Abstract: The present teaching relates to matching users with items. In one example, information related to one or more users is obtained from one or more sources including an online source. The information is transformed into one or more psychological needs of each user. One or more items are obtained. Each item is associated with abilities to satisfy one or more psychological needs. The one or more users are matched with the one or more items based on the users' psychological needs and the items' abilities to satisfy psychological needs to generate a matching result. The matching result is provided.

Abstract: The present teaching relates to obtaining information from a user via a bot. In one example, a request is obtained to collect information in connection with a user. A statement is generated to be expressed to the user for facilitating a conversation between the user and the bot based on the request. Information is received in connection with the user and collected during the conversation. The collected information characterizes the user in a plurality of modalities. The collected information is automatically analyzed in the plurality of modalities to obtain an assessment of one or more human traits of the user. A plurality of result summaries are generated based on the assessment. The plurality of result summaries are provided in response to the request.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for managing development of information extraction rules. One or more documents are opened for extraction. An interface is provided to create a label and thereupon label a portion of the document. The created label is stored, and an extractor is developed based on the labeling. A test interface is provided for the extractor, and results of a test conducted through the test interface are displayed. The extractor is exported. In accordance with at least one embodiment, developers are presented with eased automated guidance to write extractors, which thereby reduces an overall manual effort involved in extractor development. Generally, a focused, tutorial-type environment serves as a guide based on previously developed best practices.

Abstract: A text stream having one or more sentences is received, and any number of the one or more sentences are parsed to determine corresponding subject-verb-object (SVO) triples. Each sentence whose corresponding SVO triple contains an identified verb is selected, based on the identified verb, or a lemma of the identified verb, matching a predefined verb. A subject of each selected sentence is identified as an aspect candidate. Each identified aspect candidate is tokenized and normalized. One or more n-grams are generated for each tokenized and normalized aspect candidate. For each generated n-gram, a frequency at which the n-gram is generated is determined. A number of the generated n-grams are selected as aspects based on the frequency with which the number of n-grams are generated.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to facilitating construction of concepts from a task specification. A method includes receiving, from a user via a user interface, a task specification in natural language form. The method also includes parsing the task specification into a plurality of components, and searching a database for an existing concept having a pattern that approximates at least a portion of the plurality of components. The concept includes semantic meanings that are representable by textual patterns. The method further includes identifying any components of the plurality of components that are not included in the existing concept, and building a new concept that combines the existing concept and the components of the plurality of components that are not included in the existing concept.

Abstract: An embodiment provides methods and arrangements for visualizing and exploring natural-language text. In an embodiment, natural language text is received, and this is parsed to form a directed graph comprising a plurality of nodes. The directed graph is converted to an outline graph comprising core nodes and layer nodes. The outline graph is simplified, and there is created, for display on a user interface, an interactive visual representation of the simplified outline graph. Other variants and embodiments are broadly contemplated herein.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to assessing characteristics of a message and a message recipient. A trust model is established to take into account a set of trust antecedents, including characteristics of the messages and properties of the recipients, a set of action motivations, and their contribution to the action-based trust measurement. The assessment(s) is utilized to produce a tangible trust measurement that is employed to gauge the recipient's perception of credibility towards the received message.

Abstract: The present teaching relates to obtaining information from a user via a bot. In one example, a request is obtained to collect information in connection with a user. A statement is generated to be expressed to the user for facilitating a conversation between the user and the bot based on the request. Information is received in connection with the user and collected during the conversation. The collected information characterizes the user in a plurality of modalities. The collected information is automatically analyzed in the plurality of modalities to obtain an assessment of one or more human traits of the user. A plurality of result summaries are generated based on the assessment. The plurality of result summaries are provided in response to the request.

Abstract: An embodiment provides methods and arrangements for visualizing and exploring natural-language text. In an embodiment, natural language text is received, and this is parsed to form a directed graph comprising a plurality of nodes. The directed graph is converted to an outline graph comprising core nodes and layer nodes. The outline graph is simplified, and there is created, for display on a user interface, an interactive visual representation of the simplified outline graph. Other variants and embodiments are broadly contemplated herein.

Abstract: The present teaching relates to matching users with items. In one example, information related to one or more users is obtained from one or more sources including an online source. The information is transformed into one or more psychological needs of each user. One or more items are obtained. Each item is associated with abilities to satisfy one or more psychological needs. The one or more users are matched with the one or more items based on the users' psychological needs and the items' abilities to satisfy psychological needs to generate a matching result. The matching result is provided.

Abstract: The present teaching relates to personifying a brand. In one example, information associated with a brand is received. Based on the received information, data related to the brand is retrieved. The data includes information indicative of desired market impression associated with the brand. The data is transformed to derive at least one brand persona that characterizes the brand based on the information.

