Abstract: One embodiment of a seating arrangement of a transportation vehicle includes at least two rows of upper-level seats in a first zone extending a longitudinal direction, a left row of lower-level seats in a second zone on the left of the upper-level seats, and a right row of lower-level seats in a third zone on the right side of the upper-level seats, with the seats arranged either in an acute or an obtuse angle relative to the longitudinal direction, and with the upper-level seats and the lower-level seats being staggered. In the embodiment, the three zones are substantially isolated from one another. For example, going from one zone to the next, a person can go through a door, and each zone can have its substantially separate air ventilation system. In another embodiment, each of the second and the third zones includes single-level seats, with at least an aisle between the single-level seats and the corresponding lower-level seats. The transportation vehicle can be a plane.

Abstract: Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear (e.g., eyeglasses) without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. Often, the electrical components can be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere. In some embodiments, tethered electrical components can be coupled to electrical components in or attached to a pair of eyeglasses. Tethered electrical components, alone or in combination with eyeglass electrical components can be used for a variety of different applications and uses.

Abstract: One embodiment includes a network apparatus at a store for allowing digital amenities to be accessed at the store by a mobile device of a user. The network apparatus includes a network interface, a storage module to keep digital amenities and a computing module. The network interface can be designed to couple to the mobile device at the store, and to a computing device outside the store. The network interface can be designed to recognize the mobile device at the store based on a piece of software related to the store in the mobile device. The computing module can be designed to help the mobile device to access a first digital amenity from the storage module in view of the piece of software. Based on the access, a second digital amenity from the computing device can be pre-stored at the storage module.

Abstract: Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. The electrical components can be partially or completely internal to eyewear, such as within an extended endpiece. The electrical components can also be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere. Apparatus for presenting after-market electrical components are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. The electrical components can be partially or completely internal to eyewear. The electrical components can also be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere. Apparatus for presenting after-market electrical components are also disclosed.

Abstract: Different embodiments on hearing enhancement enhancing a user's hearing. For example, a system can include an interface unit with a directional speaker and a microphone. The microphone captures input audio signals that are transformed into ultrasonic signals. The speaker transmits the ultrasonic signals, which are transformed into output audio signals by interaction with air. At least part of the output audio signals is modified to enhance the hearing of the user. Based on the system, the user's ear remains free from any inserted objects and thus is free from annoying occlusion effects. Compared to existing hearing aids, the system is relatively inexpensive. In another embodiment, the system can also be used as a phone. In another embodiment, the system can also access audio signals from other portable or non-portable instruments, wired or wirelessly, such as from home entertainment units, phones, microphones at a conference or speakers at a movie theater.

Abstract: Novel eyewear apparatuses including a display are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus also includes a frame. The frame includes a side region that includes an extendable arm. The first end of the extendable arm is attached to the frame and a second end of the extendable arm is attached to the display. The side region includes a cavity, where the extendable arm is adapted to retract back. The extendable arm is further adapted to extend out of the cavity and orient the display to be visually observable by a user of the eyewear apparatus. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a concave reflective and an image source. The image source and the concave reflective surface are oriented to enable a user of the eyewear apparatus to view at least an image from the image source as reflected by the concave reflective surface.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to analyze and present location information in an easy-to-digest manner are disclosed. In one embodiment, each piece of location information can include a piece of location-designating information and a piece of location-related information. Location-designating information is primarily for identifying location. Location-related information is information related to location-designating information. The location-designating information and the location-related information can be supplied by a mobile device. With the help of location-related information, each piece of location-designating information can be more accurately transformed into a label to help identify a location. The amount of location information can be reduced. All of the location-designating information pertaining to a given area can be consolidated into one piece of location-designating information related to the label.

Abstract: Techniques for providing eyewear with electrical components are disclosed. The electrical components can provide electrical technology to eyewear without having to substantially compromise aesthetic design principles of the eyewear. The electrical components can be partially or completely internal to eyewear. The electrical components can also be attached to the eyewear as an after-market enhancement. The electrical components can operate independently or together with other electrical components provided elsewhere. Apparatus for presenting after-market electrical components are also disclosed.

Abstract: Different methods and apparatuses applicable to prepare materials for a user. One embodiment includes a device, with an imaging sensor. Based on analyzing a user attribute from the imaging sensor monitoring the user, the device can identify and access an area of the materials for the user. The area includes a section, and the device can layout the section by keeping a piece of text together with an illustration to be displayed in at least two screens of different sizes. Another embodiment includes materials with a text sub file with texts, an illustration sub file with illustrations, and a logic sub file with instructions to prepare materials for the user. Either the text or the illustration sub file can include position information linking at least an illustration to a corresponding piece of text. Annotations could be added to the materials.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a hydration sensor or sensing element is configured to measure the hydration level of a user. The sensing element can include a water-permeable material positioned in between two water-impermeable material. The sensing element can be coupled to a bottle of fluid, or a carrier with a timer. The sensing element can be incorporated into a handheld device. The sensing element can be a disposable element, an element applicable for more than one-time use, or a re-usable element. The sensing element or sensor can be calibrated for a specific user or a group of users. One or more additional sensors that do not measure hydration level of the user can be coupled to a hydration sensing element to determine the amount of fluid consumption for the user in different conditions.

