Abstract: A method for adjusting a display of an electronic device includes performing, in iterations, a current execution of icon processing for icons on the display. Each iteration includes selecting, as a candidate for appearance adjustment, one of the icons, where the selected icon has not been previously selected as a candidate in the current execution and selecting an appearance for the candidate based on at least one of the icons neighboring the candidate. The selecting the appearance includes selecting between changing and not changing the appearance in response to comparing an average quantitative hue of the candidate to the at least one of the neighboring icons and changing the appearance of the candidate responsive to selecting to change the appearance. Changing the appearance includes changing the average quantitative hue of the candidate. The method includes repeating the iterations until all the icons have been selected as candidates for appearance adjustment.

Abstract: Embodiments for managing computing systems by one or more processors are described. Content rendered by a display device of a computing system is prevented from being modified. An object is detected within a proximity of the display device. The object is associated with an individual. A biometric identification process is caused to be performed on the individual while the object is within the proximity of the display device. Based on the biometric identification process, the content is allowed to be modified while the object is within the proximity of the display device.

Abstract: Embodiments for managing computing systems by one or more processors are described. Content rendered by a display device of a computing system is prevented from being modified. An object is detected within a proximity of the display device. The object is associated with an individual. A biometric identification process is caused to be performed on the individual while the object is within the proximity of the display device. Based on the biometric identification process, the content is allowed to be modified while the object is within the proximity of the display device.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a display of an electronic device includes performing, in iterations, a current execution of icon processing for icons on the display. Each iteration includes selecting, as a candidate for appearance adjustment, one of the icons, where the selected icon has not been previously selected as a candidate in the current execution and selecting an appearance for the candidate based on at least one of the icons neighboring the candidate. The selecting the appearance includes selecting between changing and not changing the appearance in response to comparing an average quantitative hue of the candidate to the at least one of the neighboring icons and changing the appearance of the candidate responsive to selecting to change the appearance. Changing the appearance includes changing the average quantitative hue of the candidate. The method includes repeating the iterations until all the icons have been selected as candidates for appearance adjustment.

Abstract: Adjusting appearance of icons in an electronic device includes determining, for icons proximate to one another on a display of the electronic device, a visual property of each icon, wherein the determining includes a computer system computing a quantitative indication of the visual property for each icon. The visual properties of the icons are compared, wherein the comparing includes the computer system determining at least one quantitative difference for the visual properties of the icons. The visual property of at least one of the icons is changed by the computer system responsive to a comparison of the at least one quantitative difference to a predetermined threshold quantity, such that the at least one of the icons is more visually distinct.

Abstract: Adjusting appearance of icons in an electronic device includes determining, for icons proximate to one another on a display of the electronic device, a visual property of each icon, wherein the determining includes a computer system computing a quantitative indication of the visual property for each icon. The visual properties of the icons are compared, wherein the comparing includes the computer system determining at least one quantitative difference for the visual properties of the icons. The visual property of at least one of the icons is changed by the computer system responsive to a comparison of the at least one quantitative difference to a predetermined threshold quantity, such that the at least one of the icons is more visually distinct.

Abstract: A method to provide an audio message or a visual message to at least one participant within a plurality of participants upon joining a live teleconference or a live videoconference is provided. The method may include determining a critical piece of information that needs to be shared with the plurality of participants joining the live teleconference or the live videoconference, wherein the critical piece of information is associated with the live teleconference or the live videoconference. The method may further include recording the critical piece of information as the audio message or the visual message in real-time during the live teleconference or the live videoconference. The method may further include replaying the audio message or the visual message to the at least one participant upon the at least one participant joining the live teleconference or the live videoconference.

Abstract: A method to provide an audio message or a visual message to at least one participant within a plurality of participants upon joining a live teleconference or a live videoconference is provided. The method may include determining a critical piece of information that needs to be shared with the plurality of participants joining the live teleconference or the live videoconference, wherein the critical piece of information is associated with the live teleconference or the live videoconference. The method may further include recording the critical piece of information as the audio message or the visual message in real-time during the live teleconference or the live videoconference. The method may further include replaying the audio message or the visual message to the at least one participant upon the at least one participant joining the live teleconference or the live videoconference.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided to permit a first person (e.g., Tom) to be in a communication session (e.g., a chat session) with a second person (e.g., George) and to select a contact's name (e.g., Harry), and immediately set up another communication (e.g., a chat session) with the selected contact (e.g., Harry). Since there may be multiple contacts having the same name as the selected contact, e.g., “Harry”, mechanisms are provided to communicate with a desired person (e.g., “Harry Smith” and not “Harry Jones”). The mechanisms may make such a determination based on “Harry Smith” being the more likely person that Tom, the first person, desires to communicate with (e.g., based on a context of Tom and/or Harry Smith).

