BuddyZoo BuddyZoo. AIM Meets Social Network Theory [Slashdot]
 
BuddyZoo just got Slashdotted. Another form of identity browsing - AIM buddy lists are by far, the largest collection of identities out there today. Unfortunately it's controlled by the mother of all closed shops - AOL.
BuddyZoo takes your buddy list and compares it to everyone elses - and draws connections between them. Totally right on. Ross Mayfield will love this! So will Danah Boyd. [Marc's Voice]
Marc's right. I do love this. But what interests me is how IM as a mode of communication should display a different network pattern than email. With IM, each connection is a confirmed tie that is based on a committment to allow one another the luxury of interrupt. That's a committment. My guess is the requirements for these connections would mean that this is not a scale-free network (power-law). Its more of a social network.
So the mass graphing of all of AOL AIM doesn't really show that much. Its just a Zoo.
6:58:32 PM 
|
