Abstract: A contact with a point of a touch input component of a computing device can be sensed. A continuous contact from the point to a different point on the touch input component can be detected that is caused by a first slide based motion of a contact instrument maintaining contact with the touch input component. A first input character associated with the slide based motion can be determining based at least in part upon a direction of the slide based motion. A second slide based motion of the contact instrument can be detected from the different point to another point, wherein the contact instrument remains in contact with the touch input component during the first slide based motion, during the second slide based motion, and between the first and second slide based motion. A second input character associated with the slide based motion can be determined based at least in part upon a direction of the second slide based motion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to user interfaces and provide a novel and non-obvious system for interacting with a computer via a projected image. In one embodiment of the invention, the system includes a projector for generating a projected image onto a surface, wherein the projected image corresponds to a first image on a display of the computer. The system further includes a sensor for sensing a human interaction with the projected image and generating a first information representing the human interaction and a transmitter for transmitting the first information to the computer. The system further includes a program on the computer that receives the first information and translates it into a second information representing a human interaction with the first image.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are provided for identifying an object placed on a surface. An indication is received that an object has been placed on the surface. A plurality of physical characteristics are identified that are associated with the object. Using the plurality of physical characteristics, a data structure is searched to determine the existence of a single object with physical characteristics that matches the plurality of physical characteristics. Responsive to a match, a determination is made as to whether the single object has an associated presentation. Responsive to the existence of the associated presentation, the associated presentation is presented to a user.

Abstract: A metaverse system and method for allowing a user to attend a recorded past event in a metaverse application. The metaverse system includes a client computer, a metaverse server, and a time travel engine. The client computer interfaces with the metaverse application. The metaverse server records an event environment of a past event in a metaverse application. The time travel engine serves, in response to a request from a user, a playback of the recorded event environment to the client computer to allow the user to attend and to observe the recorded event environment.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for determining a level of cleanliness of a multi-touch screen display, characterizing objects that make contact with the screen, and initiating a specific maintenance action on the screen, based on screen cleanliness and the object(s) characterization(s). A screen diagnostic and maintenance (SDM) utility initiates a number of procedures to determine the type of object(s) and a set of characteristics of object(s) that make contact with the touch screen. Based on the results of the procedures, the SDM utility characterizes/identifies the object(s). In addition, the SDM utility initiates maintenance screen check(s) based on information stored in maintenance configuration file(s). Based on the results of the maintenance check(s), configuration file(s) data and type and characterization of the object(s) that have made contact with the screen, the SDM utility determines the type of maintenance that is performed and the timing/schedule of the maintenance action(s).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing gameplay in a metaverse application in which players interact with each other and a virtual world by controlling characters that are represented using avatars specified by avatar profiles. The method comprises providing a player with an ability to specify and maintain more than one avatar profile for a character controlled by the player; and allowing an avatar representation of the character to be switched between the more than one avatar profile during gameplay.

Abstract: Systems are disclosed herein that can capture image data reflecting real world objects and/or actions and convert this data into a format that, is usable in a virtual universe (VU). Thus, image data representing real world/actual objects and actions can be acquired, converted into virtual universe compatible data, sent to a VU server where the actions and objects can be associated with a virtual area or an avatar, and a recreation of the objects and actions can be displayed to a user in the VU. This allows a participant to customize activities and objects in the VU, and provide a unique “personality” for their avatar and their VU. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Arrangements are disclosed herein that can capture image data reflecting real world objects and/or interactions and convert this data into a format that is usable in a virtual universe (VU). In one embodiment, a method can include receiving sets of image data that capture an object or a setting from different viewing angles. The image can be in multiple data sets where the sets have at least one common feature. The image data can be analyzed using the common features in the image data and a spatial map can be created. The spatial map can be modified (if required) such that a VU engine can use the modified data to provide a VU that has a representation of the real world object and/or interaction. This allows a participant to customize objects and/or activities in the VU, and provide a unique “persona” for their avatar and their VU.

Abstract: Systems are disclosed herein that allow a participant to be associated with an avatar and receive a transmission from the participant in response to a participant activated transmission. The transmission can include a participant selectable and time delayed mood and/or activity command which can be associated with a user configurable command to avatar activity conversion table. The associated avatar activity table can provide control signal to the VU system controlling the participant's avatar for extended time periods, where the activity commands allow the avatar to exhibit a mood and to conduct an activity. The preconfigured time controlled activity commands allow the user to control their avatar without being actively engaged in a session with a virtual universe client or logged on and the control configuration can be set up such that a single mood/activity control signal can initiate moods and activities that occur over an extended period of time.

Abstract: A method for storing data associated with a video game is provided. The method includes receiving position data indicative of a position of a wireless input device over a time interval at a video game controller. The method further includes generating a plurality of digital images associated with the video game over the time interval based on the position data, utilizing the video game controller. The method further includes storing a file having the position data and the plurality of digital images in either a central server or the wireless input device, utilizing the video game controller.