Abstract: Document content is parsed using a reader-defined content creation profile. The document content includes information and information layout specified by an author of the document content. The reader-defined content creation profile specifies document content creation preferences specified by a reader and applicable to augment the document content. A group of individual items of information usable to create augmented document content is identified, as specified by the reader-defined content creation profile, within the parsed document content. A new item of augmented document content is created, as specified by the reader-defined content creation profile, using at least a portion of the identified group of individual items of information. At least the created new item of augmented document content is rendered at a display location specified by the reader-defined content creation profile.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide collaborative call management wherein during a multi-participant audio communication, volume adjustments made on participant devices for a specific speaker are detected and passed to a conference server to generate collaborative volume feedback; and using the collaborative volume feedback to adjust a volume level of the specific speaker for all participants of the audio communication.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided to permit a first person (e.g., Tom) to be in a communication session (e.g., a chat session) with a second person (e.g., George) and to select a contact's name (e.g., Harry), and immediately set up another communication (e.g., a chat session) with the selected contact (e.g., Harry). Since there may be multiple contacts having the same name as the selected contact, e.g., “Harry”, mechanisms are provided to communicate with a desired person (e.g., “Harry Smith” and not “Harry Jones”). The mechanisms may make such a determination based on “Harry Smith” being the more likely person that Tom, the first person, desires to communicate with (e.g., based on a context of Tom and/or Harry Smith).

Abstract: A method, computer system and computer program product for generating a configuration status of a computer is provided. A method for generating a configuration status of a computer includes reading a plurality of configuration items of the computer and executing a plurality of rules upon the configuration items that were read, wherein each rule comprises an if-portion including at least one configuration item and a then-portion including an action for storing a configuration status value if the at least one configuration item of the if-portion matches the configuration items that were read. The method can further includes executing an algorithm that reads each of the configuration status values that were stored responsive to executing the plurality of rules and processes the configuration status values so as to produce a final configuration status of the computer and storing a record indicating the final configuration status of the computer.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for autonomic buffer configuration. In accordance with the present invention, an autonomic buffer configuration method can include monitoring data flowing through buffers in a communications system and recording in at least one buffer profile different data sizes for different ones of the data flowing through the buffers during an established interval of time. An optimal buffer size can be computed based upon a specification of a required percentage of times a buffer must be able to accommodate data of a particular size. Subsequently, at least one of the buffers can be re-sized without re-initializing the at least one resized buffer.

Abstract: A remote desktop application displays a remote graphical interface on a local computer screen. A remote entity, for example, a taskbar, is anchored along an edge of the remote graphical interface on the local computer screen. The anchored taskbar and the remote interface are displayed on the local computer screen such that the remote entity is in a viewable position on the local computer screen. The anchoring can be turned on and off in response to a user selection of a control. The control can be provided to position the remote entity along a bottom, top, left, or right edge in response to a user selection.

Abstract: Using non-personalized data sets provided by remote sources and representing specific geographic areas and locally-acquired current location data for a selected personal object, a personalized video display is generated in a client-side system. The non-personalized data sets include boundary data. The client-side system determines whether the current location is within the geographic area represented by the data set and modifies the data set to include a visible indicator representing the current location. The modified data set is rendered on a video display device. If the current location is not within the geographic area, the data set is modified to include an indicator representing the bearing of the current location relative to at least one boundary of the geographic area.

Abstract: Using non-personalized data sets provided by remote sources and representing specific geographic areas and locally-acquired current location data for a selected personal object, a personalized video display is generated in a client-side system. The non-personalized data sets include boundary data. The client-side system determines whether the current location is within the geographic area represented by the data set and modifies the data set to include a visible indicator representing the current location. The modified data set is rendered on a video display device. If the current location is not within the geographic area, the data set is modified to include an indicator representing the bearing of the current location relative to at least one boundary of the geographic area.

Abstract: An application instance can be identified that is associated with an audible notice, which is to be presented. A placement of the application instance in a window stack can be determined. An audio characteristic (e.g., volume, pitch, speed, repetition, audio channel, etc.) of the audible notice can be adjusted based upon the determined placement in the window stack. Different placements in the windows stack can result in different adjustments. The adjusted audio notice can then be presented.

Abstract: A method, computer system and computer program product for generating a configuration status of a computer is provided. A method for generating a configuration status of a computer includes reading a plurality of configuration items of the computer and executing a plurality of rules upon the configuration items that were read, wherein each rule comprises an if-portion including at least one configuration item and a then-portion including an action for storing a configuration status value if the at least one configuration item of the if-portion matches the configuration items that were read. The method can further includes executing an algorithm that reads each of the configuration status values that were stored responsive to executing the plurality of rules and processes the configuration status values so as to produce a final configuration status of the computer and storing a record indicating the final configuration status of the computer.