Patent ID: 8001003

Claim:
A computing system configured to search for and identify data repository deficits, comprising: a computing device; an interactive catalog of items being offered to users for purchase; a data repository that stores: purchase histories for users, a first type of information related to items submitted by users and an identification as to which user submitted a given information of the first type, and indicators related to how other users valued information of the first type, wherein the first type of information includes feedback information regarding one or more items being offered to users for purchase; a search engine system configured to identify catalog items that do not have an amount of the first type of information that meets a first threshold, the first type of information including feedback information; a recommendation system configured to recommend to a user candidate items for the user to provide the first type of information for, wherein the recommendation system uses data stored in the data repository to determine user item affinity and the identification of catalog items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information to generate recommendations for first information type candidate items, the first type of information including feedback information; a candidate selection interface that provides functionality for the user to select an item from the recommended candidate items that do not have a sufficient amount of the first type of information to generate recommendations for first information type candidate items; a user interface via which the user can provide the first type of information for an item selected by the user; a game system configured to calculate for a game, scores and rankings based at least in part on data stored in the data repository, wherein the data stored in the data repository includes data related to submissions of the first type of information by users; and an interface configured to provide information to users related to their scores and rankings.