Abstract: A method of processing a transaction between a customer and a merchant includes receiving from a mobile device of the customer or from another device of the customer an indication of consent to perform a cardless payment transaction with the merchant, receiving from the mobile device an indication that the customer is within a predetermined distance of the merchant, after receiving both the indication of consent and the indication that the customer is within the predetermined distance, sending to a computer system of the merchant an indication of the presence of the customer and personal identifying information for the customer, receiving data indicating a transaction between the customer and the merchant, and submitting the transaction to a financial service for authorization.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing payment account information in a user account by receiving payment card information by a card reader at a point of sale. An account can be created when the payment card information is read by the card reader. Optionally, a gift card can be scanned prior to the creation of the account, and the gift card information can be combined with the payment card information. The gift card can be an electronic gift card which can be personalized with textual, visual, video, and/or audio portions.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for generating stabilized oxidants using a stabilizer composition and an in situ generated oxidant in a water system. The method includes mixing the stabilizer composition and the in situ generated oxidant with water to form a liquid treatment composition, and then adding the liquid treatment composition to a water stream in the water system, the liquid treatment composition improving the efficacy of the in situ generated oxidant in the water stream.

Abstract: A method of improving accessibility for the user operation of a first application on a computer includes the steps of taking one or more measurements of a current user's interaction with an application on the computer, comparing the one or more measurements with expectations derived from measurements from a first corpus of users, characterising one or more needs of the current user based upon the comparison, and modifying at least a first property of the first application responsive to the characterised need or needs.

Abstract: An apparatus, for assisting at least a first user in communicating with one or more other users via a network, includes: a storage unit configured to store: phrase data corresponding to one or more phrases, where each phrase comprises one or more words, tag data corresponding to one or more tags, where each tag comprises at least part of one word, and first association data corresponding to one or more associations between one or more of the phrases and one or more of the tags; an input unit configured to receive one or more audio signals from the at least first user; a recognition unit configured to recognise one or more spoken words included within the received audio signals; an evaluation unit configured to evaluate whether a given recognised spoken word corresponds to a given tag; and if so, a transmission unit configured to transmit one or more of the phrases associated with the given tag to one or more of the other users.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing payment account information in a user account by receiving payment card information by a card reader at a point of sale. An account can be created when the payment card information is read by the card reader. Optionally, a gift card can be scanned prior to the creation of the account, and the gift card information can be combined with the payment card information. The gift card can be an electronic gift card which can be personalized with textual, visual, video, and/or audio portions.

Abstract: A method of performing an injection cycle having a duration comprising: beginning the injection cycle with the valve pins associated with two or more nozzles in a gate closed position, selecting a first one of the two or more nozzles and controllably driving its associated valve pin from the gate closed position to a selected first axial upstream position, upon downstream flow of the injection fluid through a cavity the preselected distance, controllably driving the valve pin associated with the other of the two or more nozzles to a selected second axial position upstream, holding or controllably driving the valve pin associated with the first one of the two or more nozzles in or to one or more reduced flow axial upstream positions that are partially closed.

Abstract: A method may include: providing a browser extension to user devices that is configured to: monitor data associated with website pages visited by the user devices; and in response to detecting that data associated with a website page is indicative of a presence of a platform, transmit a notification to an entity system, the notification including an identification of the website page and an identification of the platform; and in response to receiving the notification: generating and/or updating a database indicative of operation of the platform on one or more website pages based on the identification of the website page and the identification of the platform; quantifying a number of website pages on which the platform is operated based on the database; and determining a level of traffic to the website page.

Abstract: A visual perception assistance apparatus includes a rendering unit configured to render, for display, a virtual environment, the virtual environment comprising one or more virtual elements; a selection unit configured to select one or more of the virtual elements; and an adapting unit configured to, for a given selected virtual element, adapt one or more aspects associated with an appearance of the given selected virtual element in dependence upon a distance between the given selected virtual element and a predetermined location within the virtual environment.

