This is an extract from the book Beyond the Rollercoaster, pages 131-133.
Have you ever been amazed at how synchronized the crowd reaction is at certain times of a concert or a football game? There are moments when a large part of the crowd reacts in unison without anyone giving them the signal that now is the time to jump and scream or now is the time to hold your breath and absorb the moment. In any stage show, there are moments when the whole crowd laughs or applauds simultaneously, and others when not even a whisper is heard. Interesting phenomenon, isn’t it?
Here is a video giving an example of a spontaneous mexican wave made by a crowd at a sporting event, showing a great example of this concept:
That phenomenon is what I call network resonance. Chances are you’ve probably experienced it a few times in your life: it’s when a whole network of people enters in resonance for a moment in time.
Each individual’s awareness tends to resonate with the dominant frequency of the network. This is a very interesting aspect of it. When network resonance takes over the network, individuals that were physically in the same location but not part of the network at the time can be influenced to enter in resonance with the network at that moment. Such is the power of network resonance.
That’s what happens when you’re at a comedy show or watching a funny movie and suddenly everyone in the room bursts out laughing. Even if you didn’t get the meaning of the joke or just didn’t hear what was said, you might feel compelled to start laughing with the others, not quite knowing why you’re actually laughing! You’ve joined in the cluster (or network, depending on the size) by resonance.
Similarly, even if you felt very peaceful before entering a room full of angry people (like a Christmas celebration that went the wrong way…) you may start to feel upset or irritated after some time. That’s the guard dog resonance phenomenon you’re already familiar with, which is unfortunately a common way we all experience network resonance in our lives.
HOW DOES NETWORK SCIENCE FIT IN?
The field of science that studies interactions within a network is called network science or the network theory. Once we understand the behavior of the network itself, and how the various influencers affect large portions of the network, which we call clusters, we can use these influencers to affect the behavior of the whole network. This is so powerful that many defense forces are now taking this on, hoping to gain more control over the enemy by strategically destabilizing their network.
Here’s a video by Steven Strogatz, known as the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor of Applied Mathematics at Cornell University, talking about the network theory.
Video title: “Steven Strogatz: How things in nature tend to sync up”
Description: “http://www.ted.com Mathematician Steven Strogatz shows how flocks of creatures (like birds, fireflies and fish) manage to synchronize and act as a unit — when no one’s giving orders. The powerful tendency extends into the realm of objects, too.”
Most of network science is conducted by observation and analyzing available data in order to understand the various structures of the network. If one has the complete understanding of the network, one could possibly predict the future. Professor Albert-László Barabási, a Hungarian researcher and a major contributor to the development of real-world network theory, had predicted many things about the World Wide Web using this theory which are now being observed.
Although my research is very much experimental in nature, as opposed to what is normally done in network science, it has not yet been measured by external instruments. The purpose of my research is to explore the efficiency of my connection with the network I call the Fabric of Life (which includes humanity). I study how the quality of that connection affects how I feel, as well as how it affects my own process of homeostasis (review Chapter 1 for my results).
Based on what I found, I have been able to build a whole new paradigm of the world before I was even aware of the existence of the field of network science. It seems that I have naturally understood the dynamics of networks since I was a child. I was born for this type of research.
I have not found any reference to ‘network resonance’ in network science, so as far as I can tell that terminology is my original contribution to the field. This is at the core of my research, and the base of all my theory on the Collective Reality Trap and the Fabric of Life. If this new model of the world makes sense to you as you read and gives you a better understanding of the world, feel free to take it on.
MORE VIDEOS
Video title: “Six Degrees: from Kevin Bacon to Biochemistry”
Description: “The science of networks governs a wide variety of everyday phenomena from social interactions to biochemistry. This video provides a quick summary of what you will learn in “Linked” by Albert-Laszlo Barabsi. Learn about network theory through the fun to play “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” party game. Math and science buffs will enjoy the mathematical treatment of networks including power laws, small-world networks, graph theory and fractals.”
This is a very good explanation of what network science is, through explaining the six degrees of separation:
Video title: “A documentary on networks, social and otherwise_Part 1″
Description: “This looks at network dynamics. The objective is to understand the common themes that different networks have both in the physical and social world. Some of the big hitters like Duncan Watts and Barabasi are featured here. Popular ideas like six degrees of separation is also investigated”
part2:
part3:
part4:
part5:
To buy this DVD:
http://justnow.com.au/evg/product.php?productid=16170&cat=252&page=1
Seed Salon with James Fowler and Albert-László Barabási More at www.ConnectedtheBook.com.