A survey of tag clouds as tools for information retrieval and content representation

Abstract

Tag clouds are tools that have been widely used on the Internet since their conception. The main applications of these textual visualizations are information retrieval, content representation and browsing of the original text from which the tags are generated. Despite the extensive use of tag clouds, their enormous popularity and the amount of research related to different aspects of them, few studies have summarized their most important features when they work as tools for information retrieval and content representation. In this paper we present a summary of the main characteristics of tag clouds found in the literature, such as their different functions, designs and negative aspects. We also present a summary of the most popular metrics used to capture the structural properties of a tag cloud generated from the query results, as well as other measures for evaluating the goodness of the tag cloud when it works as a tool for content representation. The different methods for tagging and the semantic association processes in tag clouds are also considered. Finally we give a list of alternative for visual interfaces, which makes this study a useful first help for researchers who want to study the content representation and information retrieval interfaces in greater depth.

Driving governance beyond ecological modernization: REDD+ and the Amazon Fund

“…Text‐mining and word cloud representation techniques allowed for textual visualization of documentation content. These techniques work as tools for information retrieval and content representation, which summarizes the essential content from assessed documents (Torres Parejo et al, 2021). The outcome from analyses are 55‐terms word clouds aimed to sum‐up the main terminology and content applied to Amazon Fund's financed projects.…”

“…Text mining and word cloud representation approaches intended to withdrawal “the essential content” from each project's descriptions (Torres Parejo et al, 2021). To interpret findings from the developed word clouds, this study assumed the usefulness of engaging with the usual clash of interpretation, which surrounds most relevant concerns about REDD+.…”

A System to Support Memory Recall by Creating Tag Clouds from Calendars, Twitter, and Photos

“…Torres-Parejo et al [30] described general tag selection algorithms in tag clouds. Their survey introduced a study by Skoutas and Alrifai [31] that compared different tag selection strategies: (1) frequency-based, (2) diversity-based, and (3) ranking of aggregation based.…”

“…or the shape of the tag cloud (cubes, circles, tags in sequential lines, etc. [30]. The most popular is the 'classic' rectangular tag arrangement with alphabetical sorting in a sequential line-by-line layout [33].…”