What is a Word Cloud?
A word cloud, also known as a wordle, weighted list, tag cloud, or text cloud, is a cluster or collection of words that get displayed in varying sizes. It is a visual representation of vital text data like keywords on websites. The bolder and bigger a word appears, the more frequently it gets mentioned within a particular paragraph, portraying its importance.
A word cloud is an ideal way of separating and pulling out the most prominent parts or sections of textual data from one source like blogposts and transferring them to databases. They are generally one-word depictions with the importance of each represented in a specific color or font size and style. They aid in comparing and contrasting two distinct pieces of text to discover and locate wording similarities that may be present between them. Word clouds may also come hyperlinked to other websites, products, or items that carry some relevance to the highlighted words or tags.
Types of Word Clouds
A word cloud can get categorized into three principal types based on their application in social software. They get distinguished based on their meanings instead of their appearances.
The types of word clouds consist of the following:
- Based on Frequency
In this type, the size of a particular word or tag represents the total number of times it got applied to a single article or item. It serves as a beneficial means of displaying keywords about a specific element that can get demographically voted in cases where precise results are not mandatory and desired.
In another variant, the size of a particular word or tag represents the total number of articles or items to which it got applied. As such, it serves as a representation of the popularity of the tagged texts.
- Based on Significance
In this category, the size of a particular word or tag represents its significance and co-occurrences. This approach can get used alone. In most cases, it depends on the comparisons made between the document frequencies and the expected distributions.
- Based on Categorization
In his variety, the words or tags get used as a means of categorization. It serves so for the required content items.
They get represented in a cloud. The larger the text is, the greater is the number of requisite particulars it displays.
How to Make Word Cloud in Real-Time
Contrary to how arduous it may seem, the process to create a word cloud in the presence of a live audience and in real-time is relatively effortless. It can get made and shared via various platforms like Zoom, polling interfaces, and even programming languages such as Python.
The steps to make a word cloud in real-time comprise the following:
- Determining the Project Goal and Outcome
Before starting on a word cloud, an individual must have a clear idea of the results and the set of data they will handle. It helps make the entire process smoother and more efficient.
- Segregating the Data
Once the data determination and collection part is over, segregation comes next. This step helps understand which word or tag to work with first and what sequence to follow to get the desired and required results.
- Generation of the Word Cloud
For this step, the individuals need to create an empty word cloud and its activity. Suppose they want to share it with their live audience as a presentation, then they have to embed it into a demonstration that they will show to the viewers.
The tag supply will come from the live audience. Based on the theme and data that the individual chose, the live word clouds will get generated.
- Presentation of Live Activity
To keep the audience engaged, an individual can share the real-time activity and words from the viewer’s side. The submission can be through an online platform, an SMS, or some other means.
- Displaying of the Results
Depending on the integration done, the most opted-for words or tags would gain size and grow larger. Subsequently, the least chosen ones will shrink and become less noticeable.
Thus, based on the frequency, significance, or category, the size of each word or tag would get determined and displayed.
Benefits of a Word Cloud
A word cloud proffers numerous benefits that help in multiple fields and sectors. A few of their advantages entail:
- Reveals the Audience’s Thoughts
A word cloud, especially the ones generated on a live platform, helps understand and unmask the thoughts of an audience about a particular topic or situation. It allows them to summarize their perspectives and display them.
A word cloud helps measure the changes in an item’s popularity when used at the beginning and the end of a workshop or seminar. Overall, it quantifies the understanding of a topic. It also allows the identification of the segments that are vital to the audience.
- Develops New Ideas
By pointing out the scopes of recognition and popularity from an audience’s point of view, a word cloud helps brainstorm and generate new ideas and concepts. It aids in identifying the feedback, topics, and interests of the attendees to look for better means of executing a plan.
A word cloud also facilitates and promotes peer-to-peer conversation and feedback. It gathers and displays the required keywords in real-time for more efficient working.
- Proffers and Engaging Feel
Word clouds help an audience feel like an active part of a presentation. It provides numerous unique opportunities for the co-creation and development of new and exciting content that can garner and amass the attention of millions. It allows the audience to drive the topic of conversation and discussion.
The audience feels a part of the presentation responsibility by contributing and sharing their answers and responses. A word cloud help set the basis of understanding how their peer sees and thinks about particular things.
- Offers Visual Format
Most people prefer an aesthetic visual format over any other kind. Since word clouds provide this, the audience is bound to feel more engaged and interested in presentations that use it.
