IBM Lotus introduced "IBM Atlas for Lotus Connections" this morning, a tool which allows users of the Connections enterprise social networking application to create visual representations of connections between members of various networks. I had the opportunity to see this tool in action a few weeks ago and I was impressed. By visualizing a social network one is able to see who are primary connectors within a network, and now groups of networks inter-relate. In effect one can determine who others use as the source of their information.
I'd recommend that anyone contemplating the use of this tool read "Linked: The New Science of Networks" by Albert-Laszlo Barabasi, which explains how networks typically form with a few key nodes that others attach to, making those nodes of primary importance in understanding and growing a social networking environment.
More: eWeek: Visualize Social Networks with IBM's Atlas
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