text:
- 2006 Hon. Men. All-Big 12 (Associated Press)
- 2006 Rimington Award Pre-Season Watch List
- 2005 Hon. Men. All-Big 12 (Coaches)
- 2005 1st-Team Sophomore All-American (College Football News)
- 2004 2nd-Team Freshman All-American (Rivals.com)
- 2004 1st-Team Freshman All-Big 12 (Sporting News)
The anchor of Mizzou's offensive line is one of the top veteran centers in the nation, and should contend in 2007 for all-American honors as well as receive prime consideration for the Rimington Award, given annually to the nation's top center ... Is in his 4th year of starting at the center position, and has started all 36 career games at the spot ... Needs 13 more starts to break the school record of 48 consecutive starts by QB Brad Smith ... Last name is pronounced SPEE-kerr.
Anchored the Tiger offensive line in his 3rd year of starting at the center position ... Was the glue of a line that has provided protection for a Tiger offensive attack that ranked 8th in the nation in total offense (425.62 ypg) and 10th in the country in passing offense (276.15 ypg) ... Earned honorable mention All-Big 12 status from the Associated Press for his play in 2006 ... The offensive line was one of the nation's best in protecting its QB, as it ranked 24th in the country in fewest QB sacks allowed (1.46 pg).
A very talented center who anchored the Tiger offensive line for the 2nd straight season, and had an outstanding year, grading highly each week ... Was named a 1st-Team Sophomore All-American by College Football News for his stellar play ... Earned honorable mention All-Big 12 status from the league's coaches for his play in 2005 ... Was part of a line that helped MU rank 17th nationally in rushing (205.25 ypg), and helped QB Brad Smith put up only the 3rd 2,000-yard passing and 1,000-yard rushing season in NCAA Div. I-A history.
Started all 11 games at center, and had a solid debut season as a redshirt freshman, despite facing the daunting task of replacing A.J. Ricker, who set a school record by making 47 consecutive starts over the ball from 2000-03 ... Was named a 2nd-Team Freshman All-American for his efforts by Rivals.com, and also landed a spot on the 1st-Team Freshman All-Big 12 squad picked by The Sporting News ... Had a solid spring, one that was encouraging enough to see him listed at No. 1 on the depth chart heading into the fall.
Redshirt season ... Earned scout team MVP honors in practice for his work leading up to the Oklahoma game.
Rated as the No. 3 offensive lineman in the Missouri-Kansas region by MoKan Football ... Rivals.com had him as the No. 26 offensive guard prospect in the country, and as the No. 8 prospect in the state of Missouri (all positions) ... Rated as the No. 53 overall prospect in the Midland region by SuperPrep Magazine ... Earned all-state mention as a defensive lineman each of his last two seasons at Webb City, where he was an all-area performer for two years on the offensive line ... Rated as the No. 1 offensive and defensive lineman (all classes) in 2002 by Danny Heitert of STC Grid Report ... Three-sport standout (football, basketball and track) who won the 3A state championship in 2003 and took 5th place in the state championships in the shot put in 2002 ... Holds school records in the shot put and discus ... High school coach - John Roderigue.
Son of Curt & Holly Spieker ... National Honor Society Member ... Academic interest lies in business at MU ... Chose Mizzou over Nebraska, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Illinois, among others.
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You can now invite anyone to meet at your favorite Starbucks.
Limited-time feature
29 year old man | Waterford, MI, USA | Seeking women 21-31 within 25 miles
Live life happy, it's too short to be miserable.
So, about me. I'm a very driven, passionate person looking to make the most out of this life. Things that are important to me are family and happiness. Usually the two of those things are one in the same. My family has always been a huge part of my life and I couldn't imagine life without them. So with that said I hang out with my sibling quite a bit. We are all easy going and fun to hang out with. I love writing, reading, art, working on my house and taking my dog Oakley for a walk (yes that's part of where my name comes from). Also I think that two people should have quite a bit in common with each other. That idea of opposites attracting is true, I just don't think it ever lasts. You must have some of the same core values for a relationship to work. I love water skiing and being on the boat in the summer. I'm very physically active and love trying any new sport or doing anything outside. But I do also love sitting inside and watching a movie or staying in at night over going to the bar. Not saying I hate going out at all. In fact I love trying new places to eat and exploring about the city. With that being said though, I love musicals. I love les miserables, phantom, ect. I'm kind of a nerd but I really don't care I love seeing shows and dressing up and going out for a nice dinner before hand. I want to travel more, and see new places. I've been all over the US playing Hockey and competing in Karate tournaments but would love to see Europe or some more tropical locations. I've been to Mexico a few times but that doesn't count as traveling. I want to be with someone who actually can care for someone besides themselves. I am very self-sufficient, but that doesn't mean I don't ever need someone to lean on. I'm very dependable and punctual, I take pride in knowing that people can count on me. I love talking and listening to people's view on life. I find people in general very interesting and I don't judge anyone based on what they look like or where they're from. Whew, anyway I haven't even scratched the surface, so if you want to know more just email me :).
Book club , Camping , Business networking , Cooking , Dining out , Gardening/Landscaping , Movies/Videos , Museums and art , Music and concerts , Nightclubs/Dancing , Performing arts , Playing sports , Travel/Sightseeing , Volunteering , Wine tasting
Auto racing / Motorcross, Hockey, Martial arts, Running, Skiing, Swimming, VolleyBall, Weights / Machines, Yoga
I exercise 3-4 times per week.
I have Dogs
Some other viewpoint
Oakland University, Rochester, MI
For fun? Hmmm, what don't I like to do is a better question. I love dancing (I can swing and ballroom a little bit), wine tasting, sushi, Detroit trips!
The last thing I read was a compilation of short stories by D.H. Lawrence.
Z{{Cta}} {{#if HasMoreInfo}} ?{{CtaSecondary}} {{/if}}
|What he is looking for
|6'0" (182cms)
|5'0" (152cms) to 6'0" (182cms)
|Body type:
|Athletic and toned
|Slender, About average, Curvy, Athletic and toned
|No preference
|No preference
|No Way
|No preference
|Social Drinker, Regularly, Moderately
|Other profession
|No preference
I work for UPS.
|I'll tell you later
|No preference
|Never Married
|No preference
|Have kids:
|No preference
|Wants kids:
|Not sure
|Not sure
|White / Caucasian
|Asian, East Indian, Latino / Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Native American, Pacific Islander, White / Caucasian, Other
|Christian / Other
|Christian / Catholic, Christian / LDS, Christian / Protestant, Christian / Other
|English, Other
|No preference
|Bachelors degree
|No preference

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A voice-optimized database system and method of audio vector valuation (AVV) provides means to search a database in response to a spoken query. Audio vectors (AVs) are assigned to phonemes in the names or phrases constituting searchable items in a voice-optimized database and in spoken queries. Multiple AVs can be stored which correspond to different pronunciations of the same searchable items to allow for less precision on the part telephone callers when stating their queries. A distance calculation is performed between the audio vectors of database items and spoken queries to produce search results. Existing databases can be enhanced with AVV. Several alternate samples of a spoken query are generated by analyzing the phonemic string of the spoken query to create similar, alternate phonemic strings. The phonemic string of the spoken query and the alternate phonemic strings are converted to text and used to search the database.
1. A voice-optinized database system for allowing users to access an electronic shopping cart to purchase items offered through an online shop using spoken queries comprising:
a memory device for storing records for said items; and
a processing device connected to said memory device and operable to retrieve selected ones of said records from said database in response to said spoken queries, said memory device being configured to store for each of said records at least one phoneme vector for parsing of said memory device by said processing device in response to said spoken queries;
wherein each of said records has at least one searchable field comprising item data that is characterized by phonemes, said phonemes being assigned respective values, said phonemes having similar pronunciation being assigned similar values, each said phoneme vector comprising said values corresponding to said phonemes in said at least one searchable field.
2. A database system as claimed in
3. A method of retrieving items from a database in response to a spoken query comprising the steps of:
assigning a database item phoneme vector to each of a plurality of items in said database, each of said items comprising at least one phoneme, each said phoneme having a unique value assigned thereto and stored in a table, said database item phoneme vector comprising a vector component indicating the number of said phoneme of which the corresponding said item is composed, and phoneme vector components which each comprise said unique value corresponding to a respective said phoneme in one of said items;
determining a spoken phrase phoneme vector for said spoken query, said spoken query being analyzed to determine each said phoneme thereof, said spoken phrase phoneme vector of said spoken query comprising said phoneme vector components each having said unique value for a respective said phoneme in said spoken query and a value indicating the number of said phoneme in said spoken query; and
comparing at least a portion of said spoken phrase phoneme vector with at least a portion of said database item phoneme vector corresponding to each of said items.