Abstract: The present teaching relates to characterizing a user's reputation. In one example, information related to a plurality of users is obtained from one or more sources. The information is obtained with respect to at least one type of online activity. The information is transformed into one or more human traits of the plurality of users. Each human trait for each of the plurality of users is estimated based at least partially on the information related to the user. Each human trait is associated with at least one score. A reputation of a user included in the plurality users is estimated with respect to the user's one or more human traits, based on at least one score associated with each of one or more human traits of the user and at least one score associated with each of the one or more human traits of the plurality of users.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to interacting with a collection of user opinion documents associated with a topic. One aspect includes obtaining opinion data for the collection of opinion documents associated with the topic. The opinion data includes one or more features discussed in the opinion documents, one or more key phrases included in each feature, one or more text snippets included in each feature, and at least one sentiment expressed in each text snippet. A visual interface is provided in which a feature summary view of the opinion documents acts a top level of a navigational hierarchy. The visual interface allows user navigation from the top level to a lower level of the navigational hierarchy in order to display more details about a text snippet, as compared to the feature summary view, while continuing to provide the feature summary view.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for managing development of information extraction rules. One or more documents are opened for extraction. An interface is provided to create a label and thereupon label a portion of the document. The created label is stored, and an extractor is developed based on the labeling. A test interface is provided for the extractor, and results of a test conducted through the test interface are displayed. The extractor is exported. In accordance with at least one embodiment, developers are presented with eased automated guidance to write extractors, which thereby reduces an overall manual effort involved in extractor development. Generally, a focused, tutorial-type environment serves as a guide based on previously developed best practices.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for managing development of information extraction rules. One or more documents are opened for extraction. An interface is provided to create a label and thereupon label a portion of the document. The created label is stored, and an extractor is developed based on the labeling. A test interface is provided for the extractor, and results of a test conducted through the test interface are displayed. The extractor is exported. In accordance with at least one embodiment, developers are presented with eased automated guidance to write extractors, which thereby reduces an overall manual effort involved in extractor development. Generally, a focused, tutorial-type environment serves as a guide based on previously developed best practices.

Abstract: A text stream having one or more sentences is received, and any number of the one or more sentences are parsed to determine corresponding subject-verb-object (SVO) triples. Each sentence whose corresponding SVO triple contains an identified verb is selected, based on the identified verb, or a lemma of the identified verb, matching a predefined verb. A subject of each selected sentence is identified as an aspect candidate. Each identified aspect candidate is tokenized and normalized. One or more n-grams are generated for each tokenized and normalized aspect candidate. For each generated n-gram, a frequency at which the n-gram is generated is determined. A number of the generated n-grams are selected as aspects based on the frequency with which the number of n-grams are generated.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to assessing characteristics of a message and a message recipient. A trust model is established to take into account a set of trust antecedents, including characteristics of the messages and properties of the recipients, a set of action motivations, and their contribution to the action-based trust measurement. The assessment(s) is utilized to produce a tangible trust measurement that is employed to gauge the recipient's perception of credibility towards the received message.

Abstract: A text stream having one or more sentences is received, and any number of the one or more sentences are parsed to determine corresponding subject-verb-object (SVO) triples. Each sentence whose corresponding SVO triple contains an identified verb is selected, based on the identified verb, or a lemma of the identified verb, matching a predefined verb. A subject of each selected sentence is identified as an aspect candidate. Each identified aspect candidate is tokenized and normalized. One or more n-grams are generated for each tokenized and normalized aspect candidate. For each generated n-gram, a frequency at which the n-gram is generated is determined. A number of the generated n-grams are selected as aspects based on the frequency with which the number of n-grams are generated.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to facilitating construction of concepts from a task specification. A method includes receiving, from a user via a user interface, a task specification in natural language form. The method also includes parsing the task specification into a plurality of components, and searching a database for an existing concept having a pattern that approximates at least a portion of the plurality of components. The concept includes semantic meanings that are representable by textual patterns. The method further includes identifying any components of the plurality of components that are not included in the existing concept, and building a new concept that combines the existing concept and the components of the plurality of components that are not included in the existing concept.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to interacting with a collection of user opinion documents associated with a topic. One aspect includes obtaining opinion data for the collection of opinion documents associated with the topic. The opinion data includes one or more features discussed in the opinion documents, one or more key phrases included in each feature, one or more text snippets included in each feature, and at least one sentiment expressed in each text snippet. A visual interface is provided in which a feature summary view of the opinion documents acts a top level of a navigational hierarchy. The visual interface allows user navigation from the top level to a lower level of the navigational hierarchy in order to display more details about a text snippet, as compared to the feature summary view, while continuing to provide the feature summary view.