Abstract: In a method and apparatus for forming a plurality of films on the surface of a substrate, at least two liquid samples are deposited by a deposition device onto the substrate surface. The substrate is moved so that the liquid samples on the substrate are subjected to a non-contact spreading force sufficient to cause the samples to spread over the surface to form a respective film thereon. At least a portion of each film is discrete from one or more other films formed on each substrate surface. In another embodiment, liquid samples of different compositions are deposited on an array of substrates. The liquid samples on at least two of the substrates are subjected to non-contact spreading forces during overlapping durations of time whereby the spreading forces are sufficient to cause the samples to spread over respective surfaces of the substrates to form films thereon.

Abstract: A method for providing an animated audio message includes wirelessly receiving indicia of an audio message and an image, and animating the image in association with the audio message to produce an animated audio message. A system for providing animated audio messages includes a wireless interface that can receive wireless communications that provide or identify an audio message and provide or identify an image. An animator is coupled to the wireless interface and can animate the image in accordance with the audio message to form an animated audio message. An animation interface is coupled to the animator and can transfer the animated audio message from the animator toward a desired destination.

Abstract: The invention collection of mail content in digital form and delivers of the mail content in hardcopy form over a distribution system that pushes the processing of the physical mail to a location close to the recipient's geographical address. A sender composes a mail item in digital form and the invention then distributes the digital content through a three tier model. The first tier accepts the digital content from the sender, verifies the identity of the sender, and prepares the digital content for presentation to the next tier. The second tier is a management point on the transmission network that determines the closest available processing location based on the geographical address of the recipient. The third tier consists of two or more processing locations that accept the digital content from the earlier tier, processes the digital content into hardcopy form, and presents the hardcopy content to a physical delivery system such as a postal service or commercial courier.