Part 2: Network Stack

Application Layer: In the first network, the node hands the sketchbook to a friend. The second network, the node hands the sketchbook to someone that he/she does not know.
Transmission Layer: "Read/Write" (Gilad Lotan, Lawrence Lessig).
Physical Layer: Peer-to-peer passing of sketches in a sketchbook.

Part 3: Visual Explanation

Network 1A (Friends starting with a 1st Year):

Network 1B (Friends starting with a 2nd Year):

Network 2 (Unfamiliar ITP Members):

Part 4: Predictions and Discussion

To download list of names, click on these links: network1A.pdf, network1B.pdf, network2.pdf

Network 1 (Friend)

The protocol for network 1 was to draw your one of your friends, and then pass the sketchbook to that friend. I expected the loops to happen more often between nodes because they were denser. I also expected this network to run faster since the distance between hops were shorter. I sent 2 sketchbooks around, one book started with Michael Dory, a 1st year, and the other book started with Angela Pablo, a 2nd year. The 1st year sketchbooks collected 43 sketches. Some of the nodes were unrecognizable because names were illegible. There was a good mix of 1st and 2nd year portraits in there. Also, most of the artwork was drawn in order, even though the rules didn’t state they had to be. There were no loops between friends in sketchbook 1A, probably because the activity required some time. However, the second sketchbook, 1B, started with a 2nd year, and he started his sketch in the middle of the book. This network was harder to track, since a lot of the sketches were randomly distributed throughout the book. This book had only 20 portraits, half that of 1A, and there was a loop between a 2nd year and 1st year (i.e. Jenny-Robert-Jenny). Also there were only three 1st year sketches. One of the participants confessed to discarding some of the pages because they would start a portrait of one friend, who had complicated features, and start their sketch over with a different friend. Sketchbook 1A traveled through the network faster than Sketchbook 1B. By the end of the 1st day, sketchbook 1A had collected 20 sketches, the same number that took sketchbook 1B three days to complete. Since these networks were point-to-point, a single node in network 1B may have caused a delay. I still didn’t expect to get this book back because of the “single point of failure” rule.

Network 2

I passed only one book, which was slightly bigger, and more securely bound, so I think this network effect is more accurate. The protocol of this network was to draw a self-portrait, and then pass the book to someone you were unfamiliar with at ITP. I predicted that there were going to be many loops between 1st and 2nd years, and that this network would run slower because of people’s reluctance to interact with unfamiliar people and that the book had to pass approximately 230 people. In contrast, this network ran quickly because this network had 27 nodes. There were no loops between repeated nodes (e.g. A-B-A). Since politeness was probably a factor, people rarely passed the books back to the person who gave it to them. There were many loops between 1st and 2nd years, but also loops amongst the 1st years. I expected this sketchbook to get lost because of the “single point of failure” rule, but this prediction was incorrect. Network 1A seemed to behave and have similar characteristics with Network 2.

Some of the books overlapped with each other, but this was harder to track because I did not consider having nodes write down time. Some nodes did list the time. I wanted to keep the rules simple, and make the content engaging. People were more inclined to participate and redefine the rules. At one point, I heard two nodes lightly debating the rules of passing the book. One person reinterpreted the rules and they both settled on the reinterpretation. I believe that people are more likely to participate when they are able to reinterpret the rules. I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome of  ITP members’ participation. These peer-to-peer networks have similar density to Dodgeball and contrast MySpace. I didn’t have multiple repeat users because this activity required some time. In running a network, I think I would have passed more securely bound sketchbooks for Network 1 around because the results seemed more accurate.

Predictions in a nutshell

Network 1 (Friend):
1) Loop more likely to happen between overlapping circle of friends. INCORRECT
2) Maybe some nodes will encounter book several times because the network is denser. CORRECT
3) Shorter distance between hops. INCORRECT
4) 1st year sketchbooks will have little 2nd year portraits, but 2nd year sketchbook may exhibit portraits of 1st years. INCORRECT

Network 2 (Unfamilliar ITP Member):
1) Multiple loops between 1st and 2nd years. CORRECT
2) It will take a long time for this network to run, since it may get passed to someone who might not have a class until the following week. INCORRECT
3) Possible repeat nodes (feedback loop). INCORRECT
4) Sketchbook will get lost because of the single point of failure rule. INCORRECT

Re-evaluation

Clay suggested that I extract clusters in the point-to-point graphs above, specifically Network 1B (multiple interactions between 2nd years). I noticed a couple of clusters (TNO Posse - Gabriel, Steven and Jenny), (Alice and Megan worked collaboratively for assistive tech and physical computing without computers) and (Tikva, Ran, and Charles for game design). All of the clusters center around an activity.

Clay also suggested that I evaluate the comfort gradient of my activity. The number of participants in Network 1B varied significantly to Network 2 and Network 1A. Although there was a level of engagement in the activity, I believe people were less inclined to participate in Network 1B because they didn't want to insult their friends. Most apologetic comments were made by 2nd years directed to 2nd years. Some 2nd years admitted to tearing out pages because they felt uncomfortable passing their drawings to their subjects. This evidence suggests that a personal bond has formed between the 2nd years.

To see scans of full book: Network 1A, Network 1B, Network 2