Abstract: A method of processing a transaction between a customer and a merchant includes receiving from a mobile device of the customer or from another device of the customer an indication of consent to perform a cardless payment transaction with the merchant, receiving from the mobile device an indication that the customer is within a predetermined distance of the merchant, after receiving both the indication of consent and the indication that the customer is within the predetermined distance, sending to a computer system of the merchant an indication of the presence of the customer and personal identifying information for the customer, receiving data indicating a transaction between the customer and the merchant, and submitting the transaction to a financial service for authorization.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes circuitry configured to: receive an image of a user in an environment; detect an object in the image; perform one of a plurality of user-selectable processes associated with the object, each of the plurality of user-selectable processes being associated with hiding a visual characteristic of the object in the image; and after the one of the plurality of user-selectable processes has been performed, transmit data representing the image.

Abstract: A method of executing a multiplayer video game includes: connecting a game client to a game server via a communication network; for each player, executing an instance of a game on the game server to generate a game environment; synchronizing game data between multiple instances of the game to link the generated game environments; transmitting user inputs to the game server to initiate interactive gameplay; for each player, generating a video stream of the linked game environment from the player's perspective; and mixing the video streams for individual players into split screen view during a split screen mode.

Abstract: A game selection system includes an emotion processor configured to obtain a current emotional state of a user; a descriptor processor configured to obtain one or more emotion descriptors associated with one or more games; an evaluation processor configured to predict an emotion outcome for the user for the or each game, based upon the user's current emotional state and the one or more emotion descriptors of the respective games; and a selection processor configured to select one or more games in response to whether their respective emotion outcomes meet at least a first predetermined criterion.

Abstract: A game selection system includes: an emotion processor configured to obtain a current emotional state of a user; a descriptor processor configured to obtain one or more emotion descriptors associated with one or more games; an evaluation processor configured to predict an emotion outcome for the user for the or each game, based upon the user's current emotional state and the one or more emotion descriptors of the respective games; and a selection processor configured to select one or more games in response to whether their respective emotion outcomes meet at least a first predetermined criterion.

Abstract: A processing device includes: a first receiving unit configured to receive one or more inputs for a video game console from a handheld video game controller using a first communication protocol; and a first transmitting unit configured to transmit the one or more inputs to the video game console using a second communication protocol, where communication using the second communication protocol has a longer range than communication using the first communication protocol.

Abstract: An input system comprising: a first input device comprising a display and one or more sensors, wherein the first input device is configured to generate one or more inputs of a first type; a second input device comprising an attachment unit for removably attaching the first input device to the second input device, wherein the second input device is configured to generate one or more inputs of a second type; and a processing device configured to receive the one or more inputs of the first type and the one or more inputs of the second type.

Abstract: A system for determining a route for a user of a processing device during the presentation of content to the user, the system comprising a content identification unit operable to identify one or more characteristics of the content, a route determination unit operable to determine a route for a journey in dependence upon the identified characteristics, the start location of the journey, and the destination of the journey, and a content presentation unit operable to present content to the user of the processing device during the journey, the journey being undertaken in accordance with the determined route.

Abstract: A system for presenting content to a user of a processing device during a journey, the system comprising a journey identification unit operable to identify one or more characteristics of the journey, a content determination unit operable to select and/or modify content in dependence upon the identified characteristics, and a content presentation unit operable to present the selected and/or modified content to the user of the processing device during the journey.

Abstract: A method of head-mounted display including: generating a virtual environment for display in a first person view to a user wearing a head-mounted display, measuring a head displacement pattern of the user when they are performing a predetermined locomotive action in real life, and when the predetermined locomotive action is performed within the generated virtual environment, applying a head displacement pattern to a virtual first person viewpoint of the generated virtual environment presented to the user, the applied head displacement pattern being based upon the measured head displacement pattern, whether the user is performing the predetermined locomotive action in real life or not.

Abstract: A method may include: providing a browser extension to user devices that is configured to: monitor data associated with website pages visited by the user devices; and in response to detecting that data associated with a website page is indicative of a presence of a platform, transmit a notification to an entity system, the notification including an identification of the website page and an identification of the platform; and in response to receiving the notification: generating and/or updating a database indicative of operation of the platform on one or more website pages based on the identification of the website page and the identification of the platform; quantifying a number of website pages on which the platform is operated based on the database; and determining a level of traffic to the website page.