Abstract: Novel eyewear apparatuses including a display are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus also includes a frame. The frame includes a side region that includes an extendable arm. The first end of the extendable arm is attached to the frame and a second end of the extendable arm is attached to the display. The side region includes a cavity, where the extendable arm is adapted to retract back. The extendable arm is further adapted to extend out of the cavity and orient the display to be visually observable by a user of the eyewear apparatus. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a concave reflective and an image source. The image source and the concave reflective surface are oriented to enable a user of the eyewear apparatus to view at least an image from the image source as reflected by the concave reflective surface.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to analyze and present location information in an easy-to-digest manner are disclosed. In one embodiment, each piece of location information can include a piece of location-designating information and a piece of location-related information. Location-designating information is primarily for identifying location. Location-related information is information related to location-designating information. The location-designating information and the location-related information can be supplied by a mobile device. With the help of location-related information, each piece of location-designating information can be more accurately transformed into a label to help identify a location. The amount of location information can be reduced. All of the location-designating information pertaining to a given area can be consolidated into one piece of location-designating information related to the label.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a hydration sensor or sensing element is configured to measure the hydration level of a user. The sensing element can include a water-permeable material positioned in between two water-impermeable material. The sensing element can be coupled to a bottle of fluid, or a carrier with a timer. The sensing element can be incorporated into a handheld device. The sensing element can be a disposable element, an element applicable for more than one-time use, or a re-usable element. The sensing element or sensor can be calibrated for a specific user or a group of users. One or more additional sensors that do not measure hydration level of the user can be coupled to a hydration sensing element to determine the amount of fluid consumption for the user in different conditions.

Abstract: Improved approaches for users of electronic devices to communicate with one another are disclosed. The electronic devices have audio and/or textual output capabilities. The improved approaches can enable users to communicate in different ways depending on device configuration, user preferences, prior history, etc. In one embodiment, the communication between users is achieved by short audio or textual messages.

Abstract: Different methods and apparatuses applicable to prepare materials for a user. One embodiment includes a device, with an imaging sensor. Based on analyzing a user attribute from the imaging sensor monitoring the user, the device can identify and access an area of the materials for the user. The area includes a section, and the device can layout the section by keeping a piece of text together with an illustration to be displayed in at least two screens of different sizes. Another embodiment includes materials with a text sub file with texts, an illustration sub file with illustrations, and a logic sub file with instructions to prepare materials for the user. Either the text or the illustration sub file can include position information linking at least an illustration to a corresponding piece of text. Annotations could be added to the materials.

Abstract: Different embodiments of methods and apparatus to produce audio output signals are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic speaker outputting ultrasonic signals can be transformed into first audio output signals, which are directional. A non-ultrasonic speaker can output second audio output signals. The embodiment can be configured to output the first audio output signals or the second audio output signals in a vehicle. Another embodiment can be configured to output the first and the second audio output signals together. Yet another embodiment can be configured to be personalized to hearing characteristics of a user, or to depend on sound level of an environment of the user. One embodiment can include a directional speaker attached to a vehicle, with its output steerable towards a user in the vehicle.

Abstract: Different embodiments of methods and apparatus to produce audio output signals are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic speaker outputting ultrasonic signals can be transformed into first audio output signals, which are directional. A non-ultrasonic speaker can output second audio output signals. The embodiment can be configured to output the first audio output signals or the second audio output signals in a vehicle. Another embodiment can be configured to output the first and the second audio output signals together. Yet another embodiment can be configured to be personalized to hearing characteristics of a user, or to depend on sound level of an environment of the user. One embodiment can include a directional speaker attached to a vehicle, with its output steerable towards a user in the vehicle.

Abstract: One embodiment includes a portable device for an e-book, with at least a page including a section including text linked to an illustration. Another embodiment includes materials with a text sub file with texts, an illustration sub file with illustrations, and a logic sub file with rules on displaying the materials. One embodiment includes materials with a logic sub file that can analyze an attribute of, and provide a response to, a user. Another embodiment is applicable to apparatus and methods using a limited voice recognition dictionary at least tailored for a piece of materials that includes illustrations and instructions. The another embodiment can also use a limited image dictionary. The apparatus can include a headset, and the illustrations can include a piece of audio.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to analyze and present location information in an easy-to-digest manner are disclosed. In one embodiment, each piece of location information can include a piece of location-designating information and a piece of location-related information. Location-designating information is primarily for identifying location. Location-related information is information related to location-designating information. The location-designating information and the location-related information can be supplied by a mobile device. With the help of location-related information, each piece of location-designating information can be more accurately transformed into a label to help identify a location. The amount of location information can be reduced. All of the location-designating information pertaining to a given area can be consolidated into one piece of location-designating information related to the label.