Abstract: A screen overlay for a personal electronic device coupled with an educational application launched on the device provides a work surface for engaging in fluidic based chemistry experiments while shielding the device from the liquid used for the experiments. The screen overlay has liquid encapsulating regions for retention of a pooled liquid deposited on the overlay, and is transmissive of touch signals to a touch screen on the device. An educational application executing on the device renders predetermined regions on the device display that are coordinated with the fluid retention regions. A liquid deposition vessel such as a dropper has a conductive outer surface for engaging a user's grasp, and a wire or conductor is adapted to extend through the pooled liquid for contact with the screen overlay. The screen overlay is transmissive of capacitance signals emanating from the user for indicating fluidic presence to the educational application on the device.

Abstract: A visual rendering apparatus such as a telescope, microscope or attached tablet/led displays a magnified subject using the mapped rendering medium, in which the rendering medium includes at least one of actual visual transmissions of the subject and stored, high resolution images of the magnified subject. In an educational context, equipment for displaying true magnified images of, for example, celestial bodies or molecular structures can be beyond reach. Augmented reality provided by supplementing the true, rendered magnified subject with stored images corresponding to successive, higher magnification levels provides effective visualization with common educational tools, avoiding the need for extravagant scientific equipment.

Abstract: A screen overlay for a personal electronic device coupled with an educational application launched on the device provides a work surface for engaging in fluidic based chemistry experiments while shielding the device from the liquid used for the experiments. The screen overlay has liquid encapsulating regions for retention of a pooled liquid deposited on the overlay, and is transmissive of touch signals to a touch screen on the device. An educational application executing on the device renders predetermined regions on the device display that are coordinated with the fluid retention regions. A liquid deposition vessel such as a dropper has a conductive outer surface for engaging a user's grasp, and a wire or conductor is adapted to extend through the pooled liquid for contact with the screen overlay. The screen overlay is transmissive of capacitance signals emanating from the user for indicating fluidic presence to the educational application on the device.

Abstract: A visual rendering apparatus such as a telescope, microscope or attached tablet/led displays a magnified subject using the mapped rendering medium, in which the rendering medium includes at least one of actual visual transmissions of the subject and stored, high resolution images of the magnified subject. In an educational context, equipment for displaying true magnified images of, for example, celestial bodies or molecular structures can be beyond reach. Augmented reality provided by supplementing the true, rendered magnified subject with stored images corresponding to successive, higher magnification levels provides effective visualization with common educational tools, avoiding the need for extravagant scientific equipment.

Abstract: A system caches a first video on a local server. The local server resides on a mobile device. The first video is downloaded from a first remote server. The system receives a request to render a second video on the mobile device. In response to the request to render the second video, the system renders the first video on the mobile device while beginning to buffer the second video from a second remote server, where the first video is rendered from the local server. The system renders the second video on the mobile device after the first video has completed. The second video is streamed from the second remote server, and the first video and second video are rendered as a single stream.

Abstract: A system represents each of the available applications, including widgets, with a respective image representation on a display associated with the communications device. The system associates each of the image representations with a respective subset of image representations, or panels that are organized to assist a user to locate and interact with the image representations. The system arranges the panels in a three dimensional structure, on the display. The three dimensional structure is rendered as a plurality of joined adjacent panels. The system allows the user to access an available application within the three dimensional structure by manipulating the three dimensional structure three dimensionally where the available application are accessed via the respective panel.

Abstract: A system renders a collection of widgets on a mobile device display by identifying a first appearance and a second appearance associated with a respective rendering of a first and second collection of widgets on the mobile device display. The system transitions from the rendering of the first collection to the second. The system receives notification to transition the collection of widgets on the mobile device display from a two-dimensional presentation to a three-dimensional presentation. The system renders a native widget on the mobile device display utilizing a native interface by identifying a non-native widget requiring a non-native interface to operate on the mobile device display. The system provides a proxy widget to host the non-native widget allowing the non-native widget to operate on the mobile device display utilizing the native interface.

Abstract: A system provides a framework that allows a user to arrange the available applications on a display of the communications device. The framework limits the user's arrangement to maintain consistent organization and ease of location of the available applications for the user. The system represents each of the available applications with a respective image representation on the display. Each specific available application is restricted to a single instance of an image representation on the display. The system associates each of the image representations with a respective subset of image representations where the subsets of image representations are organized to assist the user to locate and interact with the image representations. The system provides at least one view, associated with each of the available applications, with which to render the image representation on the display.

Abstract: A system downloads a video from a remote server to a local server residing on a mobile device. The video is packaged in a first protocol, where the first protocol is selected based on a preferred download compatibility associated with the mobile device and the remote server. The system converts, on the local server, the video packaged in the first protocol to a video packaged in a second protocol. The second protocol is selected based on a capability of a video controller, residing on the mobile device, to render the video using the second protocol. The system transmits the video packaged in the second protocol from the local server to the video controller. Using the video controller, the system renders the video packaged in the second protocol on the mobile device.

Abstract: A system provides a framework that allows a user to arrange the available applications on a display of the communications device. The framework limits the user's arrangement to maintain consistent organization and ease of location of the available applications for the user. The system represents each of the available applications with a respective image representation on the display. Each specific available application is restricted to a single instance of an image representation on the display. The system associates each of the image representations with a respective subset of image representations where the subsets of image representations are organized to assist the user to locate and interact with the image representations. The system provides at least one view, associated with each of the available applications, with which to render the image representation on the display.

Abstract: A system represents each of the available applications, including widgets, with a respective image representation on a display associated with the communications device. The system associates each of the image representations with a respective subset of image representations, or panels that are organized to assist a user to locate and interact with the image representations. The system arranges the panels in a three dimensional structure, on the display. The three dimensional structure is rendered as a plurality of joined adjacent panels. The system allows the user to access an available application within the three dimensional structure by manipulating the three dimensional structure three dimensionally where the available application are accessed via the respective panel.

Abstract: A system renders a collection of widgets on a mobile device display by identifying a first appearance and a second appearance associated with a respective rendering of a first and second collection of widgets on the mobile device display. The system transitions from the rendering of the first collection to the second. The system receives notification to transition the collection of widgets on the mobile device display from a two-dimensional presentation to a three-dimensional presentation. The system renders a native widget on the mobile device display utilizing a native interface by identifying a non-native widget requiring a non-native interface to operate on the mobile device display. The system provides a proxy widget to host the non-native widget allowing the non-native widget to operate on the mobile device display utilizing the native interface.

Abstract: A system renders a collection of widgets, hosted by a respective widget engine, on a mobile device display. The collection comprises at least one first widget representation that, when selected, invokes a first widget, and a first widget sub-collection representation that, when selected, invokes a plurality of widget representations. The system renders a three dimensional presentation of the collection of widgets on the mobile device display. The presentation comprises a three dimensional association between at least one of the first widget sub-collection representation and the second widget sub-collection representation. The system receives instruction to render the collection of widgets in a list view comprising at least one widget representation; and at least one widget representation associated with at least one widget sub-collection representation.