4. A voice-optimized database system for allowing users to access an electronic shopping cart to purchase items offered through an online shop using spoken queries comprising:
a memory device for storing records for said items; and
a processing device connected to said memory device and operable to retrieve selected ones of said records from said database in response to said spoken queries, said memory device being configured to store for each of said records at least one audio vector for parsing of said memory device by said processing device in response to said spoken queries;
wherein each of said records has at least one searchable field comprising item data that is characterized by phonemes, said phonemes being assigned respective values, said phonemes having similar pronunciation being assigned similar values, each said audio vector comprising said values corresponding to said phonemes in said at least one searchable field;
wherein said comparing step comprises the steps of
assigning query coordinates to respective said phoneme represented in at least a portion of said spoken phrase audio vector to define said portion of said spoken phrase audio vector in accordance with a matrix position in a matrix having as many axes as the number of said phoneme in said portion of said spoken phrase audio vector, each of said query coordinates having a value corresponding to said unique value of the related said phoneme;
assigning item coordinates to respective said phoneme in at least a portion of each said database item audio vector to define said portion of each said database item audio vector in accordance with a matrix position in said matrix, said portion of said database item audio vector as having the same number of said phoneme as said portion of said spoken phrase audio vector, each of said items coordinates having a value corresponding to said unique value of the related said phoneme; and
calculating distance between respective ones of said query coordinates and said item coordinates to determine which of said items are similar to said spoken query.
5. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said calculating step comprises the steps of:
removing the most distal ones of said item coordinates from said database item audio vector when said spoken phrase audio vector has fewer said phoneme vector components than said database item audio vector; and
removing the most distal ones of said query coordinates from said spoken phrase audio vector when said database item audio vector has fewer said phoneme vector components than said spoken phrase audio vector.
6. A method as claimed in
7. A method as claimed in
8. A method as claimed in
determining to which of said subjects said spoken query relates; and
comparing at least a portion of said spoken phrase phoneme vector with at least a portion of said database item phoneme vector corresponding to each of said items relating to said subject.
9. A method as claimed in
determining to which of said subjects said spoken query relates; and
comparing at least a portion of said spoken phrase phoneme vector with at least a portion of said database item phoneme vector corresponding to each of at least one of said records and said data fields relating to said subject.
10. A method as claimed in
selecting multiple pronunciations of each of said items;
assigning a corresponding said database item phoneme vector to each of said multiple pronunciations for storage in said database for the corresponding one of said items; and
comparing at least a portion of said spoken phrase phoneme vector with at least a portion of each said database item phoneme vector corresponding to each of said items and said corresponding multiple pronunciations of said items.
11. A method of providing an existing database with a spoken query response capability comprising the steps of:
accessing a library of phonemes;
translating a spoken query into a group of said phonemes corresponding thereto and selected from said library;
converting said group of phonemes into query text;
generating alternate test by performing at least one of a plurality of operations comprising processing said group of phonemes to produce an alternate group of phonemes by selectively using at least one of individual said phonemes, divided said phonemes and regrouped said phonemes and converting said alternate group of phonemes to text, and selecting other text that is related said query text, said other text characterized by at least one of similar pronunciation to any of said group of phonemes, comprising allomorphs similar to allomorphs in any of said group of phonemes and having similar meaning to said query text but different format; and
conducting searches of said database in response to said spoken query using said query text and said alternate text.
12. A method as claimed in
13. A method as claimed in
Related subject matter is disclosed and claimed in co-pending U.S. Patent Application of Masoud Loghmani et al., filed Oct. 6, 1998 and entitled "Telephony-Enabled Electronic Shopping System" (attorney's file 34999).
The invention relates to a voice-optimized database and a method of using audio vector valuation to search a voice-optimized database and to enhance existing, non-voice-enabled databases to perform searches from spoken queries.
Existing electronic shopping cart technology is limited to serving customers who access online shopping sites using HyperText Markup Language (HTML) or other markup language browsers. Currently, no audio-capable electronic shopping cart exists for use with any kind of audio interface such as a telephone, or a computer with a microphone and voice output capability (e.g., voice over the Internet). Furthermore, no telephony interface exists which allows telephone customers to purchase goods offered via online shops.
To illustrate the above-described limitations, a conventional system 10 is depicted in FIG. 1 for shopping via the Internet 18. A user computer 12 (e.g., a personal computer or PC) having browser software 14 can connect via the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or other network 16 to an online shop 20 using different methods such as typing the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the online shop, if known, or selecting an online shop or the type of item desired from a home page generated at the PC. While browsing the online shop 20, the user PC 12 receives a number of HTML or Web-type pages for guiding the user when searching for one or more items to purchase and for completing the transaction by a payment method such as a credit card transaction. The transaction can be monitored using a shopping cart 22. An exemplary Web page 24 for allowing a user to conduct a search of items available via an online shop is depicted in FIG. 2. The description of the existing electronic shopping system 10 in FIG. 1 and of the illustrated embodiments of the present invention provided herein will be with reference to an online shop for purchasing books. It is to be understood that various aspects of the present invention can be used with any online shop or catalogue, as well as with any database for applications other than online shopping.
FIG. 3 depicts a conventional database 30 which comprises a number of records 32 such as a record 34 for each book in an online bookshop catalogue. Each record 34 has a number of fields 36, 38, 40, 42 and 44 for entering such information as the book title, author, subject matter, price, ISBN, respectively, among other information. As indicated by the onscreen buttons 40, 48, 50 and 52 in FIG. 2, the Web page 24 provides a user with the option of searching for a book on the basis of book title, author or subject, as well as searching the entire record for each book. The online shop can provide the online user with more specific search pages when one of the three buttons is selected. A processor 31 at the online shop generally searches one or more database fields using the text of the electronic query (e.g., "Gone With the Wind") 54 entered by a user via a Web page. The results of the search following the electronic query are then presented to the user PC via another Web page. If the search results locate an item desired by the user, the user can select that item for placement in an electronic shopping cart. Conventional electronic shopping carts 22 maintain a record of items selected by a user during a browsing session and can assist the user in completing a payment transaction to purchase some or all of the items in the electronic shopping cart during the browsing section or at the conclusion of the browsing session.
Since the online shop 20 receives text queries and reports search results via HTML pages, a user must have a computing device with a browser in order to search for an item available via the online shop, as well as to complete an electronic payment transaction as is the case with many online services. In addition, conventional electronic shopping carts are characterized by a number of drawbacks. Many existing electronic shopping carts maintain user identification and selection data for only a predetermined period. The shopping cart information for a user is generally removed from the server of the online shop shortly after a transaction is completed. The shopping cart information for a browsing session can also be removed during a browsing session after a prolonged period of inactivity. Thus, a user may have to repeat the browsing and shopping cart functions if the transaction data is removed from the server prior to the user making a final selection and purchase of database items.
Also, no database access system exists which allows data input based on spoken words, or has built-in search mechanisms for spoken queries. A built-in mechanism for spoken queries is different from providing a speech recognition system as an input mechanism to a database. In such a system, the speech recognition system receives audio samples, and converts the audio samples to text as though they were typed (e.g., entered in an onscreen query window such as in FIG. 2). The speech recognition system then sends the text output to the database for searching record field(s) based on text. The database has no means of searching based on a audio sample itself. Thus, a voice-optimized database is needed which permits an intelligent search of database records in response to spoken words.
The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of existing databases and realizes a number of advantages over these existing electronic systems for shopping via the internet by permitting use of spoken queries.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a voice-optimized database system uses an Audio Vector Valuation (AVV) method to assign a value to every spoken query which was obtained from a speech recognition system, and then compares that to a limited set of possible outcomes, thereby making it possible to perform an intelligent search based on spoken words.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, each searchable item in the voice-optimized database has an associated audio vector. The audio vector comprises vector components having values for respective phonemes in the spoken name or phrase constituting the searchable item.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, audio vectors determined for spoken queries are compared with audio vectors for database items to produce search results in response to spoken queries.
In accordance with still yet another aspect of the present invention, phonemes having similar pronunciation are assigned vector values which are close numerically. A distance calculation is performed between audio vectors corresponding to a spoken query and database items to produce search results.
The AVV method is used with a voice-optimized database configured in accordance with another aspect of the present invention. The AVV method can also be used as a separate mechanism to enhance existing databases which have no spoken query search capability. An AVV module is provided between a traditional speech recognition module and an existing, non-voice-enabled database. The existing database is provided with a library of phonemes and their respective values. The AVV module performs multiple queries for each spoken query. In each spoken query, the AVV module retrieves words from the database which have a similar pronunciation with the phrases received at the speech recognition module from a user.
