Networks are popular because they can be represented as graphs, maps, and interfaces. As graphs, networks help model real-world systems like transportation and information retrieval. As maps, networks help navigate both physical spaces and abstract domains. As interfaces, networks provide user-friendly tools to explore and analyze connections between different components. Effectively representing networks through these different lenses helps explain their widespread use across many domains.

1. WE♥
NET
(but why?)

2. Why do we love networks ?
http://www.informationarchitects.jp/en/ia-trendmap-2007v2/
Information Architects (2007)

3. Why do we love networks ? Fondation Cartier
Mathematics (2012)

4. Why do we love networks ?
http://blog.ocad.ca/wordpress/gdes3b44-fw2011-01/2012/02/facebook-going-public/
Hillary Elizabeth Predko (2012)

5. Why we love networks
Networks are graphs
Networks are maps
Networks are interfaces

6. Network as graphs Euler, 1736, Solutio problematis ad
geometriam situs pertinentis

7. Network as graphs
(train routing)

8. Network as graphs
(information routing) Paul Baran, 1960

9. Network as graphs
(information retrieval)
Lawrence Page
Pagerank Patent (6285999)

10. Network as maps London Underground
1920 Map
homepage.ntlworld.com/clivebillson/tube/tube.html - www.fourthway.co.uk/tfl.html

11. Network as maps London Underground
1933 Map (Harry Beck)
homepage.ntlworld.com/clivebillson/tube/tube.html - www.fourthway.co.uk/tfl.html

12. Network as maps Force Vector Algorithms

13. Network as maps Force Vector Algorithms

14. Network as maps Kevin Lynch
The Image of the City (1959)

15. Network as interfaces Pajek
vlado.fmf.uni-lj.si/pub/networks/pajek

16. Network as interfaces Ucinet
www.analytictech.com/ucinet

17. Network as
interfaces
Guess
graphexploration.cond.org

18. Network as
interfaces
Gephi
gephi.org

19. User-friendlier
interfaces
vlado.fmf.uni-lj.si/pub/networks/pajek
www.analytictech.com/ucinet
graphexploration.cond.org
gephi.org

20. Why we love networks
Networks are graphs
Networks are maps
Networks are interfaces

21. The social as
a network effect
Jacob L. Moreno, April 3, 1933
The New York Times

22. Quali/quantitative
divide
Details of local interactions vs
Surface of global structures
rich data, small populations
large populations, poor data

23. Gulliver sociology Gulliver's Travels
Jonathan Swift, 1726

24. micro-interactions
macro-structure
rich data
small populations
large populations
poor data
Quali/Quantitative
Micro/Macro
Details of local interactions vs
Surface of global structures

25. Sui generis social facts?
Gabriel Tarde vs Emile Durkheim

26. The weaving of
social phenomena
Photo credit – tricotin via Flickr - ©

27. Actor-Network Theory
Photo credit – Alessandro Coco via bonnierskonsthall.se - CC
Tomas Saraceno, Galaxy Forming along Filaments,
like Droplets along the Strands of a Spider’s Web
Biennale
Venice
2009

28. The media as an
object of study
Photo credit – Brandon Doran via Flickr - ©

29. The media as carbon
paper
Chris Harrison, 1994
Internet connections

30. Large populations Paul Butler, 2010
Visualizing Friendships

31. Rich data AOL user 711391 search history
www.minimovies.org/documentaires/view/ilovealaska

32. Large populations
and rich data
Google Flu
www.google.org/flutrends

33. Large populations
and rich data
Google Flu
www.google.org/flutrends

34. Large populations
and rich data
Google Flu
www.google.org/flutrends

35. Quali-quantitative
methods
Top 50 US blogs
Ben Fry, 2006
http://nymag.com/news/media/15972/
linkology

36. Alice sociology Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll, 1865

37. From aggregation to
navigation Linkscape©
by Linkfluence©

38. Networks as navigation
tools

39. Learning to navigate

40. tommaso.venturini@sciences-po.org