An interesting use of a Web-based analysis tool, the word cloud (also called a Tag cloud or label cloud). Here’s how it works: a document or Web page is scanned and significant words are pulled out and assigned relative weights based on their frequency of recurrence in the text. Words that recur the most frequently are displayed in larger text, and may be assigned different colors or fonts.
Wordle is a self-described Web “toy” that allows you to generate word clouds from any text sample you care to use (try it!). Darcy Norman, a blogger and educational technology developer at the at The University of Calgary’s Teaching & Learning Centre, used Wordle to generate word clouds from Barack Obama’s speech last week at the DNC, and John McCain’s speech at the RNC last night.
Here is a Obama’s cloud:
Here is McCain’s cloud:
The word cloud images here are somewhat scaled down, so click on each one to see them at full size.
Each cloud provides an intriguing message map for its respective campaign, and crystallizes which themes and topics predominate.