Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Web Log 'Word Bursts' Could Identify New Crazes

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the bursting-at-the-seams dept.

Zorgatron writes "New Scientist reports that a researcher from Cornell University has come up with clever method of identifying what's cool by automatically searching weblogs. Sudden increases or "bursts" in the usage of particular words may reflect a new craze, according to Jon Kleinberg. He has demonstrated the technique by searching through state of the union addresses given since 1790." I wonder how long before this can be done real time enough to really make this useful.

1 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. Nukular weapons by flokemon · · Score: 5, Funny

    In a simple historical test of the technique, Kleinberg analysed all the annual State of the Union addresses given by US Presidents since 1790. He found that particular word "bursts" could indeed be linked to important events at the time the speeches were delivered.

    Has an important increase of the use of the word "nukular" been reported in the last few weeks then?