Artificial Mavens

December 27th, 2005

I’ve been reading through The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell. One of many books given as Christmas presents, deciding which one to begin with has been a challenge. Gladwell writes an entertaining and enlightening book about social epidemics, and the simple catalyst that can start it all rolling.

Gladwell takes a chapter to explain three types of people: connectors, mavens, and salesmen. Mavens struck my attention. They are information seekers, and quickly become experts on whatever subject(s) they are interested in. What’s most intriguing about them, is they seek to share this information with others in their immediate network.

Mavens aren’t required to do this, its just a natural instinct they have. Its a natural reaction they have to the information they learn, discover, and seek. In my exploration in networks, and the potential to create a network as a vehicle for artistic expression, I’m curious how Mavens could be created algorithmically. Would they become unique nodes within a preconceived network, or simply coexist with the other nodes without much impact or attention given to themselves. Many of these questions should be explored soon, with simple designs of physical networks that exhibit these artifacts.

I need to remind myself to keep things small, simple, and elegant as I research the effects of these networks, so that I can see the results quickly and continue to find interesting correlations that will further drive this line of questioning.

Entry Filed under: Concepts and Thoughts