Abstract: A desktop computing system having at least a central core surrounded by housing having a shape that defines a volume in which the central core resides is described. The housing includes a first opening and a second opening axially displaced from the first opening. The first opening having a size and shape in accordance with an amount of airflow used as a heat transfer medium for cooling internal components, the second opening defined by a lip that engages a portion of the airflow in such a way that at least some of the heat transferred to the air flow from the internal components is passed to the housing.

Abstract: A desktop computing system having at least a central core surrounded by housing having a shape that defines a volume in which the central core resides is described. The housing includes a first opening and a second opening axially displaced from the first opening. The first opening having a size and shape in accordance with an amount of airflow used as a heat transfer medium for cooling internal components, the second opening defined by a lip that engages a portion of the airflow in such a way that at least some of the heat transferred to the air flow from the internal components is passed to the housing.

Abstract: An instruction is presented to a user for making a target gesture. The target gesture may be a portion of an exemplary or model symbol. The instruction may be presented in various ways, such as being printed on a writing surface or being played in audio format through a speaker of a smart pen device. A writing gesture made on a writing surface by the user is digitally captured using a smart pen device. The captured writing gesture is compared to the target gesture and feedback is determined based on this comparison. This feedback may indicate the correctness of the user's writing gesture. The feedback may be presented to the user through various means, including through the smart pen device. The comparison may also be used to determine a next instruction for the user to follow.

Abstract: A technique for collecting and correlating locking data collects and correlates information on a plurality of programs waiting on or holding a plurality of resources in a multi-computer database system. The technique identifies a program executing on one computer of the multi-computer database system that is waiting on a resource. The technique also identifies a second program, executing on another computer, as the ultimate holder of the resource. An operator display screen displays information corresponding to the first program and the second program. The operator display screen may be switched between a multiline display format and a single line display format. The collection, identification, and display of the locking data is performed periodically, to allow the operator to discover locking problems and take a desired corrective action.

Abstract: A computer implemented method provides remote access to a plurality of sessions at a computer. The method includes initiating a master process in a context independent from the sessions, establishing a first slave process in a context of a first session, and maintaining communication between the master process and the first slave process. The master process provides access to the computer's display while the display is under control of the first session, detects a second session, having a respective second slave process, communicates with the second slave process, and provides access to the computer's display while the display is under control of the second user session.

Abstract: A sound control calculator device is described. The sound control calculator device has a long case. The case at least has a sound hole, a key hole, and a window disposed at the periphery thereof and a circuit board disposed therein. The circuit board at least includes a microphone, a recording key, a voice recognition chip, and a display screen for operation thereon. The display screen is just aligned with the window at an upper cover. A password is input at the microphone, and an acoustic signal is converted into numerals by the voice recognition chip and operated, and then is displayed on the display screen.

Abstract: A user interface is described which includes electrical connections arranged in a pattern on a writing surface. An input is made by a user by drawing lines on the writing surface using a pencil or pen with conductive ink so as to electrically connect together two or more of the electrical connections.

Abstract: An hand held implement which includes an integral preprogrammed electronic calculator. The implement is preset to perform one or more calculations which utilize known scientific formulas and mathematical relationships and which rely upon specific variables for which values are input by the user through the use of the various input command control devices and may be reused for further serial calculations. By preprogramming the implement with the related formulas for a given field of technology, the user may perform one or even a series of related and useful calculations without the need for any additional calculators, charts, tables or other printed materials. The surfaces on the implement may also be used for the imprinting of graphical or advertising material for the purpose of advertising or promotion.

Abstract: The circuit for motion estimation in digitised video sequence encoders comprises at least an integrated circuit component (IM, IM1 . . . IMn) which is arranged to perform either the function of determining motion vectors and associated costs for different prediction modes, or the function of vector refinement, possibly in addition to prediction mode selection. The circuit (IM) is based on the use of two operating units (M1, M2) which are arranged to concurrently process in different ways different pixel groups according to a MIMD technique. Preferably, when the circuit performs motion vector determination, the operating units (M1, M2) are programmed to execute a genetic algorithm exploiting an initial vector population taking into account the temporal and spatial correlations in the picture.