The various aspects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be more readily comprehended from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a conventional electronic online shopping system;
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary HTML page generated on a customer computer while browsing online;
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a conventional database having records with record fields;
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a voice-enabled online shopping system constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 illustrates an audio vector in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a voice-optimized database constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 illustrates audio vectors in a phoneme space in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a voice-enabled shopping cart constructed embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a telephone-internet interface for online shopping constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are block diagrams of different configurations of a voice-enabled online shopping system constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 15A and 15B are flow charts depicting a sequence of operations for browsing an online shop using a telephone or other audio interface in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIGS. 16 and 17 are block diagrams of a voice-enabled Internet interface for online shopping using voice over the Internet in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Throughout the drawing figures, like reference numerals will be understood to refer to like parts and components.
With reference to FIG. 4, a voice-enabled system 60 for online shopping is provided in accordance with the present invention to allow customers to access an online shop, among other databases. The voice-enabled system 60 comprises three main subsystems, that is, a voice-optimized database or catalogue 62, a voice-enabled shopping cart 64 capable of generating output for both online shoppers using a browser and telephony users connecting through a telephony interface, and a telephony-Internet interface (TII) 66 which connects a user via a telephone 68 or other telecommunications device to an electronic shopping cart for online shopping. It is to be understood that the telephone 68 or other telecommunications device can connect to the TII 66 via wireline and wireless modes of communication.
The voice-optimized database is a database 62 of items which can be searched either using electronic queries (i.e., queries of the type normally available on Internet search engines), or spoken words over the telephone 68 or other audio mediums such as voice over the Internet. An important aspect of the voice-optimized database 62 of the present invention is that each searchable item stored therein is assigned an Audio Vector (AV) 70 which characterizes the item in terms of how the item sounds when spoken. For example, an AV 70 can comprise a string of values (e.g., 15, 16, 18 . . . 346), each of which corresponds to a vector component 72, as shown in FIG. 5. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the values of vector components 72 are determined by the phonemes in the searchable item's name or phrase, that is, each vector component 72 can correspond to a numerical value assigned to a phoneme. Assignment of values to phonemes is based on how closely two phonemes sound. For example, the two allophones [p] and [ph] in "spit" and "pit", respectively, are preferably assigned very close values such as values that are numerically close in a range of values. An AV 70 can also comprise a vector component 74 indicating the number of phonemes which constitute the spoken phrase or the item name or phrase stored in a database to which the AV corresponds.
When a spoken query is received for the voice-optimized database 62, a processor 76 operating in conjunction with the database 62, as depicted in FIG. 6, is programmed to parse the query based on the phonemes therein, and to assign an AV 70 value to the query. Values for respective phonemes in the query can be obtained from a library 78, for example. A library 78 for a given language or dialect can store records of each phoneme used in that language and dialect. Each library record stores a predetermined value for that phoneme. Phoneme values can be individual numbers, or vectors if minute degrees of distinction are desired between similar-sounding phonemes. The voice-optimized database 62 is then searched for all searchable items having AV values close to the AV value of the spoken query. The processor 76 then reports the matching results via an input/output (I/0) module 80. Searching will be described with reference to FIG. 7. Reporting search results will then be described with reference to FIG. 8.
For illustrative purposes, FIG. 7 provides a simplified view of the phoneme space 82 associated with utterances having only three phonemes. As stated previously, an AV 70 is made of a number of vector components (e.g., components 72). Each vector component 72 represents a phoneme in a spoken phrase. Thus, a matrix having three axes 84, 86 and 88 (i.e., an x-axis, a y-axis and a z-axis) is used to represent the simplified phoneme space. The AV 90 for a spoken phrase is determined to be (8, 17, 8), while the AV 92 of a database item having similar pronunciation is (9, 18, 7). The AV 94 for a database item having a distinct pronunciation is (7, 30, -1).
By way of another example, the voice-optimized database processor 76 assigns a spoken phrase a Spoken Phrase Audio Vector AV1=(x0, y0, z0, k0, l0. As described in further detail below, AVs can be assigned to different pronunciations of each database item. The AVs assigned to each searchable database item is then used to determine if the same or similar phrase is in the database. A Database Item Audio Vector AV2 can be (x1, y1, z1, k1, l1), for example. A method of comparing the distance between the AV of a spoken phrase with the AVs of a database item having different lengths is described below. To search a database for a phrase using Audio Vectors, the following vector distance formula is used:
The closest points are reported as matches to the user. A no-space distance calculation formula is preferably used. In accordance with the present invention, the vector distance formula is adapted to the situation wherein the number of detected phonemes is not equal to the number of phonemes in a given database item keyword or phrase. In such cases, the following algorithm is used:
For all keywords in a given field in the database (e.g., author name):
If number of components of the spoken query equals the number of components in the keyword, then calculate distance according to the above vector distance formula;
Otherwise, if the number of components of the spoken query is more than the number of components in the keyword by n% (e.g., n=5-20%), then:
(1) Remove the most distant, excess components from the spoken query AV, and
(2) calculate distance according to the above vector distance formula;
Otherwise, if the number of components of the spoken query is less than the number of components in the keyword by n%, then:
(1) Remove the most distant, excess components from the keyword AV, and
(2) calculate distance according to the above vector distance formula;
Otherwise, ignore this keyword and continue to process the next keyword.
Exact matches between the audio vectors of a spoken query and database items are not required, allowing users to be less precise when stating a query. A voice-enabled database 62 stores a plurality of AVs for each searchable item in a database. AVs corresponding to different pronunciations of each searchable item are stored in the voice-enabled database. Different pronunciations can include anticipated differences is callers' speech patterns (e.g., "I bet you" and "I be chu"), as well as different expressions for the same item (e.g., different expressions for numbers). For example, a user can speak the ISBN number of a desired book that the user wishes to order from an online book shop. Audio vectors are provided for spoken words such as "one, three, two, zero, "one, three, two, '0'", and "one thousand, three hundred and twenty". The database stores several of these AVs for the searchable item "1320". The above-referenced formula is used to relate audio vectors for these different spoken queries to one of the stored AVs during a search. In addition to taking into account different data formats or types (e.g., numeric, decimal, alphanumeric, binary, hexadecimal), the processor 76 can take into account different conjunctions of phonemes. In accordance with the present invention, the processor 76 can compare AVs for spoken words such as "I bet you" and "I be chu" to different AVs stored for "I bet you" as a searchable item in the database. As will be described below, the AVV method can be provided as an AVV module to a system which does not have a voice-enabled shopping cart 64 or a voice-optimized database 62. Accordingly, AVV can be performed by processors other than the processor 76.
In accordance with the present invention, Audio Vector Valuation (AVV) is used to provide an audio interface to other electronic systems wherein knowledge of potential requests (i.e., knowledge of the context in which requests will be made) can facilitate the identification of a user's spoken words. For example, when a caller is giving an online shop his or her address via a telephone, the voice-enabled system 60 of the present invention can instruct the user to first provide a zip code. The user can enter the zip code by dialing the corresponding digits on the telephone keypad to generate appropriate dual-tone multi-frequency signals which can be translated to the zip code by the TII 66, for example. The voice-enabled shopping cart 64 can then instruct the user to say his or her street name. When the street name is spoken, the voice-optimized database 62 matches the audio pattern to the closest match in a database of street names within the given zip code, thereby alleviating the need for spelling of the name via the telephone keypad. As the above example demonstrates, Audio Vector Valuation can be used in many different applications, to match a spoken pattern with the knowledge of the context in which it is said.
Throughout the description of the present invention, an HTML-type page is understood to mean any type of hypertext or mark-up language (e.g., HTML, DHTML and XML) or language using hidden tags in text for creating, for example, Web-type pages for browsing content. As stated previously, telephone users do not have a computer with which to receive HTML-type pages to query and view search results from an online database. The TII 66 described below provides a mechanism to facilitate audio messaging to report search results, among other events and information, to a telephony customer. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the voice-enabled shopping cart 64 is operable to generate hidden tags to convert search results and other information provided by the online shop 20, which can be in a text or HTML format, for example, to an audio message that can be provided to a telephony customer.
The voice-enabled shopping cart 64 of the present invention is a software module to provide a layer of control above the voice-optimized database 62 of the present invention or an existing database (e.g., database 30) to facilitate online shopping. As shown in FIG. 8, the voice-enabled shopping cart 64 comprises transaction module 96 for communicating with a user computer or the TII 66, for example, a communications module 98 for communicating with an online shop or other database, a payment module 100 for completing electronic credit card transactions, and an account module 102 for monitoring each user transaction and the user's selections during a browsing session and, optionally, account information for users who are account holders. Thus, an account holder can browse an online shop, select items for the voice-enabled shopping cart, hang-up before purchasing the items, and then call the online shops at a later time to complete the transaction. The account module 102 is useful for maintaining company accounts. Employees can browse company-approved suppliers online to make selections and log-off prior to purchasing their selections. A company purchasing manager can then access the shopping carts created using a company account at the end of a business day, for example, and approve or disapprove of selections in each cart and complete a purchase transaction for approved items. The account module 102 can provide different levels of access. For example, one level of access can be restricted to cart selections only with no purchase capability. Another access level can permit order approvals and purchasing. The shopping cart 64 is configured to provide a merchant 103 with shopping cart contents or lists for fulfillment. Merchants can obtain lists via facsimile, e-mail or other communications means. Merchants can also access the shopping cart to download lists which have been approved for ordering.
