Simon_Unit7_Sack_I

The main difference between the Conversation Map system and a usual electronic news or mail program is that the Conversation Map system analyzes the content and the relationships between messages and then uses the results of the analysis to create a graphical interface. With the graphical interface, a participant can see the social and semantic relationships that have emerged during the discussion. The CM system categorizes and illustrates who is "talking" to whom, what they are "talking" about, and the central terms and possible metaphors of the conversation. Probably this is called an "online conflation". By matching similar conversation topics together, this system helps people easily find those whom they are interested in talking with, or even their future Mr. or Mrs. Right, and hook up right away. That is, to some extent, the Conversation Map could be a perfect real-time matchmaker rather than an ordinary online chatting room!