Abstract: A method and system for assembling a modular structure from components configured to be fitted together to create the modular structure in accordance with a construction plan. Each component includes: a communication interface; and an output interface configured to generate sensory signals. The components communicate, via the communication interface of each component, with a controller to establish an availability of the components for the modular structure. A target component is determined at the controller from the components based on the construction plan and the availability of the components. The target component is a starting component used for initiating creation of the modular structure in accordance with the construction plan. A first sensory signal indicating the target component to a user is generated by the output interface of the target component.

Abstract: A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium being operable to perform a thermal analysis of a data center and overlay the thermal analysis on a map of the data center to provide an overlaid thermal analysis. Additionally, the computer executable code is operable to dynamically control at least one partition in the data center based on the overlaid thermal analysis.

Abstract: A method, computer system, and a computer program product for selecting a media playlist based on learning past behaviors of a user is provided. The present invention may include receiving a plurality of current user data. The present invention may then include receiving a plurality of current external conditions data. The present invention may also include enriching a plurality of current raw data associated with the plurality of current user data, the plurality of user reactions to the media selections and the plurality of current external conditions data. The present invention may further include determining the plurality of current user data exceeds a threshold. The present invention may also include, in response to determining the threshold is exceeded, creating a dataset. The present invention may then include retrieving a media playlist. The present invention may further include sending the retrieved media playlist to a media device.

Abstract: A cognitive engine is coupled to at least one requirements management tool and at least one quality management tool. The cognitive engine is configured to: transform the test cases and the initial software requirements into test case objects and requirement objects, respectively; link test case objects to corresponding requirements objects based on like attributes; provide a graphical representation showing test case objects linked to corresponding requirements objects; automatically update the graphical representation in response to updated software requirements or new software requirements; and automatically disseminate the graphical representation or the updated graphical representation if the test case effectiveness exceeds a predetermined confidence threshold.

Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for creating and using heterogeneous pools of validators to implement blockchain consensus. The specialized validators can be segmented and pooled based on their roles and functionalities in the consensus mechanism.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, computing devices, computing entities, and/or the like for a hybrid question-answering (QA) application are provided. The hybrid QA application includes both a retrieval QA application and a deep QA application, as well as a question classification model that determines whether the retrieval QA application or the deep QA application can generate a better answer to an input question.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for creation and distribution of dynamic multi-content cards in a virtual universe. More specifically, the method creates a card containing contact information for viewing in a virtual universe (VU) and distribute the card in the VU. Additionally, the system includes a card selection tool configured to create a card containing contact information for viewing in a virtual universe (VU) and distribute the card to another resident in the VU.

Abstract: Approaches for providing data protection in a networked computing environment are provided. A method includes detecting, by at least one computer device, a breach of a first system in the networked computing environment. The method also includes generating, by the at least one computer device, a second system in the networked computing environment, wherein the second system includes a patch based on the breach. The method additionally includes converting, by the at least one computer device, the first system to a decoy system. The method further includes generating, by the at least one computer device, a third system in the networked computing environment, wherein the third system has reduced security relative to the first system.

Abstract: A method controls an alert indicator on a helmet. A physiological sensor and an accelerometer sensor in the helmet monitor a wearer of the helmet. A human observer subjectively detects that the wearer of the helmet is showing signs of an impaired cognitive state, and sends a signal/marker that marks a point in the sensor readings that the impaired cognitive state manifested itself. A subsequent series of sensor readings from the physiological and accelerometer sensors are taken at a later time. If this subsequent series of sensor readings matches the earlier sensor readings up to the point that the human observer subjectively detected the helmet wearer's impaired cognitive state, then an alert indicator is activated on the helmet, warning the wearer of the helmet of an impending recurrence of the impaired cognitive state for the wearer of the helmet.

Abstract: One or more processors receive hyperspectral band input, biometric input, and cognitive input as response input, from a user sampling a plurality of base foods, each base food prepared with a subset of ingredients and preparation techniques. The response input is transformed to a numeric representation of the respective input. Deep learning techniques are used to train an algorithm using the response data. A probabilistic ranking of base food is generated using unsupervised learning. Probability values of base food, ingredients, and preparation technique, associations preferred by the user, are generated, along with rules which define constraints associated with conditions for base food, ingredient, and preparation techniques, of user preferences. An objective function is generated that includes decision variables respectively aligned with constraints, and in response to optimizing the objective function, a preferred base food and ingredients, with preferred conditions of the user, is determined.