In accordance with the present invention, the voice-enabled shopping cart also comprises an audio interface directives module 104 for providing hidden tags in the HTML-type pages provided by the online shop during a browsing session. The hidden tags are used by the TII 66 and other audio interfaces (e.g., Netscape browser with audio plug-in) to locate relevant information in an HTML-type page (e.g., a search result page indicating that the online shop has two book titles relating to a particular subject specified in a spoken query). For example, the hidden tags indicate where the book title information, price information or out-of-stock message is located in a search results HTML page returned by an online bookstore in response to a spoken query. The TII 66 can then generate an appropriate audio message to provide the search result data to the user. Since the search result pages for different online shops comprise different information in different locations within an HTML page, the voice-enabled shopping cart 64 can be provided to different online shops with scripts to assist online shop providers in modifying their respective search results pages and any other pages to include hidden tags or other data in the HTML-type page(s) as necessary to communicate with the TII 66.
The TII 66 allows customers to access an Internet or online shop using plain old telephone service (POTS) telephones, computers or other telecommunications devices. The TII 66 comprises hardware and software components to connect to the Public Switching Telephone Network (PSTN), as well as the Internet. The subsections of the TII 66 are shown in FIG. 9.
A Telephone Interface Module 110 is provided which has hardware and software components for handling incoming calls from the PSTN, and provide audio communications to customers. For example, the TII 66 can instruct a telephone user to select one of a preselected number of Internet sites to which access is desired by selecting from pre-recorded menu options. The user responds by stating or dialing a digit corresponding to the selected menu option. TIM 110 also performs speech recognition, speech-to-text and text-to-speech conversion operations, if necessary. The text/speech conversion can be implemented via commercially available software. TIM can handle multiple connections at any given time.
A Data Presentations Module (DPM) 112 converts commands received from the TIM 110 into electronic commands such as HTTP requests (e.g. HTTP get and HTTP post) and other electronic communication protocols, and changes replies received from an Internet Interface Module (IIM) 114 to information that can be presented to a customer in an audio format by the TIM. To communicate with the above-mentioned pre-selected sites, the DPM 112 uses scripts to translate user inputs (e.g., DTMF tones or speech that has been converted to text by the TIM 110) into input information (e.g., electronic commands such as HTTP requests and site-specific queries) for these sites. The DPM 112 parses the HTML-type information returned by a site (e.g., an online shop or database) via the IIM and posts queries to the site query pages provided to the IIM 114. By parsing the information in the HTTP replies, important data items are extracted and can be reported to the customers. If the electronic shopping cart used is a voice-enabled shopping cart 64 (FIG. 8), the DPM looks for hidden tags generated by the voice-enabled shopping cart to identify the important data items. To parse the output of other shopping carts, DPM uses site specific scripts which help to identify what each site's output means, and where important data elements reside. For example, when looking at an online bookstore's search output, the DPM preferably extracts only names of any books found to match or are similar to a user's query. The DPM can handle multiple customers at any given time.
The Internet Interface Module (IIM) 114 consists of the hardware and software for connecting to the Internet. The IIM handles multiple connections to different sites (e.g., online shops). IIM 114 receives connection commands and addresses from the DPM 112, and returns results in form of HTML-type pages or pages created using other mark-up languages.
The voice-enabled system of the present invention can be implemented in a number of different ways. The voice-enabled system can provide a fully integrated solution for online shopping, as well as telephone shopping, or only a portion of the solution. The voice-enabled system of the present invention can be integrated into an existing shopping cart, an existing database, or an existing telephone shopping system which currently has no online capability (e.g., a catalog order system using telephone operators to process transactions). A few of these different configurations, in which one or more elements of the voice-enabled system 60 are used, are described below in connection with FIGS. 10-13 for illustrative purposes. It is to be understood that other configurations are possible.
In a full implementation of the voice-enabled system, the components described above in connection with FIG. 4 are used to provide Internet catalogue and database capabilities, a voice-enabled electronic shopping cart and telephone-Internet interface capabilities for users. In the configuration depicted in FIG. 10, only the TII 66 is used to provide connectivity to an existing online shop. Since the database in this configuration does not support Audio Vector Valuation for voice queries, the DPM 112 is enhanced with a Audio Vector Valuation Module 116 to send in multiple queries based on what a given query sounds like. For example, phonemes are determined for "Gone with the Wind", or "Gone wid da Wind", or "Gone vid da Vind", and so on. Linguistic rules are used to select different pronunications of a requested item. The phonemes are converted to text. Multiple types of related text is therefore determined for the spoken query text. Searches are then performed in the database using the spoken query text and the related text.
In FIG. 11, a TII 66 and a shopping cart 22 are connected to an existing database 120 of items to provide an online shop that is also accessible by telephone. As in FIG. 10, the TII 66 can be enhanced by an Audio Vector Valuation module 116 to compensate for lack of such functionality in the database 120. As stated previously, a voice-enabled database is configured to store AVs for multiple pronunciations of searchable items in the database. In a non-voice-enabled database, several samples of a spoken query are generated to conduct multiple searches of the data in the database. The phoneme string of the spoken query sample is selectively divided and regrouped to create, for example, five or six variations of the phoneme string. In accordance with the present invention, individual phonemes in the string are analyzed, as well as combinations of phonemes and individual phonemes which have been divided. These components of the string are analyzed in phonemic space to compare respective vector distances, for example. Phonemes and corresponding string components which are relatively close in value indicate possible desirability of these string components in alternate samples. The spoken query samples and the alternate samples are then converted to text for searching the database for corresponding items.
In accordance with the present invention, a voice-enabled database and a non-voice-enabled database are searched with regard to plural possibilities for a spoken query. In the voice-enabled database, AVs are stored for plural anticipated pronunciations of the same database item for comparison to the AV of a spoken query. The phonemic string of a spoken query is used to create plural samples for searching a non-voice-enabled database having no AVs stored therein. In either case, the use of phonemes is used to convert from spoken words to concepts in that plural pronunciations for the same database item are considered for searching database content. The audio processing of the present invention therefore realizes an advantage over existing phoneme recognition systems which merely analyze phonemes for word recognition.
The audio interface can be accomplished using a technology similar to TII 66, or voice over IP, or other means. In FIG. 12, a voice-enabled shopping cart is used to access an existing database of items or catalogue and provide shoppers with a means for electronic shopping. In addition to traditional shopping cart functions (e.g., keeping track of a shopper's purchases, communicating with the catalogue, and sending information to a payment system), the voice-enabled shopping cart provides directives for audio interface systems to allow telephone callers to access the shop. Thus, an online shop is provided to support online customers using text, graphics, and audio interfaces. FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. 12, except a voice-optimized database is used. In FIG. 14, an AVV module 116 is provided to an existing database in lieu of a voice-enabled shopping cart to allow access to the database via spoken queries.
An exemplary voice transaction with an online shop is illustrated in FIGS. 15A and 15B. A user calls a TII 66 using an '800' number, for example (blocks 130 and 132). The TIM 110 plays a pre-recorded message to the user to provide a number of site options (e.g., "If you wish to browse for books, dial or say '1' . . . " If you wish to browse for computer equipment, dial or say '2' . . . " If you wish to browse for airline tickets, dial or say '3' . . . " If you wish to repeat this list, press the pound key or say 'repeat'"), as indicated in block 134. In the illustrated example, the caller selects to browse for books. The TIM 110 provides the user selection information to the DPM 112. If the caller stated "1" (block 136), as opposed to dialing the menu selection, the TIM 110 performs speech-to-text conversion (blocks 138 and 140).
The DPM uses an input script to provide the URL for the online bookshop and contacts the online bookshop via the IIM 114 (block 142). As indicated in FIG. 144, the online bookshop returns a Web-style home page which provides browser users with onscreen prompts to enter query information, such as the page 24 in FIG. 2. The DPM 112 provides an audio message to the user via the TIM 110 which instructs the user to state the name or author of a book, for example (block 146). The message can also instruct the user to state a search category (e.g., "subject" or "title" or "author" or "ISBN"). Thus, if the user states "subject", the DPM 112 is programmed via an input script to select the button 50 in the query page 24 (FIG. 2) via an electronic command. The online bookshop can then perform a context-sensitive search of subject matter in its database, as well as search only the subject fields 40 of database records 34 instead of every searchable item in each record.
