Abstract: A method facilitates development of instructions in a precise syntax, such as built-in functions of a computational system such as a spreadsheet application, using natural language (NL) input. A user may enter NL input in a workspace. An NL processing system may process the NL input to generate instruction(s) in a precise syntax that corresponds to the NL input. The instruction(s) in the precise syntax then may be included in the workspace.

Abstract: A method facilitates development of instructions in a precise syntax, such as built-in functions of a computational system such as a spreadsheet application, using natural language (NL) input. A user may enter NL input in a workspace. An NL processing system may process the NL input to generate instruction(s) in a precise syntax that corresponds to the NL input. The instruction(s) in the precise syntax then may be included in the workspace.

Abstract: A visual display that changes with time and/or an audio signal is rendered while a task is being completed by a computing device (e.g., performing a computation, retrieving information, powering up a device, starting a computer application, etc.). The visual display and/or audio signal are configured to engage the user in order to mitigate latency of the task. Because the user is being engaged by the visual display and/or audio signal, the user may be less likely to notice and/or be bothered by the latency.

Abstract: A method facilitates development of instructions in a precise syntax, such as built-in functions of a computational system such as a spreadsheet application, using natural language (NL) input. A user may enter NL input in a workspace. An NL processing system may process the NL input to generate instruction(s) in a precise syntax that corresponds to the NL input. The instruction(s) in the precise syntax then may be included in the workspace.

Abstract: User input in an imprecise syntax (e.g., expressed using natural language and/or informal terminology) is received, the user input including a query requesting information determinable by a formula and one or more indications of parameter values corresponding to the formula. The user input is analyzed to determine the formula with the one or more parameter values integrated into the formula. An answer to the query is calculated using the determined formula, and electronic display information is generated that, when displayed by a display device, renders an indication of the answer.

Abstract: A method facilitates development of instructions in a precise syntax, such as built-in functions of a computational system such as a spreadsheet application, using natural language (NL) input. A user may enter NL input in a workspace. An NL processing system may process the NL input to generate instruction(s) in a precise syntax that corresponds to the NL input. The instruction(s) in the precise syntax then may be included in the workspace.

Abstract: A compatibility of a computational analysis and a data set is automatically determined by comparing data set attribute data with attribute data of the computational analysis. Other computational analyses may also be evaluated for compatibility with the data set. Compatible analyses may be performed on the data set, and selected views of the results may be presented. Selection of the analyses to be performed, the views, and/or the contents and format of the views may be determined based result data attributes and computational analysis attribute data as well as other considerations, such as resources required and multiplicity. As computational analysis attributes are based on a set of rules or statements determined from heuristics of respective computational analyses, evaluation of the compatibility between various analyses and the data set is accordingly determined based on the heuristic-based rules or statements. Computational analyses may include visualizations and heavyweight computational analyses.

Abstract: Content data items in a first electronic file that correspond to entities in a database comprising categorized entities are identified. Modified content data items of a second electronic file are generated, the modified content data items indicating how the content data items are to be interpreted by a natural language query answering system. Information in the second electronic file indicating how the content data items are to be interpreted by the natural language query answering system are modified in response to user input. The second electronic file is used by the natural language query answering system to facilitate analysis of a natural language query regarding content in the first electronic file. Results of the analysis using the natural language query answering system are output.

Abstract: A natural language query is received, and an answer to the natural language query is determined. A message is formatted such that the message includes the answer, and metadata corresponding to the answer, the metadata including information to enable construction, using the metadata, of a sentence that rephrases the query and recites the answer.

Abstract: A framing technique included in a set of framing techniques is applied to at least a portion of a target data set. When a result of the application of the framing technique meets a first condition, a typing technique included in a set of typing techniques is applied to the target data set. When a result of the application of the typing technique meets a second condition, a tokenization technique included in a set of tokenization techniques is applied to the target data set. When a result of the application of the tokenization technique meets a third condition, a parsing technique for the target data set is determined to include the framing technique, the typing technique and the tokenization technique. An indication of the parsing technique is generated.

Abstract: A method facilitates development of instructions in a precise syntax, such as software source code or built-in functions of a computational system, using natural language (NL) input. A user may enter NL input in a workspace. An NL processing system may process the NL input to generate instruction(s) in a precise syntax that corresponds to the NL input. The instruction(s) in the precise syntax then may be included in the workspace.

