Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for navigation on the World Wide Web using voice commands. The name of a website may be called out by users several different ways. A user may speak the entire URL, a portion of the URL, or a name of the website which may bear little resemblance to the URL. The present technology uses rules and heuristics embodied in various software engines to determine the best candidate website based on the received voice command, and then navigates to that website.

Abstract: Switching between an arm's length user interface and a distance user interface is provided. A first user interface optimized to operate a computer from an arm's-length distance is presented on a display. A command is received. It is determined whether the command is from a wired device or a wirelessly-connected device. When the command is from a wired device, then the first user interface continues to be presented. When the command is from a wirelessly-connected device, then the display is toggled from the first user interface to the distance user interface. The distance user interface is optimized for operating the computer from a television-viewing distance. The television-viewing distance measured in feet is approximately half of a diagonal measure of the image displayed on the display device measured in inches.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for navigation on the World Wide Web using voice commands. The name of a website may be called out by users several different ways. A user may speak the entire URL, a portion of the URL, or a name of the website which may bear little resemblance to the URL. The present technology uses rules and heuristics embodied in various software engines to determine the best candidate website based on the received voice command, and then navigates to that website.

Abstract: A new user interface, a distance user interface, in a computer system for operating a computer from a television-viewing distance is provided. A centralized display is provided enabling a user to access streaming video and sound as well as music files, video files, and picture files from a single screen. Collaborative sharing of media content is provided by enabling a computer's operations and feedback to be collectively observed from a distance.

Abstract: A method, application interface, and medium is provided for presenting a variety of data representations in a screen-area inset. The inset(s) can be one or more bounded portions of a graphical user interface. The inset offers a picture-in-picture type of functionality to present videos, data, pictures, audio, and other data representations in a persistently viewable screen area that does not consume the entirety of a display device. The API includes instructions to allow software components to use the inset. The method includes receiving one or more event requests related to the inset, communicating them to a software application or operating system, receiving one or more data sets to satisfy the event requests, and communicating the data sets to the original software application to present a data representation in the inset.

Abstract: A method, application interface, and medium is provided for presenting a variety of data representations in a screen-area inset. The inset(s) can be one or more bounded portions of a graphical user interface. The inset offers a picture-in-picture type of functionality to present videos, data, pictures, audio, and other data representations in a persistently viewable screen area that does not consume the entirety of a display device. The API includes instructions to allow software components to use the inset. The method includes receiving one or more event requests related to the inset, communicating them to a software application or operating system, receiving one or more data sets to satisfy the event requests, and communicating the data sets to the original software application to present a data representation in the inset.

Abstract: A new user interface, a distance user interface, in a computer system for operating a computer from a television-viewing distance is provided. A centralized display is provided enabling a user to access streaming video and sound as well as music files, video files, and picture files from a single screen. Collaborative sharing of media content is provided by enabling a computer's operations and feedback to be collectively observed from a distance.