Abstract: A method for facilitating focused use of an email client includes entering an inbox pause mode and pausing display of at least some new email messages and email notifications while in the inbox pause mode. The method also includes detecting, while in the inbox pause mode, a selection by a user of a previously received email message that was received prior to entering the inbox pause mode. The method also includes displaying, while in the inbox pause mode, information about a subsequently received email message that is received subsequent to entering the inbox pause mode and that belongs to a conversation comprising the previously received email message.

Abstract: A method for facilitating focused use of an email client includes entering an inbox pause mode and pausing display of at least some new email messages and email notifications while in the inbox pause mode. The method also includes detecting, while in the inbox pause mode, a selection by a user of a previously received email message that was received prior to entering the inbox pause mode. The method also includes displaying, while in the inbox pause mode, information about a subsequently received email message that is received subsequent to entering the inbox pause mode and that belongs to a conversation comprising the previously received email message.

Abstract: A method for facilitating focused use of an email client includes entering an inbox pause mode and pausing display of at least some new email messages and email notifications while in the inbox pause mode. The method also includes detecting, while in the inbox pause mode, a selection by a user of a previously received email message that was received prior to entering the inbox pause mode. The method also includes displaying, while in the inbox pause mode, information about a subsequently received email message that is received subsequent to entering the inbox pause mode and that belongs to a conversation comprising the previously received email message.

Abstract: A method for facilitating focused use of an email client includes entering an inbox pause mode and pausing display of at least some new email messages and email notifications while in the inbox pause mode. The method also includes detecting, while in the inbox pause mode, a selection by a user of a previously received email message that was received prior to entering the inbox pause mode. The method also includes displaying, while in the inbox pause mode, information about a subsequently received email message that is received subsequent to entering the inbox pause mode and that belongs to a conversation comprising the previously received email message.

Abstract: A request can be received and a request reading level representation for the request can be inferred. In response to the request, the request reading level representation can be compared with one or more reading difficulty level representations for one or more response items. Also in response to the request, one or more indications of results of comparing the request reading level representation with one or more reading difficulty level representations for the one or more response items can be returned. The indication(s) may include a ranking of the response items. The ranking can be based at least in part on a request reading level representation for the query and reading difficulty level representations for the response items. The response item(s) may also be returned.

Abstract: A request can be received and a request reading level representation for the request can be inferred. In response to the request, the request reading level representation can be compared with one or more reading difficulty level representations for one or more response items. Also in response to the request, one or more indications of results of comparing the request reading level representation with one or more reading difficulty level representations for the one or more response items can be returned. The indication(s) may include a ranking of the response items. The ranking can be based at least in part on a request reading level representation for the query and reading difficulty level representations for the response items. The response item(s) may also be returned.

Abstract: A request can be received and a request reading level representation for the request can be inferred. In response to the request, the request reading level representation can be compared with one or more reading difficulty level representations for one or more response items. Also in response to the request, one or more indications of results of comparing the request reading level representation with one or more reading difficulty level representations for the one or more response items can be returned. The indication(s) may include a ranking of the response items. The ranking can be based at least in part on a request reading level representation for the query and reading difficulty level representations for the response items. The response item(s) may also be returned.

Abstract: Methods are provided for re-ranking documents based on user-specific features. Search results are received from a non-contextual ranking system such that the search results are not specific toward a particular user, such as the user who submitted the search query. Contextual signals are received and provide user-specific features that are used to re-rank documents so that the most important and relevant documents are listed at the top of the list of search results. Each of the user-specific features are evaluated and compared to determine a new position of each document. A set of contextual search results is then generated based on the new positions.

Abstract: A request can be received and a request reading level representation for the request can be inferred. In response to the request, the request reading level representation can be compared with one or more reading difficulty level representations for one or more response items. Also in response to the request, one or more indications of results of comparing the request reading level representation with one or more reading difficulty level representations for the one or more response items can be returned. The indication(s) may include a ranking of the response items. The ranking can be based at least in part on a request reading level representation for the query and reading difficulty level representations for the response items. The response item(s) may also be returned.

Abstract: Methods are provided for re-ranking documents based on user-specific features. Search results are received from a non-contextual ranking system such that the search results are not specific toward a particular user, such as the user who submitted the search query. Contextual signals are received and provide user-specific features that are used to re-rank documents so that the most important and relevant documents are listed at the top of the list of search results. Each of the user-specific features are evaluated and compared to determine a new position of each document. A set of contextual search results is then generated based on the new positions.

Abstract: A rubric-based assessment and personalized learning recommendation system and method to aid an educator in teaching an entity in an efficient manner. Embodiments of the system and method include a computational representation of a rubric that is composed of composable rubric constructs. Each composable rubric construct corresponds to a particular sub-area of a skill being learned. Embodiments of the system and method also allow the educator to select a level of granularity of the rubric. This allows grouping together of entities that are having similar problems learning the skill and are performing similarly in certain areas. Embodiments of the system and method can suggest available learning resources for a single or groups of entities struggling in the same or similar areas based on their assessment results. The idea is for the entity to use these learning resources to improve its performance and competency in a given subject area.

Abstract: Described is a technology for learning a foreign language or other subject. Answers (e.g., translations) to questions (e.g., sentences to translate) received from learners are combined into a combined answer that serves as a representative model answer for those learners. The questions also may be provided to machine subsystems to generate machine answers, e.g., machine translators, with those machine answers used in the combined answer. The combined answer is used to evaluate each learner's individual answer. The evaluation may be used to compute profile information that is then fed back for use in selecting further questions, e.g., more difficult sentences as the learners progress. Also described is integrating the platform/technology into a web service.

Abstract: A system to support creation, distribution and flexible usage of electronic content in distributed environments where users may have access to multiple rendering systems. The invention comprises a packaging system, a distributed network of content management servers and personal content managers. The packaging system enables a content creator to create and associate sphere of fair use and content modulation rules definitions with content. The sphere of fair use allows a content creator to define content usage boundaries that account for the availability of multiple rendering systems. The content modulation rules provide a content creator with creative control over potential content transformations for transfer to alternative rendering systems. The personal content manager allows the user to process electronic content purchases from different sources and to transform and transfer the content to additional approved rendering systems while enforcing the creative boundaries specified by a content creator.

Abstract: A system and methods supporting flexible content usage in distributed environments, where users may have access to electronic content from multiple disparate sources and rendering systems. The invention consists of a personal content management system and a collection of virtual information portfolios. The personal content management system manages user authentication, handles content uploads either from a public source such as a user or from an electronic content store, and transforms the content for specific rendering devices, thus providing ubiquitous access to said electronic content. The virtual information portfolio supports content distribution across multiple physical locations while providing support for multiple logical content groupings, including recursive content groupings.