Paper on viral networking

McGee's Musings

Jim McGee, along with many others have recently noted a paper from MIT on viral networking. The paper is a bit old (dated 2003) but still relevant and useful in looking at the future of "viral" or "mesh" networks (from a technical sense) involving wireless/radio networking.

Detecting networks

[cond-mat/0309508] Fast algorithm for detecting community structure in networks

An abstract and paper on a technique for detecting network structures in large scale datasets. The paper itself looks highly interesting. But as well how I found this article is, itself, of interest.

The article was found from the following source:

http://www.technorati.com/tag/networks

Which is a demonstration of Technorati's recent "tag" feature. Specifically I found the article via the set of links Technorati displayed that were pulled from Furl and Del.icio.us.

A simple, yet highly effective way to harness the collective knowledge and wisdom of the network for, in this case, discovering new sources and articles etc on networks.

Networks enhance and detract

In the comments to our definitions of network, Sheizaf Rafaeli gives three additional versions of the definition of network.

A network is a net. In sports, a "net" is a barrier. Net is also that which remains after all deductions and adjustments are made. A third etymological derivation for net is a means of entrapment, surrounding and captivation. Among all interpretations of the "net" in "network" this third meaning is, in our view, the most appropriate.

A funny thing about that third definition with regard to human behavior: The net that holds me up and supports me (people, institutions, background) is the same net that can "entrap or captivate" me just as easily. In reading The Medici Effect by Frans Johansson, there are chapters entitled "Break out of Your Network" and "How to Leave the Network Behind" that talk about the potentially detrimental effect a network can have on people who seek to be creating new things.

Registration Details for MeshForum

You can register for MeshForum by mailing us the registration form (by April 15th) or registering online

Registration prices are:

$900$750/person speacial early registration by March 17th, 2005.

$1200/person pre-reg by April 15th

$1500/person registration at the door (If space is available, maximum of 300 attendees)

Academic discount of $250 for professors, staff and students applies to all categories.

Looking for additional skills

MeshForum is the efforts of many people. If you would like to volunteer to help organize MeshForum, please contact us. A few specific areas where MeshForum is seeking help are:

• Graphic Design - a Logo for MeshForum, graphics for the web, design of MeshForum materials and program book
  
• Media relations/PR - outreach to Media before MeshForum, as well as liaison to media during MeshForum
  
• Publisher coordination - many MeshForum attendees are book authors, MeshForum is looking for contacts with publishers to coordinate schedules and efforts, as well as to arrange publicity and promotions
  
• Foundation outreach - as a non-profit, MeshForum would like to reach out to other non-profits and foundations for support and partnership.
  
• Guest Bloggers - for a week or two at a time, MeshForum is seeking experts on Networks (or a particular area of Network study) to be guest bloggers here at MeshForum.

• Sponsorship outreach - reaching out to potential sponsors and coordinating literature and/or products for attendee bags
  
• Press/Media outreach - working with press and media to address their needs and requirements before, during and after MeshForum 2005
  
• Volunteers - about 20 people are needed before and during MeshForum to stuff bags, setup, staff registration and ensure a smoothly running conference. In exchange for at least 8 hours of labor, you can attend MeshForum and participate fully.

Session topics at MeshForum

MeshForum 2005, May 1-3, will cover many aspects of Networks - from explorations of the study of Networks directly to specific types of Networks, to specific case studies and overviews of challenges around Networks, the topics will be many and diverse.

Running in a single track, formats will vary from presentations to panel discussions to interactive exercises for all attendees. All sessions will heavily involve the audience.

Suggestions for additional topics are welcome, please add them as comments to this post.

Networks - a survey of the current science of Networks with short presentations by leading experts and researchers from sociology to econophysics.

The Mathematics of Networks - from graph theory to applied Chaos how modern mathematics and computation allow for rich study of Network phenomenon.

Lessons from the Field - short case studies for experts working directly with complex networks - panelists could include experts from Intelligences organizations, airline schedulers, logistics experts, computer scientists, and master salespeople.

Case Studies - longer presentations by a panel of experts from a specific field

Using a Network Lens - how focusing on the Network properties of a given area offers an opportunity to gain new insights and create value. Whether by harnessing distributed social network phenomenon as shown by the politicians raising money on the web, or how understanding Networks is key to the organizational power of successful entities from Amway to Visa to the US military.

Economics of a Network - or "how to make money from a power law". Lessons from successful organizations that have leveraged Networks and an understanding of Networks to financial success.

Navigating Networks - having a "network" is not the end goal, rather it is just one step in an ongoing process, the network has to then do something, how this happens will be presented by people who not just work within a network but are experts in techniques for navigating and optimizing networks.

