Abstract: In a method for communicating characteristics of an electronic document, a coefficient representative of predetermined characteristics of the electronic document is determined. The coefficient is associated with a corresponding audio rendering parameter. A speech signal communicating content of the electronic document is generated. The speech signal includes predetermined text content items audio formatted based on the audio rendering parameter. The speech signal is rendered to the user.

Abstract: In a method for generating an audio summary of a portion of an electronic document, a user input selecting a focus position within a rendered electronic document is received. The plurality of document elements included in the rendered electronic document is identified. A plurality of audio objects corresponding to the plurality of document elements is generated. An audio signal is generated. The audio signal includes a subset of the plurality of audio objects corresponding to a subset of the plurality of document elements contained within a predetermined range from the focus position. The audio signal indicates the spatial relation between the elements of the elements subset. The audio signal is rendered to the user.

Abstract: Automatic correcting of user's speech impairment in speech may include obtaining the audio signal of a given user's speech, and analyzing the obtained audio signal to identify artifacts caused by the user's impairment. The obtained audio signal may be modified by eliminating the identified artifacts from it. The modified audio signal may be provided, e.g., to be played or broadcast or transmitted.

Abstract: Automatic correcting of user's speech impairment in speech may include obtaining the audio signal of a given user's speech, and analyzing the obtained audio signal to identify artifacts caused by the user's impairment. The obtained audio signal may be modified by eliminating the identified artifacts from it. The modified audio signal may be provided, e.g., to be played or broadcast or transmitted.

Abstract: Automatic correcting of user's speech impairment in speech may include obtaining the audio signal of a given user's speech, and analyzing the obtained audio signal to identify artifacts caused by the user's impairment. The obtained audio signal may be modified by eliminating the identified artifacts from it. The modified audio signal may be provided, e.g., to be played or broadcast or transmitted.

Abstract: Automatic correcting of user's speech impairment in speech may include obtaining the audio signal of a given user's speech, and analyzing the obtained audio signal to identify artifacts caused by the user's impairment. The obtained audio signal may be modified by eliminating the identified artifacts from it. The modified audio signal may be provided, e.g., to be played or broadcast or transmitted.

Abstract: A system and method for navigating items includes computing an importance of a plurality of items. The importance is compared to one of a threshold or other items. Upon encountering a next item, a determination to skip the item or stop on the item is made based upon a comparison of the importance.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating interfaces includes computing a reference script for a task from a reference interface design and translating the reference script into one or more target action scripts based on a target design. The one or more target action scripts on the target design are executed to produce target metrics. The target metrics are compared to determine whether the target action script successfully translates the reference script.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for choosing a position on a display having a cursor. In one aspect, an exemplary method, which can be computer-implemented, includes the steps of automatically moving the cursor in a predetermined during-selection mode in response to a first user-initiated action, and, responsive to a second user-initiated action when the cursor is at a first location, ceasing the moving of the cursor in the predetermined during-selection mode, and causing a choosing action to be performed at the first location, such that the first location is chosen as the position.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for choosing a position on a display having a cursor.

Abstract: A user-centered interface agent learns user preferences and typical behaviors and, based on what is learned, predicts the user's preferred user interface for different types of host computers. The interface agent consists of a learning program which operates on the user's primary computer, a shadow program which is installed on a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), and a remote program which operates on host computers. The PDA transfers data between the primary and remote machines, and can also be used as the user's primary computer. On the primary computer, the agent learns a user's preferences automatically by observing the user's actions, requiring minimal initialization by the user. The learning algorithm may be statistical, rule-based, case-based, neural network, or employ any other technique for reasoning under uncertainty.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the usability of electronic products. Control devices such as keyboards, mice, and switches, for example, are often accompanied by software which allows users to configure the device response to suit their physical abilities, situation and task. The system and method enables automatic configuration of such control devices in real time to match the user's requirements and enables users to achieve accurate control. The system includes a device for monitoring user activity and determining an appropriate device configuration from user activity sequences with that device, and a configurer that implements the appropriate configuration determined by the algorithm. The method further includes optional steps for identifying when a user with different configuration requirements starts to use a device, and for resetting the state of an inference algorithm when such changes are detected. This allows rapid configuration in environments where many individuals may use the same device.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the usability of electronic products. Control devices such as keyboards, mice, and switches, for example, are often accompanied by software which allows users to configure the device response to suit their physical abilities, situation and task. The system and method enables automatic configuration of such control devices in real time to match the user's requirements and enables users to achieve accurate control. The system includes a device for monitoring user activity and determining an appropriate device configuration from user activity sequences with that device, and a configurer that implements the appropriate configuration determined by the algorithm. The method further includes optional steps for identifying when a user with different configuration requirements starts to use a device, and for resetting the state of an inference algorithm when such changes are detected. This allows rapid configuration in environments where many individuals may use the same device.

Abstract: A user-centered interface agent eases the problem of unfamiliar user interfaces on host computers. The agent operates by learning user preferences and typical behaviors and predicting the user's preferred user interface for different types of host computers. Most of the agent's learning is through observation, requiring minimal-initialization by the user. The interface agent consists of a learning program which operates on the user's primary computer, a shadow program which is installed on a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), and a remote program which operates on host computers. The role of the PDA includes the transfer of data between the primary and remote machines, and the PDA can also be the user's primary computer. On the primary computer, the agent learns a user's preference by observing the user's actions. The user may run agent-training module or directly query and modify the agent's current state of knowledge, but the user is not forced to explicitly teach the agent.