Strip-Mining the Web with SAIM: A System for the Analysis of Instant Messaging

There is no shortage of knowledge waiting to be mined on the Web. But there is a difference between mining to the depths of the Web and examining what is occurring on its surface. In this article, the authors argue that the search for actionable knowledge should start as close as possible to the user, which, in today’s technological environment, means tapping into Instant Messages. They present a System for the Analysis of Instant Messages, explain the architectural and operational motivation, and show how instant messages can be mined to produce a new source of Web-based knowledge.