Abstract: A natural language query answering system includes an external data pre-processor configured to i) analyze a first data set, the first data set received via a communication network, to identify data in the first data set that corresponds to entities in a database comprising categorized entities, and ii) generate a second data set corresponding to the first data set and based on the analysis of the first data set, wherein the second data set includes information indicating how data in the second data set is to be interpreted by the natural language query answering system. The natural language query answering system is configured to retrieve data and/or process data from the second data set in response to natural language queries.

Abstract: In a method for determining an answer to a query expressed in an imprecise syntax, a formula for computing an answer to the query is determined. An answer is calculated using the formula, and the answer is then presented to the user.

Abstract: Natural language (NL) processing of NL commands is performed to determine one or more of (i) content to be included in a hypertext document, (ii) a layout for the hypertext document, or (iii) parameters corresponding to behavior of the hypertext document. Performing the NL processing includes: determining assumptions concerning one or both of (a) ambiguities associated with the NL commands or (b) information necessary for creating the hypertext document not specified by the NL commands. The assumptions correspond to the one or more of (i) content to be included in the hypertext document, (ii) the layout for the hypertext document, or (iii) the parameters corresponding to behavior of the hypertext document. Hypertext document code or data for displaying the hypertext document is generated based on the NL processing of the NL commands including the determined assumptions.

Abstract: A system and method facilitate the use of a multi-function computer for an examination. An application implementing the method receives a hash input from a user and, upon successful completion of the examination, displays a hash output. The hash output may be displayed as a visual hash. During the examination, the application or system monitors the multi-function computer to determine whether the user has activated, viewed, or launched any prohibited functions or applications on the multi-function computer. If the user views a prohibited function or application, the examination application does not display the hash output. The system and application implement various security measures to prevent spoofing or duplication of the hash output or tampering with the application.

Abstract: A subset of graphical display items, in a set of graphical display items stored in the one or more electronic storage devices, that have not previously been viewed by a user is determined. A graphical display item is selected from a subset of graphical display items. The graphical display item may be selected according to an order, or selected randomly. An initial display item and the selected graphical display item are electronically transmitted to a user computing device. The initial display item and the selected graphical display item are configured such that the selected graphical display item is displayed on a display device of the user computing device in response to the user selecting the initial display item when the initial display item is displayed on the display device.

Abstract: A compatibility of a computational analysis and a data set is automatically determined by comparing data set attribute data with attribute data of the computational analysis. Other computational analyzes may also be evaluated for compatibility with the data set. Compatible analyzes may be performed on the data set, and selected views of the results may be presented. Selection of the analyzes to be performed, the views, and/or the contents and format of the views may be determined based result data attributes and computational analysis attribute data as well as other considerations, such as resources required and multiplicity. As computational analysis attributes are based on a set of rules or statements determined from heuristics of respective computational analyzes, evaluation of the compatibility between various analyzes and the data set is accordingly determined based on the heuristic-based rules or statements. Computational analyzes may include visualizations and heavyweight computational analyzes.

Abstract: In a method of creating a natural language (NL) macro, a first term/phrase and a second term/phrase in an imprecise syntax are obtained, and an association between the first and the second terms/phrases is created. The association is stored as an NL macro. In a method of using an NL macro in an NL query, it is determined that an original NL query includes an NL macro, and the NL macro is replaced with its corresponding NL value to form a revised NL query. The revised NL query is processed to generate one or more answers.

Abstract: A word meaning or sense is determined in response to an actual user query in a system designed for computation, search, or other activities involving the processing of queries. Assumptions, which are attempts to disambiguate pieces of the user's query string, are generated. Generation of the assumptions is based on various heuristics and algorithms which are designed to disambiguate words which may connote multiple different entities, meanings, or senses given the context. Assumptions also may be ranked based on a set of criteria that does not require an elaborately constructed body of world knowledge to be created. A most likely assumption may be chosen for generating a machine-generated query and/or for generating query results.

Abstract: A user interface application is created to prompt a user for information and to generate a query to be submitted to a natural language (NL) query answering system. A first user is prompted to submit an NL query, and the NL query is received. The user interface application is generated using the NL query and so that the user interface application is configured to prompt the first user or a second user to provide information, receive the information, generate a computer-generated query based on the NL query and the received information, provide the computer-generated query to the NL query answering system, receive answer information from the NL query answering system in response to the computer-generated query, and cause at least some of the answer information to be displayed on a display device.