Case Studies

Abstract

Our approach to text mining is motivated by practical applications. However, the design and development of prediction methods often take place in a controlled scientific environment that simulates the real world. This is necessary for comparative analyses and also for unraveling the pieces of the puzzle that constitute a prediction problem. The question remains as to the appropriateness of these methods for practical use. Unlike laboratory environments, the real world is less readily controlled. Methods may need to be combined and adapted to the task at hand. User interface issues should be addressed. Practical considerations, such as resource limitations, must be acknowledged.