Abstract:

As the Internet has a more profound influence over all aspects of society, it becomes a vital means of communication for public opinion. Because hearing and analyzing online public opinion is beneficial to the efficient understanding and predicting of social situation, numerous public opinion monitoring systems have been setting up during recent years. However, it is problematic that important functional flaws still exist in current systems in China. Employing a sampling research on current systems and related research papers, we found several prominent and pervasive functional problems, such as the lack of accuracy in catching and analyzing multimedia or foreign messages, and the deficiency of validity and productivity. This article is aimed at examining those problems and giving possible approaches for further improvements. Four countermeasures are thus given: Firstly, techniques regarding the monitoring of multimedia messages are to be strengthened. Secondly, great importance should be attached to the hearing of foreign messages. Thirdly, validity would be improved, attention on data source and analysis layers should be paid. Lastly, corresponding algorithms, analysis models and working structure should be optimized to enhance productivity.

Key words: Online public opinion, Public opinion monitoring system, Public opinion management