Method and apparatus for analyzing thought system

• US 7,440,931 B1
• Filed: 07/06/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creative Brains, K.K.
• Original Assignee: Creative Brains, K.K.
• Inventors: Suzuki, Kazuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes; Michael B
• Application Number:
  US09/612,522
• Time in Patent Office: 3,029 Days
• Field of Search: 345/854, 345/853, 706/46
• US Class Current: 706/46
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F

Abstract

A method for analyzing a thought system of a subject consisting of at least one individual is disclosed. The analyzing method comprising the steps of: obtaining a plurality of items perceived by the subject; obtaining relationship information of all possible item pairs based on perception of the subject with respect to relationship between two items of each of said all possible item pairs; generating a relation matrix of the plurality of items based on the relationship information of each of the items with respect to the all other items; transforming the relation matrix to a display matrix projected on a representation space having dimensions lower than the number of the items and reflecting a relationship between the items perceived by the subject; and displaying the items on the representation space according to the display matrix such that the items are plotted on respective positions in the representation. An apparatus for analyzing a thought system of a subject which is adapted to perform the present analyzing method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject, said subject consisting of at least one individual and said method being implemented by a computing device, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting a plurality of items perceived by said subject into the computing device;

obtaining relationship information of all possible pairs of said items, based on perception of said subject with respect to relationship between two items of each of said all possible pairs of said items;

generating a relation matrix of the plurality of items based on said relationship information of each of said items with respect to the all other items;

generating a profile matrix by dividing each element of said relation matrix by a sum of said elements of said relation matrix;

generating a transformed matrix by transforming said profile matrix based on a deviation of each element of said profile matrix from a corresponding expectation of said element of said profile matrix;

transforming said transformed matrix to a display matrix projected on a representation space having dimensions lower than the number of said items and reflecting a relationship between said items perceived by said subject; and

displaying said items on said representation space according to said display matrix such that said items are plotted on respective positions in said representation space and shown on an output device;

wherein said step of obtaining relationship information further comprises the step of showing said subject only one pair of said all possible pairs of said items in order, for allowing said individual to assign said relationship information for each pair of said items, in the same order.

2. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 1, wherein said items are represented by language.

3. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 1, wherein said items belong to a single group conceptually undistinguishable.

4. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining items is executed to obtain about 5-20 items.

5. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining said plurality of items is arranged to obtain successively said items from said subject, while all of said items previously obtained are shown to said subject.

6. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 1, wherein said relationship information consists of rating of relationship between said two items of each of said all possible pairs of said items.

7. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 6, wherein said rating of relationship consists of a plurality of rating concepts representing different degrees of said relationship.

8. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of rating concepts comprise “

small”

, “

medium” and

“

large.”

9. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 1, further comprising the step of detecting a unique item having no relationship to all other items based on said relationship information, and deleting said unique item from said items so as to regenerate said relation matrix.

10. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of determining whether said relationship information is biased, and displaying a warning to said subject if said relationship information is biased, while comprising the step of initializing said step of obtaining said relationship information so as to recommence said step of obtaining said relationship information, as needed.

11. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 1, wherein said items perceived by said subject are qualitative data, while said relationship information are processed as quantitative data in said step of transforming said transformed matrix to said display matrix.

12. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 1, wherein order of showing said one pair of items of said all possible pairs is arranged to avoid repetition of each item in consecutive pairs.

13. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining said plurality of items and said step of obtaining said relationship information are performed successively by said individuals in a substantially continuous time.

14. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 1, wherein said step of generating said relation matrix is arranged for generating said relation matrix by using values of said relationship information, said relationship information being assigned to each of said items for representing the relationship with respect to said all other items, and being set to respective elements of said relation matrix.

15. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 1, said step of transforming said transformed matrix to said display matrix, comprising a step of performing a singular value decomposition.

16. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 1, further comprising a step of arranging said display matrix such that values of elements of said display matrix to be weighted with respect to a specific dimension.

17. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 1, wherein said representation space consists of a two or three dimensional coordinate domain, and said step of displaying said items is arranged for plotting items on a corresponding position in said coordinate domain, according to said display matrix.

18. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 17, wherein each of said items plotted on said coordinate domain is depicted by an object the size of which corresponds to the value of relativity of said item with respect to the all other items.

19. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 17, wherein each of said items plotted on said coordinate domain is depicted by an object the size of which corresponds to a value of relativity of said item with respect to one of said dimension axis.

20. A method of analyzing thoughts of at least one individual according to claim 1, wherein said step of transforming said transformed matrix to said display matrix further comprises the step of storing a data of said display matrix.

21. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 1, further comprises the step of performing a cluster analysis using said display matrix, so as to separate said items into groups, the number of said groups being smaller than the total number of said items.

22. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject, according to claim 1, wherein said subject consists of a plurality of individuals, said step of obtaining said plurality of items is performed for obtaining a plurality of items commonly perceived by said plurality of individuals, said step of obtaining relationship information is separately performed by said plurality of individuals for obtaining a plurality sets of relationship information based on perceptions of each of said individuals with respect to all possible pairs of said items, and said step of generating a relation matrix is performed for generating a aggregated relation matrix for said subject, by summing up said plurality sets of relation matrixes of said plurality of individuals.

23. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 1, wherein said subject consists of a plurality of individuals, and said step of obtaining said relation matrix is performed by said plurality of individuals such that said plurality of individuals share all possible pairs of said items to assign said relationship information to said all possible pairs of items.

24. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 1, wherein said subject consists of a plurality of individuals, said step of obtaining said plurality of items is performed for obtaining a plurality of items commonly perceived by said plurality of individuals, said step of obtaining relationship information is separately performed by said plurality of individuals for obtaining a plurality sets of relationship information based on perceptions of each of said individuals with respect to all possible pairs of said items, said step of generating a relation matrix is performed for generating a plurality of relation matrixes based on said plurality sets of relationship information, and for generating a juxtaposition relation matrix wherein said plurality of relation matrixes are juxtaposed;

said step of generating said profile matrix is performed by dividing each element of said juxtaposition relation matrix by a sum of said elements of said juxtaposition relation matrix, and said step of displaying said display matrix is performed for plotting said items on respective positions of said representation space according to said plurality of relation matrixes for the respective individuals, and indicating the positional differences between said items obtained by one of said plurality of individuals and said items obtained by another of said plurality of individuals.

25. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject, said subject consisting of at least one individual, comprising the steps of:

a first step of analyzing said thought system arranged for performing said analyzing methods recited in claim 1;

a second step of analyzing said thought system arranged for performing steps of selecting at least one of said items obtained in said first step, obtaining a plurality of items perceived by said subject with respect to said selected items, and analyzing said plurality of items according to said analyzing methods.

26. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject, said subject consisting of at least one individual and said method being implemented by a computing device, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting a plurality of items perceived by said subject into the computing device;

obtaining relationship information of all possible pairs of said items, based on perception of said subject with respect to relationship between two items of each of said all possible pairs of said items;

generating a relation matrix of the plurality of items based on said relationship information of each of said items with respect to the all other items;

generating a profile matrix by dividing each element of said relation matrix by a sum of said elements of said relation matrix;

generating a transformed matrix by transforming said profile matrix based on a deviation of each element of said profile matrix from a corresponding expectation of said element of said profile matrix;

transforming said transformed matrix to a display matrix projected on a representation space having dimensions lower than the number of said items and reflecting a relationship between said items perceived by said subject; and

displaying said items on said representation space according to said display matrix such that said items are plotted on respective positions in said representation space and shown on an output device;

wherein said items perceived by said subject are qualitative data, while said relationship information are processed as quantitative data in said step of transforming said transformed matrix to said display matrix.

27. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 26, wherein said items are represented by language.

28. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 26, wherein said items belong to a single group conceptually undistinguishable.

29. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 26, wherein said step of obtaining items is executed to obtain about 5-20 items.

30. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 26, wherein said step of obtaining said plurality of items is arranged to obtain successively said items from said subject, while all of said items previously obtained are shown to said subject.

31. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 26, said step of obtaining relationship information further comprising the step of showing said subject only one pair of said all possible pairs of said items in order, for allowing said individual to assign said relationship information for each pair of said items, in the same order.

32. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 31, wherein order of showing said one pair of items of said all possible pairs is arranged to avoid repetition of each item in consecutive pairs.

33. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 26, wherein said relationship information consists of rating of relationship between said two items of each of said all possible pairs of said items.

34. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 33, wherein said rating of relationship consists of a plurality of rating concepts representing different degrees of said relationship.

35. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 34, wherein said plurality of rating concepts comprise “

small”

, “

medium” and

“

large.”

36. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 26, further comprising the step of detecting a unique item having no relationship to all other items based on said relationship information, and deleting said unique item from said items so as to regenerate said relation matrix.

37. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 26, further comprising the steps of determining whether said relationship information is biased, and displaying a warning to said subject if said relationship information is biased, while comprising the step of initializing said step of obtaining said relationship information so as to recommence said step of obtaining said relationship information, as needed.

38. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 26, wherein said step of obtaining said plurality of items and said step of obtaining said relationship information are performed successively by said individuals in a substantially continuous time.

39. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 26, wherein said step of generating said relation matrix is arranged for generating said relation matrix by using values of said relationship information, said relationship information being assigned to each of said items for representing the relationship with respect to said all other items, and being set to respective elements of said relation matrix.

40. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 26, said step of transforming said transformed matrix to said display matrix, comprising a step of performing a singular value decomposition.

41. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 26, further comprising a step of arranging said display matrix such that values of elements of said display matrix to be weighted with respect to a specific dimension.

42. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 26, wherein said representation space consists of a two or three dimensional coordinate domain, and said step of displaying said items is arranged for plotting items on a corresponding position in said coordinate domain, according to said display matrix.

43. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 42, wherein each of said items plotted on said coordinate domain is depicted by an object the size of which corresponds to the value of relativity of said item with respect to the all other items.

44. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 43, wherein each of said items plotted on said coordinate domain is depicted by an object the size of which corresponds to a value of relativity of said item with respect to one of said dimension axis.

45. A method of analyzing thoughts of at least one individual according to claim 26, wherein said step of transforming said transformed matrix to said display matrix further comprises the step of storing a data of said display matrix.

46. A method of analyzing a thought system of according to claim 26, further comprises the step of performing a cluster analysis using said display matrix, so as to separate said items into groups, the number of said groups being smaller than the total number of said items.

47. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject, according to claim 26, wherein said subject consists of a plurality of individuals, said step of obtaining said plurality of items is performed for obtaining a plurality of items commonly perceived by said plurality of individuals, said step of obtaining relationship information is separately performed by said plurality of individuals for obtaining a plurality sets of relationship information based on perceptions of each of said individuals with respect to all possible pairs of said items, and said step of generating a relation matrix is performed for generating a aggregated relation matrix for said subject, by summing up said plurality sets of relation matrixes of said plurality of individuals.

48. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 26, wherein said subject consists of a plurality of individuals, and said step of obtaining said relation matrix is performed by said plurality of individuals such that said plurality of individuals share all possible pairs of said items to assign said relationship information to said all possible pairs of items.

49. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 26, wherein said subject consists of a plurality of individuals, said step of obtaining said plurality of items is performed for obtaining a plurality of items commonly perceived by said plurality of individuals, said step of obtaining relationship information is separately performed by said plurality of individuals for obtaining a plurality sets of relationship information based on perceptions of each of said individuals with respect to all possible pairs of said items, said step of generating a relation matrix is performed for generating a plurality of relation matrixes based on said plurality sets of relationship information, and for generating a juxtaposition relation matrix wherein said plurality of relation matrixes are juxtaposed;

said step of generating said profile matrix is performed by dividing each element of said juxtaposition relation matrix by a sum of said elements of said juxtaposition relation matrix, and said step of displaying said display matrix is performed for plotting said items on respective positions of said representation space according to said plurality of relation matrixes for the respective individuals, and indicating the positional differences between said items obtained by one of said plurality of individuals and said items obtained by another of said plurality of individuals.

50. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject, said subject consisting of at least one individual, comprising the steps of:

a first step of analyzing said thought system arranged for performing said analyzing methods recited in claim 26;

a second step of analyzing said thought system arranged for performing steps of selecting at least one of said items obtained in said first step, obtaining a plurality of items perceived by said subject with respect to said selected items, and analyzing said plurality of items according to said analyzing methods.

51. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject, said subject consisting of at least one individual and said method being implemented by a computing device, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting a plurality of items perceived by said subject into a computing device;

obtaining relationship information of all possible pairs of said items, based on perception of said subject with respect to relationship between two items of each of said all possible pairs of said items;

generating a relation matrix of the plurality of items based on said relationship information of each of said items with respect to the all other items;

generating a profile matrix by dividing each element of said relation matrix by a sum of said elements of said relation matrix;

generating a transformed matrix by transforming said profile matrix based on a deviation of each element of said profile matrix from a corresponding expectation of said element of said profile matrix;

transforming said transformed matrix to a display matrix projected on a representation space having dimensions lower than the number of said items and reflecting a relationship between said items perceived by said subject; and

displaying said items on said representation space according to said display matrix such that said items are plotted on respective positions in said representation space and shown on an output device;

wherein said step of generating said relation matrix is arranged for generating said relation matrix by using values of said relationship information, said relationship information being assigned to each of said items for representing the relationship with respect to said all other items, and being set to respective elements of said relation matrix.

52. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 51, wherein said items are represented by language.

53. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 51, wherein said items belong to a single group conceptually undistinguishable.

54. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 51, wherein said step of obtaining items is executed to obtain about 5-20 items.

55. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 51, wherein said step of obtaining said plurality of items is arranged to obtain successively said items from said subject, while all of said items previously obtained are shown to said subject.

56. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 51, said step of obtaining relationship information further comprising the step of showing said subject only one pair of said all possible pairs of said items in order, for allowing said individual to assign said relationship information for each pair of said items, in the same order.

57. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 56, wherein order of showing said one pair of items of said all possible pairs is arranged to avoid repetition of each item in consecutive pairs.

58. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 51, wherein said relationship information consists of rating of relationship between said two items of each of said all possible pairs of said items.

59. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 58, wherein said rating of relationship consists of a plurality of rating concepts representing different degrees of said relationship.

60. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 59, wherein said plurality of rating concepts comprise “

small”

, “

medium” and

“

large.”

61. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 51, further comprising the step of detecting a unique item having no relationship to all other items based on said relationship information, and deleting said unique item from said items so as to regenerate said relation matrix.

62. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 51, further comprising the steps of determining whether said relationship information is biased, and displaying a warning to said subject if said relationship information is biased, while comprising the step of initializing said step of obtaining said relationship information so as to recommence said step of obtaining said relationship information, as needed.

63. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 51, wherein said items perceived by said subject are qualitative data, while said relationship information are processed as quantitative data in said step of transforming said transformed matrix to said display matrix.

64. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 51, wherein said step of obtaining said plurality of items and said step of obtaining said relationship information are performed successively by said individuals in a substantially continuous time.

65. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 51, said step of transforming said transformed matrix to said display matrix, comprising a step of performing a singular value decomposition.

66. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 51, further comprising a step of arranging said display matrix such that values of elements of said display matrix to be weighted with respect to a specific dimension.

67. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 51, wherein said representation space consists of a two or three dimensional coordinate domain, and said step of displaying said items is arranged for plotting items on a corresponding position in said coordinate domain, according to said display matrix.

68. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 67, wherein each of said items plotted on said coordinate domain is depicted by an object the size of which corresponds to the value of relativity of said item with respect to the all other items.

69. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 67, wherein each of said items plotted on said coordinate domain is depicted by an object the size of which corresponds to a value of relativity of said item with respect to one of said dimension axis.

70. A method of analyzing thoughts of at least one individual according to claim 51, wherein said step of transforming said relation transformed matrix to said display matrix further comprises the step of storing a data of said display matrix.

