Oh whats in a network? Our concept of networks are continually changing as new ways of connecting are developed. Scott Weingart describes network as “a complex interlocking system” filled with stuff and plenty of relationships( 2011). But what can this tell us about human interactions and connections? Our world is filled with data, but most of this knowledge is open for interpretation; nothing be simply defined, and every translation is malleable. The humanities have a much different approach to data then say a scientist. We firmly believe in the power of perception and the complexities that exist when attempting to display something as concrete. There is always ambiguity and uncertainty in every systems, and with this varied nature many models will seem as though they are incomplete. Humanist follow the pattern of diversity and variation, rather than similarity and connections. I believe that connections can always be made, but discovering something special and unique is truly profound. But how can this information be constructed into a system which thrives off of narrow categories? I personally find this to be an issue when researching. Weingart discusses the importance of nods, which are concrete points, for example it is one thing or another, there is very little variation. I understand this concept, and the actual reality of a nod, such as in a communication network. There is a physicalness to nods; you can think of it more as a tangible display or transfer of stuff. I sit here and think about how I can translate this information into a real life display, and the first thing that comes to mind is the majestic Facebook.
Facebook has to be one of the largest social communication networks to date. Of course it is apart of a the larger Internet community, the fact of that one site has obtained over 1.3 billion users is not just astounding, its mind-boggling. Think of the assortment and diversity just within the user population. Facebook is a complex realm of real-time interactions, where agents from all over the globe can meet and interconnect. To understand Facebook, is to understand networks. The site is the system in which every nod is connected too. The people and profiles are concrete, and although their are an assortment users, each user has a separate homepage and account. This is a multimodal system that works by having people organize themselves into different categories or organizations. Although their still are uncertainties within the Facebook network, it shows how data can be separated and grouped together, through relationships and collaboration. Not every network will be as easy to differentiate and assort, even Facebook has its complexities. We all appropriate information in order to fit within individual limitations with data, but what is important to recognize is there is always more than what meets the eye!