New online tool helps lovers find the right tone on Valentine's Day

Toneapi.com, a new tool created by Adoreboard, a data analytics firm based at Queen’s University Belfast, can assist people agonising over how to sign off cards, write texts, or compile posts on social media.

The language analysis technology detects up to 24 different types of emotions through the use of mathematical algorithms.

They range from admiration to joy, and maybe even rage - depending on the current state of a relationship.

Pledging one’s love is straight forward, but it is the tone of the content which can make all the difference and is a key factor in developing relationships, according to Chris Johnston, founder of Adoreboard.

He said: “Finding the right emotional words or phrases is absolutely critical.”

Mr Johnston expects a surge in activity ahead of Valentine’s Day.

He added: “Technology has radically changed how we deliver messages. We are more likely to send an email or text messages than send a letter. That might not sit well with the traditionalists.

“The natural step is to use technology to optimise that message for emotion to improve the impact of how people write and making sure their feelings are accurately reflected in the words they use.

“People are more comfortable using emoticons or emojis to express feelings. Using the software people can understand the emotional meaning behind the emoticons or emojis so they avoid any misinterpretation in the Valentine’s messages they send.”

Major global advertising firm Havas Worldwide is among those who have signed up to use the software to better connect with customers.

Dr Gary McKeown, an expert in emotion at the School of Psychology at Queen’s, said the analysis tool had helped global brands trying to ensure that their words matched the type of emotions they wanted to communicate.

He said: “Our most powerful uses of language are found when we craft words together in creative combinations to make the right impact and which guarantee them the highest levels of attention.”