After the user provides a spoken query such as "civil war" (blocks 148 and 149), the query is processed by a speech recognition module in the TIM 110. An audio vector 70 is determined for the spoken query using, for example, an AVV module 116 at the TII 66 (FIG. 4) or at a shopping cart in front of a non-voice-enabled database (FIG. 12) or at a voice-optimized database 62, for example, depending on the configuration of the voice-enabled shopping system of the present invention (block 150). The online bookshop searches its records for database items that are close to the spoken query and transmits a Web-type results page to the TII 66 (blocks 152 and 154).
The DPM 112 parses the results page to locate hidden tags if a voice-optimized shopping cart 64 is used; otherwise, the DPM 112 uses site-specific scripts to locate relevant information (e.g., titles of books having AVs which are close to the spoken query AV) to report to the caller (block 156). The DPM 112 can play a pre-recorded message to the caller when no books are located which are similar to the spoken query. Text corresponding to the title in the results page can be converted to speech by the TIM 110 to provide at least a few of the book titles listed in the results page to the caller (block 158). Another message can be generated by the DPM 112 to instruct the user to select from a menu of options such as placing selected book titles from the results page in a shopping cart 64 or 22 and commencing a payment transaction ("block 160). The DPM 112 has a number of scripts and messages for handling shopping cart and payment transactions, as well as the above-referenced browsing operations (blocks 162, 164 and 166).
With reference to FIGS. 16 and 17, a voice-enabled Internet interface is provided to access an online catalogue or other database using voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP). As shown in FIG. 16, a VOIP module 170 is connected between a DPM 112 and a computer 172 with a microphone 174. The configuration depicted in FIG. 16 supports online shopping access by telephone 108 and user computers 172 employing VOIP. FIG. 17 depicts a voice-enabled Internet interface for computers 172 and no telephones.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various modifications and substitutions have been suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. All such substitutions are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
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Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine developed a cancer model built in the fruit fly Drosophila, then used it to create a whole new approach to the discovery of cancer treatments. The result is an investigational compound AD80 that precisely targets multiple cancer genes. Tested in mouse models, the drug proved far more effective and less toxic than standard cancer drugs, which generally focus on a single target. This is the first time that whole-animal screening has been used in a rational, step-wise approach to polypharmacology. The study appears online in the journal Nature.
Conventional drug design embraces the "one gene, one drug, one disease" philosophy. Polypharmacology focuses on multi-target drugs and has emerged as a new paradigm in drug discovery. The hope is that AD80showing unparalleled effectiveness in fly and mouse modelswill be tested in Phase I clinical trials.
"We've come up with one drug that hits multiple targets through 'rational polypharmacology,' and our approach represents a new concept we believe will have great success in suppressing tumors," said Ross L. Cagan, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Dean at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and senior author on the study. "Scientists are beginning to recognize that single-target drugs can be problematic. I believe that, within the next five years, we'll see more drugs entering clinical trials that use rational polypharmacology as the basis of drug discovery."
The study represented an unusual collaboration between fly geneticists and medicinal chemists. Typically, scientists use human tumor cell lines to screen for single target anti-cancer drugs. In this project, Dr. Cagan, along with co-authors Tirtha Das, Ph.D, from Mount Sinai and their collaborators Arvin Dar, PhD and Kevan Shokat, Ph.D. from the University of California, San Francisco, used their fly cancer models to screen a large chemical library for novel drug leads that shrunk the tu
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- Articles tagged "hardwarezone"
ASUS Gives HWZ Members an Exclusive Hands-on Session with New Zenbooks
Over a weekend, ASUS and HardwareZone organized a cozy hands-on session that gave our forum members an exclusive look at the new Zenbook UX301 and Zenbook UX302 notebooks. Check out what took place at the local ASUS office!
HardwareZone Goes Wild for Its 15th Anniversary
HardwareZone celebrated its 15th anniversary in style at the Singapore Zoo this past weekend, with many games and prizes lined up for our loyal members. If you weren't around, hit the link to find out what you were missing!
A HWZ PlayTest Event - Smart AV for Your Home
A well set-up home entertainment system doesn't only perform well, but looks good too. With so many components to consider such as the television set, speakers, amplifier, set-top decks and networking gear, just how do you go about deciding what to get and managing all of them? HardwareZone teamed up with Home & Decor, Mudian, ASUS, Panasonic and Yamaha to conduct a Smart Home AV PlayTest event to help our readers do just that. Find out what took place!
A HardwareZone PlayTest Event with Microsoft's Windows 8 - Demystifying the New OS
The new Windows 8 OS is sort of an enigma to some users, with its colorful smart tiles and dual environments. With plenty of new features and even a Windows 8 Store full of apps, we collaborated with Microsoft to bring forth a PlayTest event in an effort to provide usage guidance, tips and tricks to first timers, hands-on with the latest Windows 8 devices and have their queries of the new OS answered.
Kingston's Get Together with HardwareZone Members
Nearly 70 attendees from our HardwareZone community joined us for an afternoon with Kingston while we gave a presentation on PC tech trends and explore Kingston's products. Attendees also stood a chance to win great prizes! For those who couldn't make it, here are some highlights, with video.
A Guide to the New HardwareZone.com
You probably have noticed the all new refreshed HardwareZone.com by now. But do you truly know what has changed and all the new features it offers? We give you a walk-through of the most pertinent functions and features to fully utilize the new site. Read on!
A Call from the Past - 10 Years of Mobile Phone Development
Once again, we take a trip down memory lane as we take stock of mobile phone technologies that have made an impression in the past decade, from the turn of the century, to its evolved successors of today. Check out some of the biggest highlights over the decade, from 1998 to 2008!
Enjoying a Decade of Portable Entertainment
Portable digital entertainment has come a long way over the past decade. Take a good look at your portable media player and discover its evolution through the decade as we reminiscence its key developments and noteworthy implementations over the last ten years.
The Notebooks of Yore - Portable Past Meets Future
Your notebooks haven't always been that slim, lightweight, 1.3kg beauty that you're used to carrying around. Join us for a time warp as we take a trip back in time when portable computers of yore weighed in at a 'mere' 10.7kg.
From a Gigabyte to a Terabyte - 10 Years of Storage Development
Remember the days when one gigabyte seemed like all the storage space you'll ever need? Now, 500GB hard drives are commonplace and one terabyte hard drives are no longer head turners. Join us as we take a look back at the last ten years in storage development.
- Huawei unveils 5.2-inch Honor 7, comes with 20MP phase-detection rear camera
- Samsung Galaxy A8 leaked in hands-on video, could be its thinnest phone yet
- This is how Google checks for lags on Android and Chrome OS devices
- Kawaii! Brother launches special edition Hello Kitty electronic labeler
- Rumor: Patent for an EF/EF-S adaptor hints to a Canon full-frame mirrorless camera
- First batch of Steam Machines pre-orders are sold out
- Venus Optics has just produced the World's widest macro lens, the Laowa 15mm f/4
- Facebook is watching you more closely than you think


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Bug Murderers Assault Alaska! (with some time-lapse)
View Single Post
Dorkus Malorkus
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Reno, NV
Oddometer: 1,825
And finally, the end of Day 1
Ok, I warned y'all that I was going to post so many pictures that you would want to puke. The pictures start NOW!
CDN Hwy 99 is a great road - well paved, and deserted. We stayed on Hwy 99 until it junctioned with Hwy 97 to 100 Mile House where we spent our first night.
Now, for me, this is the farthest north I'd ever been, and it was all "ooh" and "ahh". "Wow, look at the snow-capped mountains!". Little was I to know how this would pale with what was in store for us.
Ok, hang on for some touristy shots!
Ok, it starts like this:
Yes, it is as deserted as it appears.
There was LOTs of stopping for pics
Ok, being an Arizona boy, I saw this river on the left and thought "Huh, it must have just rained, the wash is full!" But I guess washes that always have water in them are called "rivers"
Yeah, yeah, more scenary shots. I warned ya!
Ok, a scenary shot with a bike in it. Are you happy now?
The aftermath of Forrest doing some donuts. It was afterwards that he realized where he was and was just agog at the scenary.
Squid heaven.
Lot's of these one-lane bridges on Hwy 99!
A gratuitous shot of the Mighty KTM 640 Adventure
Just in case you think I'm lying...
I just like this picture. No comment.
513 miles from Portland. Notice that it's dark, just like you'd expect.
One cool thing was, the farther north you got, the steeper the hills.
