Abstract: Audio telephone and video conferencing systems have a computerized server having a plurality of ports for terminating audio and video from participants, a connection to an Internet network, software providing switching and controls in conference management, and an interactive interface enabling an organizer to configure a conference, selecting time and participants, and a timer function timing participation by individual ones of participants. As each participant is enabled to speak, a preprogrammed time-to-speak is announced or displayed to at least the instant speaker, and the timer function begins to count down from the time-to-speak.

Abstract: An electronic talking stick has a body having an outer casing, of a size to fit in a user's hand, a power supply powering circuitry within the body, an electronic timer operable within the body, an on/off switch, and an alert mechanism adapted to cause a user-noticeable alert at specific times according to the timer. Upon applying power by the on/off switch, the timer begins to count down from a pre-programmed time, wherein the alert mechanism generates a timed-out alert when the timer reaches zero, and wherein removing power from the circuitry resets the timer.

Abstract: Audio telephone and video conferencing systems have a computerized server having a plurality of ports for terminating audio and video from participants, a connection to an Internet network, software providing switching and controls in conference management, and an interactive interface enabling an organizer to configure a conference, selecting time and participants, and a timer function timing participation by individual ones of participants. As each participant is enabled to speak, a preprogrammed time-to-speak is announced or displayed to at least the instant speaker, and the timer function begins to count down from the time-to-speak.

Abstract: An electronic talking stick has a body having an outer casing, of a size to fit in a user's hand, a power supply powering circuitry within the body, an electronic timer operable within the body, an on/off switch, and an alert mechanism adapted to cause a user-noticeable alert at specific times according to the timer. Upon applying power by the on/off switch, the timer begins to count down from a pre-programmed time, wherein the alert mechanism generates a timed-out alert when the timer reaches zero, and wherein removing power from the circuitry resets the timer.

Abstract: An electronic talking stick system has a hand-held electronic talking stick having a body with an outer casing, a microprocessor executing coded instructions, a data repository, an electronic timer, a display screen, a microphone, a mechanism generating alerts to a user at specific times according to the electronic timer, wireless communication circuitry, and a power supply powering electrical and electronic components, and a smartphone comprising wireless communication circuitry compatible with the wireless communication circuitry of the hand-held electronic talking stick, and a microprocessor executing an application for managing functionality of the hand-held electronic talking stick.

Abstract: An electronic talking stick system has a hand-held electronic talking stick having a body with an outer casing, a microprocessor executing coded instructions, a data repository, an electronic timer, a display screen, a microphone, a mechanism generating alerts to a user at specific times according to the electronic timer, wireless communication circuitry, and a power supply powering electrical and electronic components, and a smartphone comprising wireless communication circuitry compatible with the wireless communication circuitry of the hand-held electronic talking stick, and a microprocessor executing an application for managing functionality of the hand-held electronic talking stick.