【Topic】Analyzing Content Development and Visualizing Social Interactions in Web Virtual Communities

【Speaker】Prof. Christopher Yang

【Time】2008-4-16, 9:45-11:30

【Venue】Room 401, Weilun Building

【Language】English

【Organizer】Department of Management Science and Engineering

【Background Information】

Internet facilitates the communication between people without geographical boundary. Users interact with each other in a Web virtual community when they have a common interest. The messages in a Web virtual community do not have strong factual content as other Web sites such as CNN or BBC. The factual content is usually hidden in the user subjective opinions. On the other hand, there are factual connections that reflect the focus of discussion among the forum members. A Web virtual community is a community that builds on top of the Internet technologies for their members to share information on the subjects of public interest without face-to-face contact with others. In a Web virtual community, we can find members expressing their opinions about political issues including terrorism and government policy. By observing the content development in these discussions, we can identify the public attention and their sentiments. By analyzing the content development and visualizing the social interactions in Web forum, we want to identify the focus of interest and their interaction patterns in the virtual community efficiently and effectively. Such knowledge will be valuable for understanding the social response to sensitive issues and monitoring the development of virtual communities.