A method of augmentation in a data processing apparatus is provided. The data processing apparatus has access to an information repository (either local or remote, or both), has an operating system for executing an application (e.g. a word processing application) and a temporary data storage area (e.g. a clipboard). A specification (e.g. key word or phrase) is entered into the application and is copied from the application into the temporary data storage area. An information augmentation means polls the area in order to detect change (e.g. addition of a specification) and on doing so, retrieves the specification. The specification is used to search the repository for relating information and the search results are passed back to the area. The results are now pasted from the area to the application.