Abstract: The present invention relates to delivering adaptive content to a user via a user output device, typically a computer. In general, user information associated with a particular user is retrieved and activity selection and topic selection information are received. A set of one or more questions is retrieved based upon the selected topic and the user information. The retrieved question set is presented to the user in the context of interacting with the selected activity. Progression through the selected activity results from successfully answering the questions. In some instances, questions may be evaluated for bias with respect to particular user group(s). Further, certain embodiments may support assignment of particular topics, questions and/or activities to particular users or user groups. Facilities may also be supported for aiding users in developing and/or expanding the available questions, topics and/or activities.

Abstract: An encryption device and method and decryption device and method which implement a bit-based encryption scheme and hardware design. The encryption device includes a random number generator, receiving a main key, determining a working key using at least one random number and outputting a working key, a model, receiving the main key, the working key and plain text to be encoded and generating at least two frequency counts. The encryption device further includes an encoder, which outputs encoded text based on the working key, the plain text and the at least two frequency counts. The encryption device and method and decryption device and method process encrypted text that is based upon a stream structure with an unlimited key length and may be compressed by 50%. The encoded text is changeable with different environments even for the same plain text and the same key. Operations of the hardware design are based on arithmetic additions and shifts, and not multiplications and divisions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to delivering adaptive content to a user via a user output device, typically a computer. In general, user information associated with a particular user is retrieved and activity selection and topic selection information are received. A set of one or more questions is retrieved based upon the selected topic and the user information. The retrieved question set is presented to the user in the context of interacting with the selected activity. Progression through the selected activity results from successfully answering the questions. In some instances, questions may be evaluated for bias with respect to particular user group(s). Further, certain embodiments may support assignment of particular topics, questions and/or activities to particular users or user groups. Facilities may also be supported for aiding users in developing and/or expanding the available questions, topics and/or activities.

Abstract: The present invention relates to delivering adaptive content to a user via a user output device, typically a computer. In general, user information associated with a particular user is retrieved and activity selection and topic selection information are received. A set of one or more questions is retrieved based upon the selected topic and the user information. The retrieved question set is presented to the user in the context of interacting with the selected activity. Progression through the selected activity results from successfully answering the questions. In some instances, questions may be evaluated for bias with respect to particular user group(s). Further, certain embodiments may support assignment of particular topics, questions and/or activities to particular users or user groups. Facilities may also be supported for aiding users in developing and/or expanding the available questions, topics and/or activities.

Abstract: A laser system (20) controlling laser pulse energy by feedback to the laser Q-switch (34) is disclosed. A feedback signal (40) is used to control the time duration of the high loss state of the Q-switch for automatically adjusting the output pulse energy to substantially equal an energy setpoint (84).