Abstract: The commodity selection assisting apparatus includes a camera, a size detection portion, a search portion, and a display control portion. The camera captures an object and outputs image data representing an image of the object. The size detection portion detects an object size which is a size of a specific part in the image of the object, from the image data. The search portion searches for, from among a plurality of commodity data each including commodity size data representing a size of a specific part of a commodity and commodity identification information, purchase candidate data including the commodity size data corresponding to the object size. The display control portion causes a display device to display the purchase candidate data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a communication unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The storage unit stores setting information including set value data and route data. When communication with a portable communication device has been enabled, the communication unit acquires present route information from the portable communication device. Upon acquiring the present route information, the control unit extracts a piece of setting information in which the route data is identical to the present route information thus acquired. Set values defined by the set value data included in the extracted piece of setting information are reproduced.

Abstract: A food purchase supporting system includes a wearable terminal device and an image forming apparatus. The wearable terminal device stores a measurement value with respect to an indicator for management of health of a user. The image forming apparatus includes a first communication device, an acquisition section, a determination section, and a generation section. The first communication device communicates with the wearable terminal device. The acquisition section acquires the measurement value from the wearable terminal device via the first communication device. The determination section determines a food ingredient recommended for the user to ingest based on the measurement value and a target value with respect to the indicator for the management of health of the user. The generation section generates a list of food recommended for the user to purchase based on the food ingredient.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a communication unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The storage unit stores setting information including set value data and route data. When communication with a portable communication device has been enabled, the communication unit acquires present route information from the portable communication device. Upon acquiring the present route information, the control unit extracts a piece of setting information in which the route data is identical to the present route information thus acquired. Set values defined by the set value data included in the extracted piece of setting information are reproduced.

Abstract: The commodity selection assisting apparatus includes a camera, a size detection portion, a search portion, and a display control portion. The camera captures an object and outputs image data representing an image of the object. The size detection portion detects an object size which is a size of a specific part in the image of the object, from the image data. The search portion searches for, from among a plurality of commodity data each including commodity size data representing a size of a specific part of a commodity and commodity identification information, purchase candidate data including the commodity size data corresponding to the object size. The display control portion causes a display device to display the purchase candidate data.

Abstract: A first information processing apparatus selects an apparatus-to-be-used from among a plurality of image processing apparatuses that are communicable through a first communication line, and receives terminal identification information which identifies a second information processing apparatus carried by a user, from the second information processing apparatus through a wireless second communication line. The first information processing apparatus transmits location presentation information to the second information processing apparatus, and transmits the terminal identification information to the apparatus-to-be-used. The image processing apparatus executes a process of guiding the user to the image processing apparatus when the terminal identification information received from the first information processing apparatus and the terminal identification information received from the second information processing apparatus match each other.

Abstract: Emulsion-type food in which a part or all of the fat components are substituted by a pulverized curdlan gel is disclosed. The food is low-calorie and has desired appearance, mouthfeel and taste.

Abstract: Linear curdlan gels can be produced continuously by heating an aqueous suspension of curdlan at a temperature not lower than 85.degree. C. during and/or after passage through a small-diameter tubing with a sectional area of 0.1 to 30 mm.sup.2 at a discharge rate not exceeding 500 cm/sec. The thus obtained gels can be utilized as various food materials.

Abstract: Discoloration of meat products can be prevented by incorporating ascorbic acids, cystine and/or cysteine, and aspartic acid, and optionally a starch hydrolyzate with a dextrose equivalent of 5 to 30 into meat products.

Abstract: Soybean polysaccharides are produced by extracting a residue which is obtained after the separation of soy proteins from soybean, with an aqueous alkaline solution and recovering the resultant solid fraction.