Abstract: Audio telephone and video conferencing systems have a computerized server having a plurality of ports for terminating audio and video from participants, a connection to an Internet network, software providing switching and controls in conference management, and an interactive interface enabling an organizer to configure a conference, selecting time and participants, and a timer function timing participation by individual ones of participants. As each participant is enabled to speak, a preprogrammed time-to-speak is announced or displayed to at least the instant speaker, and the timer function begins to count down from the time-to-speak.

Abstract: An electronic talking stick has a body having an outer casing, of a size to fit in a user's hand, a power supply powering circuitry within the body, an electronic timer operable within the body, an on/off switch, and an alert mechanism adapted to cause a user-noticeable alert at specific times according to the timer. Upon applying power by the on/off switch, the timer begins to count down from a pre-programmed time, wherein the alert mechanism generates a timed-out alert when the timer reaches zero, and wherein removing power from the circuitry resets the timer.

Abstract: An alarm setting mechanism for an analog timepiece of the type having a minute hand, an hour hand and an alarm device responsive to switch actuations. A minute setting ring and a coaxial hour setting ring are both rotatably mounted in the timepiece and include a minute alarm marker and an hour alarm marker. Both rings have crown gears coupled to a drive pinion arranged to rotate the two rings at a ratio of 12:1 to set the hour and minute markers. This is preferably accomplished using a spur tooth gear on the minute setting ring and a Geneva drive for the hour ring. A first switch is actuated in response to passage of the hour hand contacting the hour marker and a second switch is actuated in response to passage at the minute hand in close proximity to the minute marker. The alarm setting mechanism has a separate crown which is detented in three positions.