Just in case you think I'm lying
With Forrest around, these girls were not safe.
Yes, this is as steep as it looks. I don't recall any guard rails, either.
The beginning of Canadian gas price sticker shock. Ultimately I paid up to the equivelent of about $6.50 a gallon. Mostly is was around $5.50 a gallon. Canada to US $ was practially 1 to 1.
Our campsite at 100 Mile House and the end of the 1st day. Notice the cute little yellow tent on the left. More on that, later
Where am I now?
Stooges Eat Baja Surf-n-Turf
Bug Murderers Assault South America
Bug Murderers Assault Alaska
Stooges Assault Baja
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A woman who was about to board a bus to New York City in Chinatown was sexually assaulted and robbed early Thursday morning in an alley, sources say.
MPD: Woman sexually assaulted near TenleytownComment
A woman was sexually assaulted near Tenleytown late Tuesday. Police are looking for a tall Hispanic man in his thirties with tattoos on both arms.
Eduardo Requejo charged with touching 7-year-old girlComment
A longtime Fairfax County swim instructor was arrested Monday on allegations that he inappropriately touched a 7-year-old girl several times.
Woman sexually assaulted in Northeast D.C.Comment
Police say they are looking for two men who sexually assaulted a woman Saturday in Northeast D.C.
7-year-old attacked: Police in Upper Marlboro continue searchComment
The image being passed out by police of the older white man with a salt and pepper goatee and tongue piercing was created based on the description of the 7-year-old girl who was brutally attacked on this path off Heathermore Boulevard in Marlton two Saturdays ago.
Kevin Ray sentenced to life plus 220 yearsComment
A man described by a judge as a "citizen's worst nightmare" who was convicted of home invasions, burglaries and forced sex acts upon women was sentenced to life behind bars plus 220 years in Montgomery County.
Three charged in sex assault, robbery of woman in AlexandriaComment
Fairfax County detectives say that the morning of June 20, the victim was staying at a hotel on the 5700 block of Van Dorn Street, in Alexandria for the purposes of online solicitation of adult services when three suspects forcibly entered the victim's hotel room. One brandished a handgun.
MPD investigation of handling of sex assaults: More training neededComment
A new report on the District of Columbia police department's handling of sexual assault investigations recommends expanded training for officers and the appointment of an outside expert.
Kedrick Evans charged with sexual assault, impersonating FBI agentComment
Fairfax County Police say that 48-year-old Kedrick Evans has been charged with abduction, sexual battery and impersonating a law enforcement officer in the series of incidents, which officials say date back to May.
Girl sexually assaulted at gunpoint in Upper MarlboroComment
Police continue to search for a man who allegedly sexually assaulted a 7-year-old girl near Upper Marlboro Saturday afternoon. Now the victim and her mother are speaking out.
Paul Mannina killed himself with razor blade, sources tell PostComment
Paul Mannina, the Department of Labor attorney accused of sexually assaulting and attacking a colleague in her D.C. home, killed himself inside a D.C. jail cell by cutting himself with a razor, the Washington Post says.
USNA midshipmen charged with sex assault, according to official statementComment
Three midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy are facing charges of sexual misconduct and making false statements in connection with the sexual assault of a third-year midshipman who says she was passed out when the men assaulted her.
Naval Academy football sexual assault victim speaks outComment
The female Naval Academy student who says she was raped by three Midshipmen football players at an off-campus party says that the school hasn't taken her claims seriously and that she fears retaliation, WJZ-TV reports.
Paul Mannina dies inside D.C. jailComment
Paul Mannina, the man accused of beating, macing and sexually assaulting a Department of Labor colleague inside her Northwest D.C. home, died inside a District of Columbia jail Tuesday, officials say.
Naval Academy sexual abuse case: Superintendent to move on caseComment
The U.S. Naval Academy's superintendent has decided to move ahead with a case in which a female midshipman accuses football players of sexually assaulting her after she was passed out from a night of drinking, the school announced Monday.
Paul Mannina, Labor Department attorney, appears in courtComment
New details have emerged about the Department of Labor attorney accused of assaulting a co-worker at her Northwest home.
Naval Academy sexual assault suspects face Article 32 hearingComment
The military equivalent of a preliminary hearing will be held in connection to the alleged sexual assault of a female Naval Academy student by three Midshipmen football players, Navy Times reports.
Baltimore boarding school sex assaultComment
Police are investigating a report that student at a Baltimore boarding school was sexually assaulted by fellow students in a dormitory.
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FreeGamia Star Hour 2 HD 1.0
Second part of the wonderful logic game. Christmas style and new logic idea. Help to the little penguin collect all gift boxes and put them under the christmas tree without fall in the ice-hole. Many fascinating episodes with pleasant music and high quality graphics. The christmas adventure is waiting You. It is Your Star Hour 2!
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FreeGamia Star Hour HD 1.0
During high tide the Starfish found herself on the shore. Help her get to the water. You can collect the cold drops which increase maximum number of steps you can do. Whereas hot drops can decrease maximum number of steps you can do. So many different pathes but only one is correct. So many fascinating episodes with pleasant music. Starfish waiting You! It is Your Star Hour!
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FreeGamia Flylife 1.0
Dive into the fascinating but dangerous life of a butterfly. Her fate is in your hands. Try to collect as many daisies, to make her life more enjoyable. In the game you will find: 4 species of butterflies, 2 difficulty levels, 4 "accidentally" generated by the locations, easy control and a pleasant atmosphere.
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FreeGamia Core By Zip 1.0
CoreByZip is an addictive platform game where you have to pass through many different levels, avoiding traps and collecting as many crystals as possible. Truly a fascinating game, so be sure to spread the word. Good luck to all!
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FreeGamia Dream Dream Team 1.0
Two brothers made their first game and it turned out to be quite interesting. Like all creative folks, they couldn't just stop there. They thought and decided that their true calling was Victory in Gamiron. The girl still will join them as the composer. Besides the main game there are also Easter eggs. Play on a synthesizer, get in tune with the programmers who created two great games with many more to come.
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FreeGamia Hungry Smile 1.0
Once a greedy smiley decided to eat apples, and tries to collect all of them. You will help him accomplish the goal in this dynamic game with its many colorful levels. Good luck!
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FreeGamia Tankzors 1.0
At some point or another, almost every gamer plays Tankzors, a great game for children and adults alike. Now "Tankzors" is back, and it can be played on your computer! Over many levels you will learn how to get the most action from your tank. Good luck!
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Animated Captures Maker 2.1.18
Animated Captures Maker is a software tool to make presentations and tutorials about using software. You can capture screen in many ways, including full screen capture, region capture, active window capture, object capture. Whatever you can see on your screen, Animated Captures Maker will record easily and fastest in animated GIF format. With created tutorials you can advertise your software or answer questions about the use your program visually
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FreeGamia Desert Bird 1.0
Challenge yourself in the game Desert Bird, a "runner" game. You play for the Bird, which should clear out all the pipes. Score as many points as possible and brag to your friends! Can you beat all the records? Enjoy!
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FreeGamia Fly Ball 1.0
Fly Ball, the sequel to "Ball Running" is an interesting game with many exciting levels. After clearing all obstacles, the hero, a ball, still must find his way out!
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FreeGamia Arkanoid 2013 1.0
Fly Ball, the sequel to "Ball Running" is an interesting game with many exciting levels. After clearing all obstacles, the hero, a ball, still must find his way out!
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FreeGamia Running Ball 1.0
Running Ball is an interesting game with many exciting levels. Direct a ball through a labyrinth of evil skulls and dangerous bombs while collecting all the coins in order to pass through the door. At your disposal is a gun, firing meteor balls, and of course whatever courage you can muster. Collect power-ups to score the most points. After passing all the obstacles, the hero will find the way!
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AnyMP4 Mac Video Converter Platinum 6.2.62
AnyMP4 Mac Video Converter is the professional Video Converting software, which can assist Mac users convert any video to MOV, M4V, MP4, MTS, M2TS, TS, 3GP and 3D video formats formats like MP4 3D, MKV 3D, TS 3D, AVI 3D, FLV 3D and so on. And this software allows you to enjoy these output files on many portable devices like iPad Air, iPhone 6/6 Plus/5S/5C, iPad Air, Samsung Note 4/S6, HTS M8 and others. Besides, this Video Converter for Mac allows you to customize the video effect as you like. Key features: 1. Convert almost all popular video to 3D format on Mac AnyMP4 Mac Video Converter Platinum allows you to convert any video to 2D/ 3D video with great high quality. Also you can choose your favorite 3D mode and enjoy it on the 3D player with your friends. And it has five 3D modes for you to choose, including Anaglyph (Red/cyan), Side By Side (Full), Side by Side (Half-Width), Top and Bottom (Full) and Top and Bottom (Half-Height). 2. Convert video/audio to your needed format This software e ...
