weighted graphs of desires
In 2005, I worked on visualizing the way language is used to search for specific kinds of information online - namely, (predominantly) illegally distributed content on a peer-to-peer file-sharing network. To do this, I programmatically intercepted the exchange of search queries of the network, which provided me with data to build a weighted graph of jointly used search terms. I then experimented with how to visually represent the enormous amount of information. I eventually settled on using only the most established word connections, which were then algorithmically placed with aiSee, a very simple data visualization tool.
I was also interested in how language would emerge in this confined technological space. To quote the evolutionary linguist Luc Steels: “New words pop up all the time, simply because language users need to express a never ending stream of new meanings. The meaning of existing words is constantly being stretched and expanded to handle new situations. New grammatical constructions arise and become fashionable for a while, and existing words or constructions are coerced into new uses. New conceptualizations of reality arise as we discover more about our world and ourselves or create virtual worlds, such as the Internet and the World Wide Web.” (from Tokoro, M. (ed.): Open Systems Science, p. 129)
see graph branching out from search term “sex” (DIN-A0)
