apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes at least one processor and storage accessible to the at least one processor. The storage includes instructions executable by the at least one processor to determine a first context and to determine that a threshold number of messages of a message chain have been received within a threshold amount of time. Based on the first context and the threshold number of messages being received within the threshold amount of time, the instructions are executable to delay presenting at least one notification regarding one or more messages of the message chain.

Abstract: Implants, instruments, and methods for performing surgical procedures on the spine, including one or more of creating an operative corridor to the spine, delivering implants to the spine, fusing one or more segments of the spine, and fixing one or more segments of the spine.

Abstract: In one aspect, a device includes at least one processor, a display accessible to the at least one processor, and storage accessible to the at least one processor. The storage includes instructions executable by the at least one processor to identify a context associated with a user, identify a location of the user, and adjust the orientation of the display to direct the display toward the location of the user based on the context associated with the user and the location of the user.