Botnets are a slightly different type of network than what we are usually familiar with. A botnet is a large group of computers (commonly known as ‘zombies’) that are networked together by somewhat of an evil overlord. That is, the computers and their users are unaware of being a part of this network, […]

The study of networks has grown substantially in the last decade or so. Mathematicians, sociologists, and scientists from various disciplines have found new ways in which network theory can be applied to an existing situation. An interesting article by Patrick Radden Keefe of the NY Times examines the role that network theory may play […]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/03/business/yourmoney/03google.html?pagewanted=2&sq=pagerank&st=nyt&scp=1
This article from the New York Times discusses Google’s ongoing mission to improve its search engine. Specifically, the company aims to better satisfy its users and ultimately decrease the number of people who leave the site not having found what they were looking for. In order to close this “gap between often (finding what you […]

Recently, the world economy has been having large problems in the credit markets. The sub-prime mortgage crisis in the US real estate market has had grave repercussions in the banking systems in many banking markets. It has affected almost all of the major players in the market including Credit Agricole, HSBC, UBS, Merrill Lynch, and […]

So we all know about non-cooperative game theory: it’s every man for himself. But, cooperative game theory has some interesting applications. The difference between the two is that cooperative game theory has groups or coalitions that enforce players to cooperate. Every possible coalition that can be formed gives a payoff to the players who form […]

When we think about airline routes, it is immediately apparent how they form networks. It is clear how concepts from social networks such as triadic closure apply. For example, consider Eastern Airlines in the early 1960s. It adopted the novel idea of hourly shuttle service between New York’s LaGuardia Airport with Boston’s Logan and Washington’s […]

In January of 2005, Nicholas Negroponte announced his idea to create an inexpensive laptop for children. Originally billed as the “$100 Laptop”, the device would provide a tool for poor and underserved children to tap into the educational opportunities presented by technology. His vision has since grown into a nonprofit organization, One Laptop […]

Interestingly enough, Game Theory can be an appropriate tool when it comes to analyzing terrorism. It helps us to look at the strategic actions of governments and terrorists where their actions are mutually dependent.
Now to look at the various situations where Game Theory can be applied – The first obvious application that would come […]

Seven Social Networking Strategies for Smaller Businesses
Rusty Weston’s article illustrates 7 social networking strategies for small businesses. The seven are Prospecting on a Social Network, Sourcing talent on a social network, building widgets for social networking sites, encouraging employee use, not abuse, of social networking, building a custom social network for customers, building a custom […]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/business/media/10cable.html?ref=technology
This New York Times article discusses how the 6 largest cable companies are trying very hard to increase advertising profits from television. Television advertisement has been fighting a losing battle against internet advertising (cough cough Google). However, cable has finally decided to take the project seriously. The project will collect data about viewer’s preference of […]