ConnectionBuildingNetworks

Connnection Building Networks, also sometimes known by the acronym BoF for "Birds of a Feather", are a form of social networking that recently has seen a resurgence.

DavidReed calls them Group Forming Networks

Some people remember SixDegrees, which grew to over 3,000,000+ members in 165 countries before AndrewWeinreich sold it. Back in January 2000 an Epinions reviewer noted:

"I was all gung-ho when I first discovered SixDegrees. I got many of my friends to sign up, and my community grew daily. I remember checking (daily) to watch my connections grow. In all truth it continues to be a great community and resource for some things, I have just lost my enthusiasm."

Current Examples

FOAF

Connection Building Networks depend in part upon SocialSoftware, which can allow for sophisticated network analysis with the right protocols (e.g.,

FOAF,

RVW, etc.

Descriptions:

FOAF:Friend Of A Friend
RDFWeb:FOAF
XML Watch: Finding friends with XML and RDF
Fun with FOAF BenTrott wrote XML::FOAF, a Perl module for parsing FOAF
Parsing FOAF with PHP by IanDavis
FOAF Bulletin Board Do you have an FOAF file that you want to post?
Others?

Applications:

AutoFOAF is a script that builds an FOAF file from BlogRoll
Buddy Browser by Victor Lindesay
FOAF:Web View

FOAF Movers and Shakers

Sorry, I was unable to resist using the above descriptor

Really??? How did I manage that one??? -- KatherineDerbyshire

I may not do much moving or shaking, but I blog about it a lot -- DannyAyers

Several women have commented on connection building over on the LinkedIn page. -- KatherineDerbyshire

Great page BTW -- JoiIto