22.6.06

Social dynamics and opinion spreading

Microscopic activity patterns in the Naming Game. [cond-mat/0606125 CROSS LISTED]

The models of statistical physics used to study collective phenomena in someinterdisciplinary contexts, such as social dynamics and opinion spreading, donot consider the effects of the memory on individual decision processes. On thecontrary, in the Naming Game, a recently proposed model of Language formation,each agent chooses a particular state, or opinion, by means of a memory-basednegotiation process, during which a variable number of states is collected andkept in memory. In this perspective, the statistical features of the number ofstates collected by the agents becomes a relevant quantity to understand thedynamics of the model, and the influence of topological properties onmemory-based models. By means of a master equation approach, we analyze theinternal agent dynamics of Naming Game in populations embedded on networks,finding that it strongly depends on very general topological properties of thesystem (e.g. average and fluctuations of the degree). However, the influence oftopological properties on the microscopic individual dynamics is a generalphenomenon that should characterize all those social interactions that can bemodeled by memory-based negotiation processes.

Social dynamics and opinion spreading

Microscopic activity patterns in the Naming Game. [cond-mat/0606125 CROSS LISTED]

The models of statistical physics used to study collective phenomena in someinterdisciplinary contexts, such as social dynamics and opinion spreading, donot consider the effects of the memory on individual decision processes. On thecontrary, in the Naming Game, a recently proposed model of Language formation,each agent chooses a particular state, or opinion, by means of a memory-basednegotiation process, during which a variable number of states is collected andkept in memory. In this perspective, the statistical features of the number ofstates collected by the agents becomes a relevant quantity to understand thedynamics of the model, and the influence of topological properties onmemory-based models. By means of a master equation approach, we analyze theinternal agent dynamics of Naming Game in populations embedded on networks,finding that it strongly depends on very general topological properties of thesystem (e.g. average and fluctuations of the degree). However, the influence oftopological properties on the microscopic individual dynamics is a generalphenomenon that should characterize all those social interactions that can bemodeled by memory-based negotiation processes.

Maps nun auch von Google

Google Down Under

G'day Mates! We're excited to announce that we just launched our search appliances in Australia and New Zealand. Ever since we announced the Google Search Appliance and the Google Mini we've gotten constant inquiries from customers down under who wanted to provide Google-quality search across their corporate networks and websites.

Google's approach of providing a complete enterprise search solution - in an appliance - rather than selling just the software means that customers can be up and runnin' and searchin' in little time after unpacking the box. But it also means that we as a company have to go through demanding tests and government processes for importing hardware into a new market. Anyway, we cleared all that and we're happy that now we can answer all those "I want my Google Mini!" demands!

Our customers elsewhere might be asking, "when can I get my hands on the Google Search Appliance?" Well, the answer is: soon! We're working hard to make sure ALL of you can enjoy great enterprise search just as you enjoy Google's web search.

Rodrigo Vaca

20.6.06

Aus Lifehacker

Publish Google calendars on your web site

Google calendar - Lifehacker

Hot out of the Google Calendar oven: you can now publish a calendar on your web site for viewing by anyone (not just GCal users.)

From the Settings section of a calendar, hit up the HTML button to get a Javascript for including into your site's pages. The Gcal HTML configuration tool customizes width, height, background color, title and other display settings. Except for the big honkin' self-promotin' Google Cal logo, this is fantastic for any site with upcoming events to announce.