Abstract: Techniques for assigning a gesture dictionary in a gesture-based system to a user comprise capturing data representative of a user in a physical space. In a gesture-based system, gestures may control aspects of a computing environment or application, where the gestures may be derived from a user's position or movement in a physical space. In an example embodiment, the system may monitor a user's gestures and select a particular gesture dictionary in response to the manner in which the user performs the gestures. The gesture dictionary may be assigned in real time with respect to the capture of the data representative of a user's gesture. The system may generate calibration tests for assigning a gesture dictionary. The system may track the user during a set of short gesture calibration tests and assign the gesture dictionary based on a compilation of the data captured that represents the user's gestures.

Abstract: The subject disclosure is directed towards a web service that maintains a set of models used to generate plans, such as vacation plans, in which the set of models includes models that are authored by crowd contributors via the service. The models include rules, constraints and/or equations, and may be text based and declarative such that any author can edit an existing model or combination of existing models into a new model. Users can access the models to generate a plan according to user parameters, view a presentation of that plan, and interact to provide new parameters to the model and/or with objects in the plan to modify the plan and view a presentation of the modified plan.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are described herein for interacting with contextual and task-focused computing environments. Tasks associated with applications are described by task data. Tasks and/or batches of tasks relevant to activities occurring at a client are identified, and a UI for presenting the tasks is generated. The UIs can include tasks and workflows corresponding to batches of tasks. Workflows can be executed, interrupted, and resumed on demand. Interrupted workflows are stored with data indicating progress, contextual information, UI information, and other information. The workflow is stored and/or shared. When execution of the workflow is resumed, the same or a different UI can be provided, based upon the device used to resume execution of the workflow. Thus, multiple devices and users can access workflows in parallel to provide collaborative task execution.

Abstract: Various embodiments enable mobile devices, such as phones and the like, to integrate with an in-vehicle information/entertainment system to enable the user to control the in-vehicle information/entertainment system by way of their mobile phone. Users can leverage the functionality of their mobile phone to promote an in-vehicle experience which can be contextually tailored to the user's or the vehicle's context. Yet other embodiments can purvey an in-vehicle experience through a cloud based service.

Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to user input into a computer system, and a technology by which one or more users interact with a computer system via a combination of input modalities. When the input data of two or more input modalities are related, they are combined to interpret an intended meaning of the input. For example, speech when combined with one input gesture has one intended meaning, e.g., convert the speech to verbatim text for consumption by a program, while the exact speech when combined with a different input gesture has a different meaning, e.g., convert the speech to a command that controls the operation of that same program.

Abstract: Embodiments for interacting with speech input systems are provided. One example provides an electronic device including an earpiece, a speech input system, and a speechless input system. The electronic device further includes instructions executable to present requests to a user via audio outputs, and receive user inputs in response to the requests via a first input mode in which user inputs are made via the speech input system, and also receive user inputs in response to the requests via a second input mode in which responses to the requests are made via the speechless input system.