Abstract: A method for identifying product compatibility comprises retrieving product information for a plurality of products, the plurality of products, storing the product information for the plurality of products on at least one of a first storage device and a second storage device, identifying a first product and a second product as members of a collection of compatible products, aggregating the design codes of each of the members of the collection of compatible products, creating a collection code for the collection of compatible products, assigning the collection code to all members of the collection of compatible products, comparing the first product to the second product, determining whether the first product and the second product are members of the collection of compatible products, and providing a result of the determining whether the first product and the second product are members of the collection of compatible products.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to question and answer management in a collaborative environment, and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for synchronizing questions and answers in an instant messaging session. In one embodiment of the invention, a method of synchronizing questions and answers in an instant messaging session can be provided. The method can include maintaining an instant messaging session between first and second participants, identifying questions and answers in the instant messaging text, matching each of the answers to a corresponding one of the questions, and displaying the matched questions and answers supplementally to the displaying of the chat transcript, ensuring that a participant does not overlook a question where response on their part is required.

Abstract: The present invention can include a solution for toggling an enablement state of a surface based computing device using a physical object. In the solution, a physical object external to a surface based computing device can be identified, which is able to be placed on a surface of the surface based computing device. The surface based computing device can detect a change in a positioning of the physical object relative to the surface. Responsive to the change of positioning, an enablement state of the surface based computing device can be changed.

Abstract: Arrangements to identify, in some form, multiple participants by an interactive surface system utilizing multi-touch technology are disclosed. The interactive surface system could identify authorize and allocate space on a surface for a participant based on identifying at least one attribute of the participant such as an object associated with the participant. The method can include searching for a first distinctive attribute of the entity and assigning an identifier to the attribute and storing the identifier for future use the operating the interactive surface based on the participant's identity and location. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, products are disclosed for displaying speech for a user of a surface computer, the surface computer comprising a surface, the surface computer capable of receiving multi-touch input through the surface and rendering display output on the surface, that include: registering, by the surface computer, a plurality of users with the surface computer; allocating, by the surface computer to each registered user, a portion of the surface for interaction between that registered user and the surface computer; detecting, by the surface computer, a speech utterance from one of the plurality of users; determining, by the surface computer using a speech engine, speech text in dependence upon the speech utterance; creating, by the surface computer, display text in dependence upon the speech text; and rendering, by the surface computer, the display text on at least one of the allocated portions of the surface.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for sending a document for display to a user of a surface computer, the surface computer comprising a surface, surface computer capable receiving multi-touch input through the surface and rendering display output on the surface, that include: registering at least two users with the surface computer, the users including a sender and a receiver; allocating to each registered user a portion of the surface for interaction between the registered user and the surface computer; receiving, from the sender, a user selection specifying a document; receiving, from the sender, a sending instruction to send the selected document to the receiver for display; and rendering, in response to receiving the sending instruction, contents of the selected document on the receiver's allocated portion of the surface.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for rendering display content on a floor surface of a surface computer, the floor surface comprised in the surface computer, the surface computer capable of receiving multi-touch input through the floor surface and rendering display output on the floor surface, that include: detecting, by the surface computer, contact between a user and the floor surface; identifying, by the surface computer, user characteristics for the user in dependence upon the detected contact; selecting, by the surface computer, display content in dependence upon the user characteristics; and rendering, by the surface computer, the selected display content on the floor surface.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, or products for displaying an image of an object placed on a surface computer, the surface computer including a surface, surface computer capable receiving multi-touch input through the surface and rendering display output on the surface, the surface computer including a scanner, that include: detecting, by the surface computer, an object placed on the surface; identifying, by the surface computer, a region of the surface upon which the object is placed; scanning, by the surface computer using the scanner, the identified region of the surface to create an object image of the object; and rendering, by the surface computer, the object image within the identified region without modifying portions of any other images rendered on the surface outside the identified region.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for displaying documents to a plurality of users of a surface computer, the surface computer comprising a surface, surface computer capable of receiving multi-touch input through the surface and rendering display output on the surface, that include: registering a plurality of users with the surface computer, the plurality of users including a moderator and a plurality of participants; assigning, to each registered user, a portion of the surface for interaction between that registered user and the surface computer; selecting, by the moderator for sharing with the plurality of participants, a document stored in the surface computer; rendering contents of the document on the moderator's assigned portion of the surface; and rendering the contents of the document on each of the participants' portions of the surface.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for displaying personalized documents to users of a surface computer, the surface computer comprising a surface, surface computer capable receiving multi-touch input through the surface and rendering display output on the surface, that include: registering a plurality of users with the surface computer; assigning, to each registered user, a portion of the surface for interaction between that registered user and the surface computer; selecting a user profile for each registered user; creating, for each registered user from a content repository, personalized display content for that registered user in dependence upon the user profile selected for that registered user; and rendering the personalized display content for each registered user on that user's assigned portion of the surface.