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PlayPad Media Player Free 2.01
PlayPad is a free digital media player program for Windows. Playing your videos and music on a computer has never been easier. Play mp3, wav, music or any other audio and create playlists. Track and playlist features include shuffle and repeat. Supports a number of other file formats including vox, gsm, real audio, au, aif, flac, ogg and many more. Import previously compiled playlists or complete directories of audio files.
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There's more to Halloween than candy and slutty costumes.
You're not celebrating Halloween to the fullest if you're not scaring yourself.
I'm a "kill two birds with one stone"-kind of guy. So this Halloween, why not kill two birds with one stone by having sex somewhere scary? Might as well scare yourself while doing the thing you love most. Makes sense to me!
To help you have some scary Halloween sex, here now are the TOP 10 Scariest Places To Have Halloween Sex. Continue Reading


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This 4-CD release brings together some of Bach's most famous Organ music. Chief among these is the Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV565.
Marieke Schneemann is by no means the first to play Paganini's finger-breaking Caprices on the flute, with all the necessary transpositions that are required. She is the first to do so on a 'period' flute!
Hendrik Andriessen (1892-1981) was one of the most important Dutch composers of the 20th century. One of his highly gifted children is avant-garde composer Louis Andriessen...
This vivid and inventive collection of Violin Conccertos can be considered the first true example of the genre later to be connected so strongly with Vivaldi!
Vivaldis Cellokonzerte blühen bei Francesco Galligioni und L'Arte dell'Arco in kräftigen Farben.


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Mission, Vision, Learning Outcomes, and Values
Our Mission
New Mexico Tech serves the state and beyond through education, research, and service, focused in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Involved faculty educate a diverse student body in rigorous and collaborative programs, preparing scientists and engineers for the future. Our innovative and interdisciplinary research expands the reach of humanity's knowledge and capabilities. Researchers, faculty, and students work together to solve real world problems. Our economic development and technology transfer benefit the economy of the state and create opportunities for success. We serve the public through applied research, professional development, and teacher education, benefitting the people of New Mexico.
Our Vision
New Mexico Tech is a center of higher learning at the forefront of education and research in advanced fields of science and technology. Members of this community are committed to a rigorous, yet caring, learning environment. Tech's goals are to promote intellectual growth in its students and provide skills to help them fulfill future leadership roles in our ever‐ changing society. Through excellence in education and research, Tech seeks to create an enriched and economically stronger society for the citizens of New Mexico, the nation, and the world. The entire New Mexico tech community is committed to the success of our students, who are the heart of our efforts.
Institutional Values
New Mexico Tech is a community of people who are guided by certain values as they perform their professional tasks and develop initiatives. More than operating procedures as they are fundamental to our endeavors, our institutional values are: creativity, excellence, integrity, collegiality and citizenship, service, leadership, and economic prosperity and technological development.
Creativity is integral in virtually all endeavors. It calls for curiosity, adaptability, resourcefulness, and requires imagination, vision, and diligence. Whether the task being performed is by a NMT carpenter, secretary, graduate student, or regent, our institution encourages, and expects, creativity. Creativity is demonstrated by faculty, staff, and administrators in our various student learning initiatives.
Excellence speaks for itself. New Mexico Tech is known for the high quality of its education and research but we aspire to an apex of excellence in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. At this level, excellence is rewarded at New Mexico Tech.
Integrity is honored as a fundamental value at New Mexico Tech. Dishonesty cheating, and plagiarism have no place in a respected institution of higher education. But real integrity goes further than these negatives; integrity means having the courage to defend the truth, to act fairly and honestly in all our endeavors, and to be responsible members of the community.
Collegiality and Citizenship
New Mexico Tech is a place where people care about each other and demonstrate social responsibility. That sense of caring and responsibility we call collegiality and citizenship. Demonstrating collegiality and citizenship means being open with others, sharing with them, and collaborating with them for the good of the Institution. Practicing collegiality and citizenship also means mentoring: acting as a guide and advisor to a colleague, a student, an associate, a coworker.
Collegiality and citizenship includes caring about and contributing to the community—the campus community, the community of Socorro, the larger community of the State of New Mexico, and the global community. Collegiality and citizenship means valuing the diversity of race, gender, ethnicity, and nationality that creates our community.
As a community of learners, New Mexico Tech also acknowledges a responsibility to serving society, especially since learning helps meet not only individual needs, but also those of the larger community. Service is a source of motivation and inspiration to those who practice it, reflecting both a capacity for relating to others, as well as deep‐level concern for the quality of human life. The social benefits of service are further fulfilled through the expansion of knowledge by teaching, scientific investigation, technology transfer, economic development, and outreach programs.
New Mexico Tech has been, is, and will continue to be at the forefront of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and communication research, design, and education. Creating an open environment that also develops and fosters tomorrow's leaders is of paramount importance. Leadership involves motivational methods that influence others to share a vision of our university's mission and outcomes – toward a common understanding of where New Mexico Tech is now and where it is heading and toward an increased commitment to a continuous achievement of those visionary ends. By inspiring, engaging, enabling, and empowering others throughout the university, members at all levels and in the variety of disciplines, areas, and programs can take on leadership roles. Strong, effective leadership is best exemplified not through methods of control, but through positive influence.
Commitment to Economic Prosperity and Technological Development
New Mexico Tech promotes regional and state economic prosperity and technology development through its academic and resources. In addition to preparing the workforce of tomorrow through academic rigor and practical research experience, the university provides strategic support, technical assistance, technology transfer, and development and implementation of bold new research initiatives, enabling technologies and training programs to bolster both public and private sector success and competitiveness. Furthermore, New Mexico Tech is committed to integrating diversity into all facets of its work since the intrinsic value of understanding and respecting similarities and differences among all groups is central to fully achieving the university's comprehensive academic, research, and outreach goals and objectives.
Institute-Wide Student Learning Outcomes
New Mexico Tech bases its curricula and its co‐curricular activities on the following student learning outcomes; we continuously assess the level of achievement our students demonstrate in these outcomes. NMT students will:
1. learn to reason well and to evaluate and apply information;
2. develop analytical and quantitative skills for competence in science and math;
3. communicate to different audiences in multiple forms;
4. exercise their role as members of diverse societies and cultures;
5. learn responsible values and ethics for their professional lives;
6. gain expertise in their chosen field of study.


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In a prior Phase II clinical trial, phenoxodiol was tested in combination with either cisplatin or paclitaxel. Patients with late stage ovarian cancer that had become refractory to platinum or paclitaxel therapy, following multiple courses of chemotherapy, were treated with phenoxodiol and cisplatin or phenoxodiol and paclitaxel, respectively. Of 21 patients in the cisplatin arm there were six partial responders, nine patients with stabilised disease and six patients who had disease progression; of 19 in the paclitaxel arm, there was one complete responder, two partial responders, eleven with stabilised disease and five patients who had disease progression. There were few side effects associated with phenoxodiol, but, as with any investigational drug, there is a possibility of unexpected side effects.
Professor Ignace Vergote, the Principal Investigator at the Leuven site was Chairman of the EORTC Gynaecologic Cancer Group from 1997 to 2003, and still chairs the Protocol Committee of that group. He is currently the President of the International Cancer Society and Immediate Past-President of the European Society of Gynaecologic Oncology.
Women who are interested in participating in the OVATURE trial, or who simply wish to learn more about this study, should visit http://www.OVATUREtrial.com or visit http://clinicaltrials.gov/ (type OVATURE in the search box).
About phenoxodiol: Phenoxodiol is being developed as a therapy for
late- stage, chemo-resistant prostate, ovarian and cervical cancers.
Phenoxodiol is an investigational drug and, as such, is not commercially
available. It is a novel-acting drug that inhibits key pro-survival
signalling pathways operating via sphingosine-1-phosphate and Akt.
Inhibition of these pathways leads to prevention of phosphorylation of ke
|SOURCE Novogen Limited
Copyright©2007 PR Newswire.
All rights reserved


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A window security intercom system, using high security barrier glass, is essential for ticket booths at movie theaters, stations, stadiums, theme parks, and service windows at banks or consulates. The Aiphone Security Window System Set is the first in the industry to use an acoustic tube with a noise canceling microphone. It produce a clear sound with the right volume to enable smooth communication between both sides. The Aiphone ISE-100 is a motion sensor used with the IM Series Security Window System. This product is part of the Aiphone Total Security Window System, the IM-1, or the ISE-100 can be purchased separately here.Check out the Aiphone PDF files under the "Resources" tab above for more information. If you have any questions, call one of our specialists at 800-221-8227. Click "Add to Cart" to purchase the ISE-100 Proximity Sensor now.
