[Air-L] IBM patents LOL and IMO

[zimmerm at uwm.edu]

No, it appears IBM filed a patent application for a *system* to  
resolve shorthand notations based on a database of possible meanings  
(user types LOL and the system automatically resolves it into laughing  
out loud).

-Michael Zimmer

(Sent via mobile device; reply might be delayed)

On Dec 30, 2009, at 9:55 PM, live <human.factor.one at gmail.com> wrote:

> No, really.
> IBM was just given a patent for cultural shorthand notations such as  
> LOL?
>
> "These factors have fostered the evolution of shorthand notation,  
> wherein users abbreviate words and phrases to communicate using  
> fewer keystrokes. For example, typing abbreviations like LOL  
> ("laughing out loud") and IMO ("in my opinion") shorten the number  
> of characters required in messages and expedite the communication  
> process. However, as with any nonverbal communication, the  
> effectiveness of text communication is often limited. The use of  
> shorthand in conversational writing can make it difficult for people  
> to understand one another. A complicating factor is that individual  
> users commonly develop their own jargon, so that the shorthand  
> notation of one user does not always agree with shorthand notation  
> of another user."
>
> "The present invention provides a method of electronic communication  
> and a machine-accessible medium containing instructions which, when  
> executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform the method. The  
> method comprises receiving a text communication from a sender,  
> selecting a target term from the text communication, searching a  
> plurality of databases for one or more alternative terms for the  
> target term; and selectively displaying one or more of the  
> alternative terms. The plurality of databases may include, without  
> limitation, one or more of a sender database, a recipient database,  
> a service provider database, and a public database. Typically, the  
> target term is a shorthand term, and the one or more alternative  
> terms include one or more longhand terms defined with respect to the  
> shorthand term. Optionally, the text communication may be displayed  
> with one of the alternative terms substituted for the target term.  
> In a further option, the alternative terms may be displayed along  
> with a name of the database in which each of the alternative terms  
> was found."
>
> http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7,640,233.PN.&OS=PN/7,640,233&RS=PN/7,640,233
> in case that url breaks, here it is in a short url: http://bit.ly/53J56s
>
>
> -------------------------
> Sharon Greenfield
> Marylhurst University
> http://www.sharoncountry.com
> @SharonG
>
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