How to map a network? Or how to visualize something in 4 dimensions. One of the more technical presentations and one of the few at MeshForum which may involve a visual presentation, this panel will explore some of the variety of tools and techniques for picturing and representing complex, dynamic systems.

Securing a network. Networks from Power Grids to Social networks are frequently subject to "attacks" (a power plant may go offline, an employee may leave, a distribution point may close, a cell in a body may die). How can lessons learned from various fields be adapted to enhance, optimize and secure Networks in other fields?

How many "types" of networks are there? Many commonly encountered networks seem to be of the "hub and spoke" model - with a few "nodes" that are linked to many, and most nodes that are linked but at a much lower level than the top "hubs". But are there other types of networks?

Why you should attend MeshForum

Do you like crowded tradeshows with sales pitches and canned spiels dominating the proceedings? Keynotes by speakers flown in and who fly out surrounded by advisors after the failed demo on a large stage far from where you sit in a large, crowded airplane hangar like room?

If so, MeshForum is not for you.

However, if you like a small, intimate, conversation driven conference where sales pitches and powerpoint are banned, where many conversations take place over meals prepared by real chefs, and most sessions are conducted in the round with panelists and audience alike talking and discussing complex ideas, then MeshForum may be the conference for you.

MeshForum 2005 will be held May 1-4 at HotHouse in downtown Chicago. Starting with a Sunday evening reception and continuing through Tuesday afternoon, MeshForum will in two days offer you new insights and understanding of the role Networks play in the 21st century. From the mathematics that underlie all networks to specific techniques used within industries for managing, growing, maintaining, and navigating networks, you will learn something new. As well, you will teach someone else.

Attendees at MeshForum will be a highly diverse, yet select, group. From graduate student to CEO's, from best selling authors to software developers, attendees will come from many fields and many backgrounds.

If you would like to attend, register today for just $749.50.

MeshForum Sponsorship Thoughts

MeshForum brings together many diverse groups from academics to business leaders to the public sector to explore what Networks are, how they form, how to navigate them, and why Networks are key to understanding the 21st century.

By Sponsoring MeshForum your organization plays a vital and critical role in supporting this dialogue. Your sponsorship dollars help bring together and directly further the conversations that are the heart of MeshForum.

MeshForum, May 1-3, 2005, will be held at HotHouse in downtown Chicago. Sponsors will participate in pre- and post- forum marketing and advertising, as well as be represented in all press releases and other publicity before, during and after MeshForum.

Many organizations from telecommunications firms to logistics firms to airlines to venture capitalists emphasize and tout "Networks" as being a core part of the value of the organization. MeshForum offers its sponsors an opportunity to share that expertise and to learn from other leaders in Network related fields.

Sponsorships are available starting at $5000 in cash or comparable value of in-kind contributions. All sponsors can send a participant to MeshForum. Additionally all sponsors will appear in onsite programs and banners, can place a reasonable amount of literature and/or products in bags for all participants, and with attendee permission may follow up with attendees.

Sponsors for the Sunday night opening reception and the Monday evening dinner and performance are specifically sought. As well, Media, Print, and Travel sponsorships are also available, for details please contact our founder, Shannon Clark, directly.

Dyamic programming talk: Jan 18

Northwestern's Industrial Engineering Seminar Series presents Warren B. Powell on Approximate Dynamic Programming for High-Dimensional Resource Allocation Problems

Warren B. Powell
Director, CASTLE Laboratory
Department of Operations Research and Financial Engineering
Princeton University

Dynamic programming has long been relegated to small problems due to the well-known "curse of dimensionality." We show that there are actually three curses of dimensionality, but that these can be overcome by using a different form of the optimality equations along with carefully chosen functional approximations. In particular, the use of separable, piecewise linear approximations of the value function is particularly well suited for discrete resource allocation problems, allowing us to solve dynamic programs where the dimensionality of the state variable is in the tens of thousands. We illustrate these methods in the context of several large-scale freight transportation applications, and discuss research issues that have arisen in these applications. One challenge has been the management of resources with complex attributes, which produces dynamic programs where the dimensionality of the state vector can measure in the millions. We show how hierarchical learning strategies can be used to produce effective approximations, helping to solve the "explore vs. exploit" dilemma that is well-known in approximate dynamic programming. As a byproduct, the value functions provide accurate gradient information, avoiding the need to perform statistically unreliable "what if" simulations to determine the effect of changes in fleet size and mix.

When and Where
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Tech M228 4:00pm
Northwestern University
2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208