Wordle

Wordle is a free to use website which takes text and turns it into word 'clouds'. A user can simply copy and paste their chosen text into the box provided and with one click will turn it into a 'cloud' (as shown above). Words used most frequently in the text will be larger or bolder, which helps them stand out from the others. As well as copy and pasting text, you can also paste a URL link. For example you can paste your twitter URL into the box provided and see what things you enjoy talking about the most. You can also choose how many words from that text you would like to use, 10, 100, 200, 500 etc. You can also change the font style, font colour, background and shape of the cloud as well as other advanced settings.
Educationally speaking the use of Wordle would be great for an academic poster. As well as including other information on the poster, Wordle would look professional and catch the readers eye. It isn't necessarily something you would read through thoroughly if a lot of text is used, it is used to show key words and make them stand out from a large group of text. Students of all ages can use this because it purely depends on the information you put in what the cloud will look like in the end, so early years students could have a word cloud with the colours of the rainbow on it and each word in the correct colour. Blue Red Purple Green. I recently used Wordle for an academic poster on Karl Popper.

http://www.Wordle.net/