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Hi Jordi,
I modified the Excel template provided by .NetGraph to handle input data in
matrix form. If you follow the instructions I added you should be able to
visualize the networks up to 100x100 in Excel in no time:
http://www.bliemel.ca/2008/09/netmapgraph-for-dummies-plotting.html
At 100x100 capacity it's not optimized for speed ("presto" might take a
minute or two). I haven't added density and centrality measures, but they
should be easy to add.
Best,
Martin
Martin J. Bliemel, BSc (Mech.), MBA
Faculty of Business Administration, PhD Candidate
Strategy and Entrepreneurship
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m: 604.786.2789 (no voicemail, send a text message via the web)
Simon Fraser University
Segal Graduate School of Business
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Vancouver BC Canada V6C 1W6
My blog
-----Original Message-----
From: Social Networks Discussion Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Jordi Comas
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 8:18
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Teaching and software (a simulator with visualizer)
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Hey all-
I am teaching Watts' Six Degrees book and I would really like to be able
to show the students graphs (visualizations) of some of the ideas he
presents. These are first year liberal arts students. So, I want them to
understand the idea of models and how a changing parameter can affect the
model. For example, Watts describes their alpha model and how the
likelihood of new ties as a function of number of mutual ties can generate
all kinds of models.
In my dreams, I fire up a computer, load some sort of app, and presto!
They can see different types of networks (and also get some descriptive
stats or measurements) based on changing some initial parameters. I know
the socnet community has lots of software people have developed, but my
need is more pedagogical- simple, visual, and dynamic. Maybe what I need
is a "live" simulation that changes visually according to those initial
settings.
This little demo is close: http://stat.gamma.rug.nl/snijders/siena.html
And it is very nice. But the meanings of the parameters' values are a bit
opaque (to me at least). And I can't regraph the network out of a circle.
Any thoughts?
Is there some lovely network simulator and graphing package out there that
I am missing?
Thanks (I'll repost compile replies for collective wisdom).
Jordi
Jordi Comas
Assistant Professor
School of Management
Bucknell University
570 577-3161
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Ideas, Commentary and Research Blog:
<http://www.netsweweave.wordpress.com/> www.netsweweave.wordpress.com
Personal website: <http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/jcomas>
http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/jcomas
"There is nothing so practical as a good theory." Kurt Lewin
"Not all learning leads to intelligent behavior." James March
"I often say sociology is a martial art, a means of self-defense.
Basically, you use it to defend yourself, without having the right to use
if for unfair attacks." Pierre Bourdieu
"These are hard times to get it right, but the easy answers to yesterday's
debate won't get it right." Lawrence Lessig
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