Abstract: A method for establishing an index of usability associated with a replacement payment card is provided. The method may include receiving a payment card replacement request in a vending facility. The method may further include identifying at least one possible risk factor associated with a user utilizing the replacement payment card. The method may also include creating a risk assessment based on the at least one identified possible risk factor. The method may further include establishing an index of usability for the replacement payment card based on the created assessment, whereby a value of the index of usability correlates to a plurality of restrictions placed on using the replacement payment card. The method may also include storing the established index of usability in a database.

Abstract: One or more programs in a computing environment of a first service provider obtain an indication from a portion of an infrastructure of a second service provider, where the portion of the infrastructure has available computing capacity, and where the portion of an infrastructure includes at least one component. The one or more programs determine if the first service provider can deploy the portion as a portion of services deployed from the first service provider and based on making the determination that the first service provider can deploy the portion of the infrastructure, the one or more programs register the portion of the infrastructure to make it available for deployment by the first service provider. The one or more programs provision the at least one component for deployment by the first service provider in a service that includes the at least one component.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and a system where a processor(s) continuously obtains, from devices in a group of devices within a defined geographic proximity to each other, processing requests. Each request is a result of a device in the group of devices receiving and interpreting a voice command issued within a geographic area comprising the group of devices. The processor(s) buffers, in a memory resource, a portion of the processing requests obtained within a defined time interval. The processor(s) determines there are duplicate processing requests in the portion. Based on determining there are duplicates, the processor(s) rejects the duplicates. The processor(s) selects a specific device to execute each processing request from the devices where the request and the duplicates of that request originated. The processor(s) utilize the specific device to execute the processing request.

Abstract: Security system devices are configured to retrieve historic first sensor data acquired from a protected area in response to receiving a threat alarm notification from a peer security system that is related to an area monitored by the peer security system, wherein the protected area is different from and geographically separate from the area monitored by the peer security system. The system devise determines that a security threat is indicated for the protected area by assessing the retrieved selection of historic first sensor data as a function of a relation of the threat alarm notification from the peer security system to the protected area, wherein assessing the historic first sensor data without the function of the relation of the threat alarm notification from the peer security system to the protected area results in determining that the security threat is not indicated for the protected area.

Abstract: Systems and methods for resolving application multitasking degradation are disclosed. In aspects, a computer implemented method is used with a user device including a multitasking operating system, shared user device resources, a first application and a second application. The method includes: running, simultaneously, the first application and the second application; measuring performance parameters for one or more application tasks of the first and second applications; and determining that one or more of the performance parameters of the one or more application tasks falls below a performance threshold value of an associated key performance indicator (KPI). The determination indicates degradation in performance of at least one of the first application and second application. The method further includes instructing the operating system to modify an allocation of the shared user device resources to address the degradation in performance of the at least one of the first application and second application.

Abstract: A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium being operable to provide a shopping cart for a shopper, and segment items in the shopping cart based on the carbon footprint associated with each item. Additionally, the method may include displaying substitute or complementary items in the shopping cart for selection by the user to reduce total carbon values, and awarding carbon certificates.

Abstract: A method for establishing an index of usability associated with a replacement payment card is provided. The method may include receiving a payment card replacement request in a vending facility. The method may further include identifying at least one possible risk factor associated with a user utilizing the replacement payment card. The method may also include creating a risk assessment based on the at least one identified possible risk factor. The method may further include establishing an index of usability for the replacement payment card based on the created assessment, whereby a value of the index of usability correlates to a plurality of restrictions placed on using the replacement payment card. The method may also include storing the established index of usability in a database.

Abstract: A computer system receive a virtual world data set corresponding to a virtual world as experienced by a user. The computer system adds, to the virtual world data set, virtual world location data sets, with each given virtual world location data set respectively defining virtual world locations, with the virtual world location data sets including a first virtual location data set corresponding to a first virtual location that corresponds to a first real world location in the real world. The computer system adds, to the virtual world data set, a first virtual asset data set defining: (i) a first virtual asset, and (ii) a triggering rule that specifies the first real world location. The computer system determines that the user is in proximity to the first real world location. The computer system, responsive to the determination that the user is in proximity to the first real world location, applies the triggering rule to render the first virtual world asset in the first virtual location.

Abstract: A method, computer system, and a computer program product for selectively blacklisting audio commands is provided. The present invention may include observing an audible command received by an IoT (Internet of Things) enabled device, wherein the observed audible command appears in a blacklist database. The present invention may also include blacklisting the observed audible command.

Abstract: A selection of a three-dimensional model by a user is received, and an interlocking block framework corresponding to the selected three-dimensional model is determined. The interlocking block framework includes one or more physical construction blocks configured to interlock with one another. A three-dimensional gap model is generated based upon the selected three-dimensional model and the interlocking block framework. The three-dimensional gap model is generated by removing a representation of the determined interlocking block framework from the selected three-dimensional model.