For anyone addicted to the conceptual depth of complexity theory, there's a must see web site, www.visualcomplexity.com. Take a look at the social networks page and drill down 'til you get to "Flickr Graph." If you have a Flickr account you'll love this tool.

"Flickr Graph is an application that explores the social relationships inside flickr.com. It makes use of the classic attraction-repulsion algorithm for graphs. The user starts exploring its contacts by entering their flickr username or email address, after which the network starts emerging around its own icon. One can also explore uploaded photos by any user present in the graph."

The Internet based social networks movement - as represented by Flickr - will have profound impact on urban planning. At least that's what Howard Rheingold says and I agree. On the down side, the recent riots in Sydney, Australia, were driven by cellphone based text messaging. Hold on to your hats! Over the next decade social networking is going to change our understanding of public and private identities and no one knows how cities will respond.

1. I was just wondering if you could lead me to a news source about the organization of the Sydney riots through text messaging.

   I’m currently studying social networking and technology through an anthropological viewpoint, and would love to get some more information on the text messaging arena.

   Oh, and thanks for the link to Rheingold’s site; there are some great things on there, and I do plan on picking up the book.

   Posted by Sameer Vasta  on  12/15  at  02:46 PM

2. A google search on “sydney riots text messaging” gives hundreds of hits . . .

   Results 1 – 100 of about 238,000 for Sydney riots text messaging. (0.22 seconds)
   News results for Sydney riots text messaging – View today’s top stories
   Loserpalooza: Behind Sydney’s ‘Race’ Riots – TIME – 1 hour ago
   Txting hate: Racist messages spread from Sydney – National Business Review – 10 hours ago
   Police out in force to stop weekend riots – New Zealand Herald – 22 hours ago

   Short message service – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
   In December 2005, text messaging was cited for helping to incite the Sydney race
   riots. Text messaging being very popular in Australia, the SMS messages …
   en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_message_service – 53k – 14 Dec 2005 – Cached – Similar pages

   2005 Sydney race riots – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
   The 2005 Sydney race riots were a series of violent race riots that occurred in
   ... On Monday 12 December, there were initially reports of new text messages …
   en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Sydney_race_riots – 61k – 14 Dec 2005 – Cached – Similar pages

   Racist text messages surface on Gold Coast – National – smh.com.au
   The text messages targeting ethnic groups are similar to ones which sparked the
   Sydney race riots. Gold Coast district Superintendent Brett Pointing said …
   http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/ racist-text-messages-surface-on-gold-coast/2005/12/13/1134236058794.html – Similar pages

   Text messages ‘fuel trouble’ – National – smh.com.au
   “The sending out of that text message was foolish and irresponsible and ensured
   that people from all over Sydney came to Cronulla looking to cause trouble …
   http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/ text-messages-fuelled-trouble/2005/12/11/1134235946976.html – Similar pages

   Posted by Editor  on  12/15  at  04:19 PM

3. Ah, thank you. I knew a quick Google News search should have solved the problem, but sometimes things get a little crazy and you forget obvious things.

   Posted by Sameer Vasta  on  12/15  at  05:40 PM

4. You’re welcome. The wikipedia entry is a great read.

   Posted by Editor  on  12/15  at  05:45 PM

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