The week 11 reading detailed more about the notion of networks, specifically looking at the ‘actor-network’ theory (ATN). The important take-away ideas were not so much about ATN but about the wider characteristics of networks.

The reading dealt with the misunderstandings to do with networks because of the various meanings and usages of the word ‘network’. The word shouldn’t be given a technical meaning that implies subway or phone networks and it also shouldn’t be considered as having much to do with the study of social networks.

The properites common to all networks are:

• They remove the concept of proximity
• Remove the distinction of small or large scale-, that is a network is never bigger than another one it is simply more connected
• Implies different social theory, so there is no hierarchical pyramid
• Removes notion of inside/outside, so networks are all boundary without inside and outside

In terms of computer networks, these can be considered to be intensely connected, distant, compulsory and strategically organised. However, an actor network may lack these characteristics and can be local, have no compulsory paths and no strategically placed nodes.

Finally, the theory should make you think in terms of nodes that have as many dimensions as connections.