What are the definitions for social signals, pulses and waves ?

 

This is about social media using engineering terms to try and define/ categorise patterns being seen or looked for in your data.

For the purposes of this blog I am currently defining the following:-

Social signal (physical) - think physical behavioural signals you give off when interacting. A seemingly erratic behaviour that routine, regular, repeatable and actually has a defined pattern irrespective of who you are.

Social signal (digital) - think digital behavioural signals that are a continual feed from digital interactions.

Social spike - think spike from a crowd doing the same thing for a short time and then moving on.

Social pulse - think regular pattern or behaviour from a crowd when stimulated.

Social wave - think growing sentiment of change from a crowd doing something different and moving to a new normal.

Social trend - think underlying slow change in the crowd.