Systems and methods for obtaining opinion data from individuals via a web widget and displaying a graphic visualization of aggregated opinion data with waveforms that may be embedded into the web widget

Abstract

Opinion data may be obtained from individuals via a web widget and a graphic visualization of aggregated opinion data may be displayed via the web widget. The web widget may be provided for presentation via one or more third-party webpages. The web widget may include an input portion and a graphic visualization portion. A first instance of the web widget may be presented via a first third-party webpage. Via the input portion, input from users may be received on a plurality of aspects of one or more topics. The input may convey users' opinions of the plurality of aspects. The input may be received responsive to the users manipulating the input portion of the web widget. The graphical visualization may be updated in real time to represent input received from a plurality of users from a plurality of third-party web sites, or anywhere where the web widget may be displayed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium storing instructions configured for obtaining opinion data from individuals via a web widget and displaying a graphic visualization of aggregated opinion data via the web widget, the instructions comprising:
 provide, with one or more processors, the web widget for presentation via one or more third-party webpages, the web widget including an input portion and a graphic visualization portion, a first instance of the web widget being presented via a first third-party webpage;   receive, with one or more processors, via the input portion, input from users on a plurality of aspects of one or more topics, the input conveying the users' opinions of the plurality of aspects, the input being received responsive to the users manipulating the input portion of the web widget, input from a first user being received via the first instance of the web widget presented via the first third-party webpage responsive to the first user manipulating an input portion of the first instance of the web widget;   aggregate, with one or more processors, the received input to produce an aggregated dataset representing the users' collective opinion of the plurality of aspects of the one or more topics, the aggregated dataset being updated responsive to the input from the first user being received; and   update, with one or more processors, the graphic visualization portion to reflect the aggregated dataset responsive to the aggregated dataset being updated, wherein the graphic visualization portion includes:
 a plurality of aggregated dataset waveforms corresponding to the plurality of aspects, wherein the given waveform is defined such a dimension parallel to a horizontal plane corresponds to a strength of aggregated sentiment or opinion, neutral sentiment or opinion being at the plane, stronger sentiment or opinion being further from the plane, and weaker sentiment or opinions being closer to the plane. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the aggregated dataset waveform has a projection in a first direction perpendicular to the plane that represents a positive user sentiment or opinion for a given aspect. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the aggregated dataset waveform has a projection in a second direction perpendicular to the plane that represents a negative user sentiment or opinion for a given aspect, the second perpendicular direction being opposite with respect to and away from the first perpendicular direction. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the input portion is configured as a slider that is manipulable in a continuous fashion. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the input portion is configured as a slider that is that is manipulable in a discrete fashion. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the input portion is configured as a plurality of buttons. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the aggregated dataset waveform does not represent an average, mean, or median. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the web widget is rotatable about one or more axes. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the visualization portion changes appearance in real-time as users provide input and additional input is received from a plurality of users. 
     
     
         10 . A method for obtaining opinion data from individuals via a web widget and displaying a graphic visualization of aggregated opinion data via the web widget, the system comprising:
 providing, with one or more processors, the web widget for presentation via one or more third-party webpages, the web widget including an input portion and a graphic visualization portion, a first instance of the web widget being presented via a first third-party webpage;   receiving, with one or more processors, via the input portion, input from users on a plurality of aspects of one or more topics, the input conveying the users' opinions of the plurality of aspects, the input being received responsive to the users manipulating the input portion of the web widget, input from a first user being received via the first instance of the web widget presented via the first third-party webpage responsive to the first user manipulating an input portion of the first instance of the web widget;   aggregating, with one or more processors, the received input to produce an aggregated dataset representing collective opinion of the plurality of aspects of the one or more topics, the aggregated dataset being updated responsive to the input from the first user being received; and   updating the graphic visualization portion to reflect the aggregated dataset responsive to the aggregated dataset being updated by receiving input from a plurality of users from a plurality of third-party web sites or anywhere where the web widget is displayed, wherein the graphic visualization portion includes:
 a plurality of aggregated dataset waveforms corresponding to the plurality of aspects, the plurality of aggregated dataset waveforms being perpendicular to a plane, wherein a given waveform is defined such that (1) a horizontal plane radial dimension corresponds to an aggregated number or percentage of users that provided input and (2) a dimension parallel to the axis corresponds to a strength of aggregated sentiment or opinion, neutral sentiment or opinion being at the plane, stronger sentiment or opinion being further from the plane, and weaker sentiment or opinion being closer to plane. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aggregated dataset waveform has a projection in a first direction perpendicular to the plane that represents a positive user sentiment or opinion for a given aspect. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aggregated dataset waveform has a projection in a second direction perpendicular to the plane that represents a negative user sentiment or opinion for a given aspect, the second perpendicular direction being opposite with respect to and away from the first perpendicular direction. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input portion is configured as a slider that is manipulable in a continuous fashion. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input portion is configured as a slider that is that is manipulable in a discrete fashion. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input portion is configured as a plurality of buttons. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aggregated dataset waveform does not represent an average, mean, or median. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the web widget is rotatable about one or more axes. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the visualization portion changes appearance in real-time as users provide input and/or input is received from a plurality of users from a plurality of third-party web sites or anywhere where the web widget is displayed.