If you're having trouble with a request, or getting odd results, please check the following first:

- Wrong URL for the API?

Submit API requests to -- http://portaltnx.openamplify.com/AmplifyWeb_v21/AmplifyThis

- Bad or non-existent API key?

Every request has to have an API key in it. Check this first. API keys look like a string of letters and numbers. If you need an API key, you can register for our community where you will get one automatically.  Once registered, you can find your API Key in your profile under "common profile options" towards the bottom of the page.

- Submitting text that's not in English?
OpenAmplify currently only processing English language content.

- sourceURL is picking up non-content text.
If you are using the sourceURL parameter to point the OpenAmplify software at a page (rather than submitting text via the inputText parameter) then OpenAmplify may be picking up noise. Ads and navigation text will be scraped by OpenAmplify's scraper. You are much better off scraping out only the text you want Amplified, or using an RSS or Atom feed to get the text you want.

- Non-words?
Microblogging and instant messaging have added new commonly used language syntax, such as #hashtags and @usernames.  OpenAmplify is constantly improving its service to better understand and account for these terms. For instance, #watchmen is the same as Watchmen for now.  OpenAmplify is also working to account for emoticons and will update you when this feature is available.

What is OpenAmplify?
OpenAmplify is a Web service that uses patented computational linguistics technology. This technology allows OpenAmplify to analyze text and surface its meaning.  OpenAmplify not only identifies topics and actions in the text, but also measures the author's attitude and intention toward those elements as well as the style and complexity of his or her writing.  The OpenAmplify platform even estimates the demographics of the author or intended audience.

How Do I Use OpenAmplify?
The API is simple; you get valid results with little more than your API key and the text to be processed. To get up and running quickly, try our quickstart guide.

The Open API supports SOAP, REST and other standards. The output is in XML or JSON format (among others) and is organized to be easily traversed. Exception handling is via standard HTTP error messages. Users can come up the curve quickly, obtain useful results without undue labor, and integrate the platform smoothly into a work flow.

How Can OpenAmplify be Used?
As the "Meaning Platform", OpenAmplify is not intended to be specific to a particular industry or community of users. Rather, our long-term mission is to surface every shred of meaning from a text:  OpenAmplify 1.0 takes some very substantial steps towards fulfilling that mission. We're actually counting on you to tell us how OpenAmplify can be used--although, of course, we have some ideas of our own.

What is the Role of the OpenAmplify Developer Community?
We have taken a non-application-specific approach because of our belief that the developer community, in all its scale and diversity, is the best visionary for determining creative uses of this platform.  There is great excitement around the idea that OpenAmplify can contribute to applications our team hasn't yet considered.

During the initial roll-out we spoke with online advertisers, Internet security consultants, sociolinguists, educators and more. All understand the simple cornerstone of OpenAmplify's value proposition: The more you understand your content, the more you can do with it. That’s why we will actively encourage creative application development through open collaboration using our innovative API.

Where Does OpenAmplify fit in the emerging Semantic Web?
The Semantic Web has traditionally approached computer-understanding of Web content from two different, but potentially complementary directions.  Classification schemes and technologies like RDF and OWL let publishers clarify the meaning of content to computers.  Meanwhile, technologies like OpenAmplify are able to parse and understand unprepared text to bring meaning to it in real time. 

The two approaches can obviously help each other in myriad ways. Think of OpenAmplify as an extension to the Semantic Web that helps developers make computers better able to understand the semantic value of text. Where the majority of the Semantic Web is based around classification, OpenAmplify is about understanding. Each is useful, but the combination is unbeatable.

Does OpenAmplify Gather Personal Information?
No. OpenAmplify is a platform for external development, not a database-building opportunity. We have no interest in the text being processed; in truth, we don't even want to know. You can check our Privacy Policy for the details, but here's the “nutshell”. 

The concept is simple: text in, signals out. We store nothing except account information, which is needed to administer the API key. There are no databases of preferences or behavior, and we neither seek nor recognize any personal information in the processed. Text in, signals out, tally the transaction and move on -- this simplicity enhances performance and reliability, keeps the platform maintainable, scalable, and contains costs.

Can I Use OpenAmplify for Commercial Purposes?
Absolutely; in fact, we encourage it. Within your account limits, you may use OpenAmplify in any (legal and morally defensible) way you see fit. If you're making money from it, we're delighted; if your app is for more altruistic purposes, we're equally delighted. In either case, we'd like to know what you're doing, and will help you increase awareness of your application.

Can I Help to Improve OpenAmplify?
Everyone, especially our community members, are encouraged to tell us what they think or how they'd like to see OpenAmplify improved. Things move fast around here and we intend to bring improved and impactful functionality to the platform on a frequent basis.  So make sure your voice is heard and tell us what you think.

What does OpenAmplify Cost?
Anyone can use OpenAmplify free of charge up to 1,000 transactions per day.  Simply register for an account and you will automatically get an OpenAmplify API key. Above that limit you will need to contact us to arrange for establishment of a commercial account to open up the limit. If you wish to discuss commercial terms, we'd love to hear from you at sales@openamplify.com.