1. A computer implemented method of processing user input to an information retrieval component within a computer wherein the computer implemented method includes a defining session between a user and an information retrieval component and an execution session between the user and an information retrieval component, the computer implemented method comprising: during the defining session: (a) receiving and storing a user generated definition of an expression type wherein the expression type is capable of being characterized as a (i) query seeking information from the information retrieval component, (ii) a statement seeking to add new information to the information retrieval component, and (iii) a command to perform an action, wherein the definition of the expression type specifies an expression format having a semantic structure, a response type, and a display format; during the execution session: (b) receiving a user generated expression having a semantic structure that matches a semantic structure that was received and stored during the defining session; (c) identifying an expression type for the received expression by determining: (i) whether the received expression semantically matches a command; (ii) whether the received expression is an answer to a question; (iii) whether a query of the information retrieval component using the received expression exactly as phrased results in identification of stored information associated with the received expression; and (iv) whether the received expression is an implicit command to add data to the information retrieval component; (d) processing the received expression according to the response type specified by the definition of the expression type for the received expression; and (e) causing a response to the received expression to be displayed to the user according to the display format specified by the definition of the identified expression type for the received expression.
1. A computer implemented method of processing user input to an information retrieval component within a computer wherein the computer implemented method includes a defining session between a user and an information retrieval component and an execution session between the user and an information retrieval component, the computer implemented method comprising: during the defining session: (a) receiving and storing a user generated definition of an expression type wherein the expression type is capable of being characterized as a (i) query seeking information from the information retrieval component, (ii) a statement seeking to add new information to the information retrieval component, and (iii) a command to perform an action, wherein the definition of the expression type specifies an expression format having a semantic structure, a response type, and a display format; during the execution session: (b) receiving a user generated expression having a semantic structure that matches a semantic structure that was received and stored during the defining session; (c) identifying an expression type for the received expression by determining: (i) whether the received expression semantically matches a command; (ii) whether the received expression is an answer to a question; (iii) whether a query of the information retrieval component using the received expression exactly as phrased results in identification of stored information associated with the received expression; and (iv) whether the received expression is an implicit command to add data to the information retrieval component; (d) processing the received expression according to the response type specified by the definition of the expression type for the received expression; and (e) causing a response to the received expression to be displayed to the user according to the display format specified by the definition of the identified expression type for the received expression. 7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the received expression comprises a plurality of words having a semantic structure.