Abstract: Examples for force-sensing elements are disclosed. An example method for forming a force sensor includes printing a suspension of a hollow-sphere conductive polymer in a liquid carrier over an electrode pair on a substrate, evaporating the liquid carrier, and encapsulating the electrode pair and hollow-sphere conductive polymer to form a force sensor.

Abstract: Examples of force sensors that may be incorporated into a number of devices or other objects are disclosed. In one example, a sensor comprises a substrate comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode being spaced by an insulating gap, and a compliant material with plural conductive pathways disposed over the gap and contacting the first electrode and the second electrode such that a resistance of an electrical path passing through the compliant material between the first electrode and the second electrode changes in response to force of the compliant material against one or more of the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A method includes determining whether a substantially similar data object to a data object is stored in a dispersed storage network (DSN). When the substantially similar data object is not stored in the DSN, the method includes dividing the data object into a plurality of data segments; encoding the plurality of data segments to produce a plurality of encoded data segments, wherein an encoded data segment of the plurality of encoded data segments includes a first number of data blocks and a second number of parity blocks; arranging the data blocks and the parity blocks of the plurality of encoded data segments into a matrix; establishing a set of encoded data slices from the matrix; and outputting the set of encoded data slices to storage units of the DSN for storage therein.

Abstract: Aqueous dispersions of artificially synthesized, mussel-inspired polyopamine nanoparticles were inkjet printed on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. Narrow line patterns (4 ?m in width) of polydopamine resulted due to evaporatively driven transport (coffee ring effect). The printed patterns were metallized via a site-selective Cu electroless plating process at a controlled temperature (30° C.) for varied bath times. The lowest electrical resistivity value of the plated Cu lines was about 6 times greater than the bulk resistivity of Cu. This process presents an industrially viable way to fabricate Cu conductive fine patterns for flexible electronics at low temperature, and low cost.

Abstract: A method includes determining whether a substantially similar data object to a data object is stored in a dispersed storage network (DSN). When the substantially similar data object is not stored in the DSN, the method includes dividing the data object into a plurality of data segments; encoding the plurality of data segments to produce a plurality of encoded data segments, wherein an encoded data segment of the plurality of encoded data segments includes a first number of data blocks and a second number of parity blocks; arranging the data blocks and the parity blocks of the plurality of encoded data segments into a matrix; establishing a set of encoded data slices from the matrix; and outputting the set of encoded data slices to storage units of the DSN for storage therein.

Abstract: A method begins by receiving encoded data slices for storage. At least some of the encoded data slices have different data sizes. The method continues by accessing memory container information of the storage unit that includes a listing of virtual memory containers of the storage unit and, for each virtual memory container, bin identifier information. Each virtual memory contain is divided into bins, where the bins of a virtual memory container are of a substantially similar storage size. At least some of the virtual memory containers have different bin storage sizes. The method continues by mapping encoded data slices to virtual memory containers of the plurality based on data size of the encoded data slices and bin storage sizes of the virtual memory containers. The method continues by storing the encoded data slices in the virtual memory containers based on the mapping.

Abstract: A method begins by receiving encoded data slices for storage. At least some of the encoded data slices have different data sizes. The method continues by accessing memory container information of the storage unit that includes a listing of virtual memory containers of the storage unit and, for each virtual memory container, bin identifier information. Each virtual memory contain is divided into bins, where the bins of a virtual memory container are of a substantially similar storage size. At least some of the virtual memory containers have different bin storage sizes. The method continues by mapping encoded data slices to virtual memory containers of the plurality based on data size of the encoded data slices and bin storage sizes of the virtual memory containers. The method continues by storing the encoded data slices in the virtual memory containers based on the mapping.

Abstract: A method begins by a processing module receiving an encoded data slice to store and determining a slice length of the encoded data slice. The method continues with the processing module comparing the slice length to a plurality of bin widths, wherein each of the plurality of bin widths represents a fixed storage width of a plurality of memory bins within each of a plurality of memory containers, wherein a storage unit includes the plurality of memory containers. The method continues with the processing module selecting one of the plurality of memory containers based on the comparing to produce a selected memory container, identifying an available bin of the plurality of bins of the selected memory container, and storing the encoded data slice in the available bin.

Abstract: A method begins by a processing module receiving an encoded data slice to store and determining a slice length of the encoded data slice. The method continues with the processing module comparing the slice length to a plurality of bin widths, wherein each of the plurality of bin widths represents a fixed storage width of a plurality of memory bins within each of a plurality of memory containers, wherein a storage unit includes the plurality of memory containers. The method continues with the processing module selecting one of the plurality of memory containers based on the comparing to produce a selected memory container, identifying an available bin of the plurality of bins of the selected memory container, and storing the encoded data slice in the available bin.