71. A method of analyzing a thought system of according to claim 51, further comprises the step of performing a cluster analysis using said display matrix, so as to separate said items into groups, the number of said groups being smaller than the total number of said items.

72. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject, according to claim 51, wherein said subject consists of a plurality of individuals, said step of obtaining said plurality of items is performed for obtaining a plurality of items commonly perceived by said plurality of individuals, said step of obtaining relationship information is separately performed by said plurality of individuals for obtaining a plurality sets of relationship information based on perceptions of each of said individuals with respect to all possible pairs of said items, and said step of generating a relation matrix is performed for generating a aggregated relation matrix for said subject, by summing up said plurality sets of relation matrixes of said plurality of individuals.

73. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 51, wherein said subject consists of a plurality of individuals, and said step of obtaining said relation matrix is performed by said plurality of individuals such that said plurality of individuals share all possible pairs of said items to assign said relationship information to said all possible pairs of items.

74. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 51, wherein said subject consists of a plurality of individuals, said step of obtaining said plurality of items is performed for obtaining a plurality of items commonly perceived by said plurality of individuals, said step of obtaining relationship information is separately performed by said plurality of individuals for obtaining a plurality sets of relationship information based on perceptions of each of said individuals with respect to all possible pairs of said items, said step of generating a relation matrix is performed for generating a plurality of relation matrixes based on said plurality sets of relationship information, and for generating a juxtaposition relation matrix wherein said plurality of relation matrixes are juxtaposed;

said step of generating said profile matrix is performed by dividing each element of said juxtaposition relation matrix by a sum of said elements of said juxtaposition relation matrix, and said step of displaying said display matrix is performed for plotting said items on respective positions of said representation space according to said plurality of relation matrixes for the respective individuals, and indicating the positional differences between said items obtained by one of said plurality of individuals and said items obtained by another of said plurality of individuals.

75. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject, said subject consisting of at least one individual, comprising the steps of:

a first step of analyzing said thought system arranged for performing said analyzing methods recited in claim 51;

a second step of analyzing said thought system arranged for performing steps of selecting at least one of said items obtained in said first step, obtaining a plurality of items perceived by said subject with respect to said selected items, and analyzing said plurality of items according to said analyzing methods.

76. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject, said subject consisting of at least one individual and being implemented by a computing device, comprising the steps of:

inputting a plurality of items perceived by said subject into the computing device;

obtaining relationship information of all possible pairs of said items, based on perception of said subject with respect to relationship between two items of each of said all possible pairs of said items;

generating a relation matrix of the plurality of items based on said relationship information of each of said items with respect to the all other items;

generating a profile matrix by dividing each element of said relation matrix by a sum of said elements of said relation matrix;

generating a transformed matrix by transforming said profile matrix based on a deviation of each element of said profile matrix from a corresponding expectation of said element of said profile matrix;

transforming said transformed matrix to a display matrix projected on a representation space having dimensions lower than the number of said items and reflecting a relationship between said items perceived by said subject; and

displaying said items on said representation space according to said display matrix such that said items are plotted on respective positions in said representation space and shown on an output device;

wherein said representation space consists of a two or three dimensional coordinate domain, and said step of displaying said items is arranged for plotting items on a corresponding position in said coordinate domain, according to said display matrix.

77. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 76, wherein said items are represented by language.

78. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 76, wherein said items belong to a single group conceptually undistinguishable.

79. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 76, wherein said step of obtaining items is executed to obtain about 5-20 items.

80. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 76, wherein said step of obtaining said plurality of items is arranged to obtain successively said items from said subject, while all of said items previously obtained are shown to said subject.

81. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 76, said step of obtaining relationship information further comprising the step of showing said subject only one pair of said all possible pairs of said items in order, for allowing said individual to assign said relationship information for each pair of said items, in the same order.

82. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 81, wherein order of showing said one pair of items of said all possible pairs is arranged to avoid repetition of each item in consecutive pairs.

83. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 76, wherein said relationship information consists of rating of relationship between said two items of each of said all possible pairs of said items.

84. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 83, wherein said rating of relationship consists of a plurality of rating concepts representing different degrees of said relationship.

85. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 84, wherein said plurality of rating concepts comprise “

small”

, “

medium” and

“

large”

.

86. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 76, further comprising the step of detecting a unique item having no relationship to all other items based on said relationship information, and deleting said unique item from said items so as to regenerate said relation matrix.

87. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 76, further comprising the steps of determining whether said relationship information is biased, and displaying a warning to said subject if said relationship information is biased, while comprising the step of initializing said step of obtaining said relationship information so as to recommence said step of obtaining said relationship information, as needed.

88. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 76, wherein said items perceived by said subject are qualitative data, while said relationship information are processed as quantitative data in said step of transforming said transformed matrix to said display matrix.

89. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 76, wherein said step of obtaining said plurality of items and said step of obtaining said relationship information are performed successively by said individuals in a substantially continuous time.

90. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 76, wherein said step of generating said relation matrix is arranged for generating said relation matrix by using values of said relationship information, said relationship information being assigned to each of said items for representing the relationship with respect to said all other items, and being set to respective elements of said relation matrix.

91. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 76, said step of transforming said transformed matrix to said display matrix, comprising a step of performing a singular value decomposition.

92. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 76, further comprising a step of arranging said display matrix such that values of elements of said display matrix to be weighted with respect to a specific dimension.

93. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 92, wherein each of said items plotted on said coordinate domain is depicted by an object the size of which corresponds to the value of relativity of said item with respect to the all other items.

94. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 92, wherein each of said items plotted on said coordinate domain is depicted by an object the size of which corresponds to a value of relativity of said item with respect to one of said dimension axis.

95. A method of analyzing thoughts of at least one individual according to claim 76, wherein said step of transforming said transformed matrix to said display matrix further comprises the step of storing a data of said display matrix.

96. A method of analyzing a thought system of according to claim 76, further comprises the step of performing a cluster analysis using said display matrix, so as to separate said items into groups, the number of said groups being smaller than the total number of said items.

97. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject, according to claim 76, wherein said subject consists of a plurality of individuals, said step of obtaining said plurality of items is performed for obtaining a plurality of items commonly perceived by said plurality of individuals, said step of obtaining relationship information is separately performed by said plurality of individuals for obtaining a plurality sets of relationship information based on perceptions of each of said individuals with respect to all possible pairs of said items, and said step of generating a relation matrix is performed for generating a aggregated relation matrix for said subject, by summing up said plurality sets of relation matrixes of said plurality of individuals.

98. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 76, wherein said subject consists of a plurality of individuals, and said step of obtaining said relation matrix is performed by said plurality of individuals such that said plurality of individuals share all possible pairs of said items to assign said relationship information to said all possible pairs of items.

99. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject according to claim 76, wherein said subject consists of a plurality of individuals, said step of obtaining said plurality of items is performed for obtaining a plurality of items commonly perceived by said plurality of individuals, said step of obtaining relationship information is separately performed by said plurality of individuals for obtaining a plurality sets of relationship information based on perceptions of each of said individuals with respect to all possible pairs of said items, said step of generating a relation matrix is performed for generating a plurality of relation matrixes based on said plurality sets of relationship information, and for generating a juxtaposition relation matrix wherein said plurality of relation matrixes are juxtaposed;

said step of generating said profile matrix is performed by dividing each element of said juxtaposition relation matrix by a sum of said elements of said juxtaposition relation matrix, and said step of displaying said display matrix is performed for plotting said items on respective positions of said representation space according to said plurality of relation matrixes for the respective individuals, and indicating the positional differences between said items obtained by one of said plurality of individuals and said items obtained by another of said plurality of individuals.

100. A method of analyzing a thought system of a subject, said subject consisting of at least one individual, comprising the steps of:

a first step of analyzing said thought system arranged for performing said analyzing methods recited in claim 76;

a second step of analyzing said thought system arranged for performing steps of selecting at least one of said items obtained in said first step, obtaining a plurality of items perceived by said subject with respect to said selected items, and analyzing said plurality of items according to said analyzing methods.