21. A computer-implemented method comprising: generating a suggested alert definition for a notification application, the notification application configured to maintain active alert definitions for a user, wherein an active alert definition of the notification application specifies data to monitor and an alert trigger condition to cause the notification application to generate a corresponding alert notification for the user, wherein providing the suggested alert definition comprises: providing computer-executable code for execution by a processor of a client computing device, the computer-executable code configured to cause the writing onto electronic memory storage of a first data set comprising background data pertaining to user interactions with the client computing device, wherein the background data comprises information regarding user interaction with an application of the client computing device that is independent of the notification application, accessing the first data set, and using a processor to analyze the first data set, and generate a suggested alert definition for the user based on the analysis of the first data set, the suggested alert definition specifying data to monitor and a trigger condition for suggested conversion to an active alert of the notification application; and providing computer-readable code to display the suggested alert definition on a computing device display.
21. A computer-implemented method comprising: generating a suggested alert definition for a notification application, the notification application configured to maintain active alert definitions for a user, wherein an active alert definition of the notification application specifies data to monitor and an alert trigger condition to cause the notification application to generate a corresponding alert notification for the user, wherein providing the suggested alert definition comprises: providing computer-executable code for execution by a processor of a client computing device, the computer-executable code configured to cause the writing onto electronic memory storage of a first data set comprising background data pertaining to user interactions with the client computing device, wherein the background data comprises information regarding user interaction with an application of the client computing device that is independent of the notification application, accessing the first data set, and using a processor to analyze the first data set, and generate a suggested alert definition for the user based on the analysis of the first data set, the suggested alert definition specifying data to monitor and a trigger condition for suggested conversion to an active alert of the notification application; and providing computer-readable code to display the suggested alert definition on a computing device display. 22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the first data set comprises information regarding natural language provided by the user, selected from a group consisting of: a query issued to the computing system; a message transmitted over the computing system to another individual; and a comment made via the computing system in connection with a document viewable on the computing system.