The little things count.
Emergence, the connected lives of ants, brains, cities and software by Steven Johnson shows extensively how interacting agents perform simple activities on the microlayer which lead to distinguishable patterns on the macro layer. He compared different systems which exhibit the same attributes. Johnson describes the world around us a big complex system but much of its workings are from the little simple activities which build up into a problem-solving system. Though the book was written a few years ago and things have progressed over time, the world today exhibits the patterns described in the book. The web is a large plethora of information and navigation can be problematic. Johnson makes reference to Alexa, an indexing system, which give structure to the otherwise unstructured world of the web. Networking and making connections is an inherent part of a complex system, however, it is not naturally so on the web. Johnson makes reference to a lacking attribute, the efficient form of feedback. In recent years, the popularity and global-reaching capabilities of the media has challenged this claim. With the development of social networking and huge global interaction, feedback has become readily available. However, the huge amount of availability now creates the problem of filtering. The problem we now face is âHow much exactly do I hear or want to hear?â. With the amount of information countered, there is no one way, we are efficiently exposed to everything. Hence, the phenomenon of the long tail is apparent with feedback. The top and popular are rebroadcasted and amplified through the society. The web thus becomes the vehicle of societal view amplification.  However, âwhat is amplified to us?â Johnson also talks about personalization in feedback. He mentions that information we come about would be so custom tailored to our preferences and there would be limited chance of interaction with objecting or diverse views. Unfortunately, I think this is becoming evident with the increasing number of suggestive systems we encounter online.  The information we see is that which is compiled based on learnt data â past experiences and similar pattern with other users such as us. Information is also gathered based on the interaction of others around. So we are relegated to our interests and the interests of those immediate to us. This can be quite limiting and narrows our potentially fascinating explorations. Even though the younger generation might think they are free thinkers, however, they might circle even the pool of their peers. The human society is adapted to sticking with traditions and âthe things you are comfortable withâ.  Hence, some of our online interaction mimic our limited interactions in our physical society. Â
