Feelings....nothing more than feelings...

A year ago, few even knew the term Social Media.

Now, not a day goes by where it's not in the news in some way, shape, or form. Whether it's Paula Abdul announcing she's leaving American Idol, a highly-touted young basketball player putting his career in jeopardy while showing off his tattoos (and some highly suspicious plastic baggies in the background), or an article discussing the latest trends, Social Media is everywhere and now fully a part of many of our lives.

But in a very personal arena that is filled with opinions good and bad, and feelings that run the gamut from happy to sad, angry to apathetic, how can a company trying to get a bead on how people really feel about their company or product measure, well, feelings.

According an article in the NY Times, there is now an emerging business tied into Social Media - Sentiment Analysis.

As scary and sci-fi it sounds, there are now programs already developed and more currently being developed that can translate feelings into cold, hard, data. And for a company trying to gauge where the public stands on something, data is a lot more measurable than feelings.

Still, it's an inexact science at best, and even those at the forefront of Sentiment Analysis will tell you that, as they did the NY Times in the above linked article.

But what does the future hold for this new field? Is it something that is a hot topic of the moment, and eventually will fade away to the next measuring tool? Or is it something that is going to become standard, much like Social Media has.

I'd bet on the latter. To a certain extent, many search engines already use public opinion when providing results. So, why wouldn't they incorporate your personal feelings on a topic when you're looking for information?

That being said, the potential slippery slope it creates could indeed cause a long slide.

What if you're online doing research on delicate topics like gun control or abortion? And previously, on message boards and blogs, you've made your opinion on the topic quite well known.

Are the majority of the results from your searching going to support your opinion because there are facts to back it up, or are they going to support your opinion because the search engine intuitively knows how you feel based on what you've said previously.

It sounds like something out of a Sci-fi flick - computers reading our minds and gauging our feelings. And it does seem a bit chilling.

Nonetheless, it's an exciting, emerging technology, and yet another important tool at our disposable as we continue to go forward in these exciting times. Learning how to use these tools, and harness their power can only help us more forward, both professional and personally, and as a society.

A world without Social Media

For the last few weeks, I was on vacation. For some of that time, I had almost no internet access. Three days with no access whatsoever, and another 4 days where only my Palm Treo 755p, which is almost like no internet access.

It was strange. Unable to update my blogs, to update my Facebook status, to send Tweets. It was almost like being stranded on a desert island, with no way to communicate to everyone back home.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not a total communications junkie. I don't have a Blackberry where I can check email 24/7, and nor do I want one. Yes, I am one of those people who constantly text, but when the situation calls for it, I have no problem putting down my phone.

This was different though. I enjoy Social Media. Heck, I've made it my career choice. But not being able to Tweet or update Facebook was certainly an experiment in patience. Yes, there have been times when I didn't update for three days, but the difference was, the access.

20 years ago, I'd go camping, and might lament missing my favorite TV shows. 15 years ago, I'd go camping, and miss this new thing called the internet. 10 and 5 years ago, I would definitely be missing the internet.

Now, it's Facebook and Twitter.

And based on some of the messages waiting for me when I returned to Social Media civilization, plenty of people missed me too.

Times have changed, and Social Media has become an important part of our world, on par with television and the internet in terms of getting your message across.