- Acoustic tube system provides clear voice communication
- No holes in security glass required for installation
- The thin acoustic tube does not obstruct the field of vision
- Wide frequency ranges ensures clear sound quality at an optimum volume
- Noise canceling technology reduces unwanted background interference
- Gooseneck type microphone is flexible and can be adjusted to any desired position
- Uses voice-actuated communication system - Frees hands to operate cash register!
- When the Operation Unit is put in standby, the sound from public side can be heard at reduced volume
- Motion detector can automatically activate communication when a customer is present
- Paging function can be used for calling people in waiting room
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Home page design for PFM.
Idea is to use this block system to help transitions between devices, changing down from four to three to two to one column depending on device.
The home page will take content from other pages, updating fairly regularly (ie. showing latest news story, a random 'facility' profile and a random member profile).
Ready to go to development but want to make sure it works from a ux perspective. Any tips, suggestions, comments, encouragement etc. welcome – please do comment!
See full layout attachment.
More Owen Jones
keyboard shortcuts: ← previous shot → next shot L or F like Z toggle zoom


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Man arrested with gun in road-rage incident
A Memphis man has been arrested for a road-rage incident in the Cordova area after he allegedly pulled a pistol on another man who blew his horn.
John Brenner, 35, has been charged with aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon. He is being held on $10,000 bond.
According to police, the incident happened about 4:20 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Cordova and Appling. Brenner was at the four-way stop when the victim, driving a FedEx truck, pulled up behind him. After Brenner sat there for a while, the victim hit the horn twice, he told police. Brenner then began to pull through the intersection, but suddenly stopped, police said.
Brenner then got out of his vehicle, walked up to the FedEx truck and pointed a Ruger pistol at the victim's face, police said. Brenner threatened to "blow your (expletive) head off," then struck the victim with the gun, police said.
The victim then grabbed Brenner and forced the gun out of his hands. Brenner then picked up the gun and walked back to his car, police said. He then walked to his trunk, grabbed a magazine and loaded the weapon, police said. He moved back to the FedEx truck and took a swing at the victim, but missed. He continued yelling at the victim until another man in Brenner's car convinced him to leave.
Brenner and the other man fled, but a police broadcast had already gone out. An officer quickly spotted the car at Appling and Stage, then pulled him over. Brenner pulled out an old Emergency Medical Services badge, but that didn't fool the cop. The officer found the gun under the driver's seat, and Brenner was arrested.
This wasn't the first time Brenner tried to flash that badge with the police. He was arrested in July 2012 for doing it at R.P. Tracks, a bar near the University of Memphis. While police were at the pub talking to a possible domestic-assault victim, Brenner — apparently drunk — walked up and sat down next to the woman, whom he didn't know. He asked police what was going on, flashed the badge and told police he was a sheriff's deputy. Police thanked him for his interest, but then Brenner turned belligerent, according to an affidavit. He acted as if he was going to fight before a companion dragged him away, with Brenner repeatedly yelling, "I'm calling your bluff!"
He returned a few minutes later and was arrested. He has also been charged with DUI twice.
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Issaquah permit center changes hours
September 10, 2013
Customers should plan ahead for limited services in the city Permit Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 16-20, as staff members undergo training.
Permit Center staff will not be available to assist customers during that time. However, planners will be available, building inspections will still occur and customers can still drop off materials at the front counter.
Questions about the temporary change in service? Call the Development Services Department at 837-3100.
Marijuana dispensary plan in historic downtown draws fire
August 13, 2013
A medical marijuana dispensary looks to open in Olde Town and residents are raising their voices in protest.
The Peaceful Choice, a medical marijuana collective garden, submitted an application that was completed July 10 to open within the Issaquah Court Condominiums, a mixed-use building housing both residential and commercial units.
Robin Brewer, president of the Issaquah Court Condominiums, in the 100 block of First Place Northwest, said she is very concerned by an application making its way through the city that would allow for the dispensary to open its doors on the building's ground floor.
"When the city of Issaquah set up the zoning for this, they did not take into account that the library, train museum and senior center are all less than 1,000 feet from this proposed location and which fit the city's own definition of a community center," Brewer said.
City approves home-based firearms business
October 30, 2012
City planners approved a home-based firearms business in downtown Issaquah on Oct. 12, despite concerns from neighbors.
The municipal Development Services Department OK'd a permit for Michael Marinos, a longtime Issaquah resident, to open the business in the Olde Town neighborhood south of East Sunset Way.
Marinos created Bigg Dogg Firearms to offer federally licensed firearms transfers to customers purchasing weapons online. Customers could then stop at Marinos' home-based business to pick up the firearms.
The city code allows home-based businesses, and does not limit firearms businesses in Olde Town.
Only Marinos, as the licensee to handle firearms transfers, can complete the transactions, and he said he does not plan for firearms deliveries to occur when he is not at home. The conditions outlined in the permit also prevent ammunition sales at the business.
Crews rebuild downtown gas station
October 23, 2012
Expect the remade downtown Shell gas station and Jacksons convenience store to stand taller and cover more ground than the boxlike former structure after a monthslong overhaul concludes.
The planned store at Front Street and Sunset Way should feature a more modern, spacious layout and additional options. The planned façade includes sconces and stone accents. The gas station site is also in line to receive additional landscaping after construction concludes.
Crews started the major overhaul Sept. 11, a day after the business closed to customers.
Uncertainty clouds debate over marijuana legalization measure, Initiative 502
September 25, 2012
GreenLink Collective, a medical marijuana operation along Northwest Gilman Boulevard, reshaped attitudes and policies about marijuana in Issaquah last year, as patients and officials engaged in a long debate about access to a drug banned under federal law.
In November, Washington voters could further redraw the battle lines in the marijuana debate. Initiative 502 aims to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana for recreational users. The proposal goes a step beyond a 1998 measure to legalize medical marijuana in Washington and could set a national precedent.
The initiative calls for sales at state-licensed stores of up to 1 ounce of marijuana — grown by state-licensed farmers. Marijuana-related tax revenue could pump as much as $1.9 billion into state coffers, if the federal government does not intervene.
Shootings, election politics contribute to rise in gun sales
September 4, 2012
Police said recent mass shootings, and a superheated presidential election campaign, contributed to a rise in handgun-license requests to local law enforcement agencies.
Neighbors protest proposed firearms home business
August 28, 2012
Concerns about safety and traffic led downtown Issaquah residents to join forces to stop the city from approving a permit for a home-based firearms business.
The municipal Development Services Department is considering a proposal from Michael Marinos, a longtime Issaquah resident, to open the business in the Olde Town neighborhood south of East Sunset Way.
Marinos created Bigg Dogg Firearms to offer federally licensed firearms transfers to customers purchasing weapons online. Customers could then stop at Marinos' home-based business to pick up the firearms.
City considers permit for medical marijuana garden
July 10, 2012
City planners could allow a medical marijuana collective garden in Issaquah, months after another medical marijuana operation opened to patients.
The nonprofit medical marijuana operation Eastside Greenlight Collective Garden applied for a city permit to open in a commercial building at 230 N.E. Juniper St. — a mixed-use area near the Lakeside Industries quarry north of Interstate 90.
The marijuana operation does not intend to grow marijuana in the space. The applicant proposed minimal change to the unit, if any is needed.
City Council approves $1 million adjustment in municipal budget
June 12, 2012
The latest step in a broad reorganization of City Hall included a $1 million drop in the municipal budget, as the City Council redirected spending after a round of employee layoffs in some departments and hires elsewhere.
The midyear budget reflected a change in strategy at City Hall, as officials retool functions to reflect recommendations in a study conducted last year by a Seattle consultant.
Officials already bundled municipal departments into a Development Services Department — a super-agency meant to streamline planning and building functions — and rolled out a more muscular effort to attract and retain businesses.
The budget adjustment approved by the council May 21 shifted dollars among city accounts to achieve the decrease. The legislation is meant to address the changes in the city spending plan since the council adopted the original 2012 budget in December.
City combines planning, building functions to speed up permitting
April 3, 2012
Step is latest in big City Hall reshuffle
The reorganization of City Hall entered a more intense phase March 27, as officials announced a plan to bundle municipal departments into a Development Services Department — a super-agency meant to streamline planning and building functions.
The change is accompanied by a more muscular effort to attract and retain businesses. Leaders said the Development Services Department is meant to smooth the process to apply for a permit to construct a project or open a business in Issaquah.
The centerpiece is a plan to offer applicants the option to pay additional fees to expedite the evaluation a project receives. The setup is akin to Disney's Fastpass. Only, rather than theme park guests standing in line for shorter stretches, permit applicants choose a speedier permitting process.