Network theory - Marc Samet

Transcriber: Andrea McDonough Reviewer: Bedirhan Cinar

翻译人员: Mingying Wang 校对人员: Gabriella Hu

What does "going viral" on the internet really mean,

"一夜爆红"在网络世界意味着什么？

and why does it happen so quickly?

为什么可以如此快速地发生呢？

Why is a financial institution too big to fail?

为什么金融机构有着举足轻重的地位？

How does a virus in Africa end up

是什么让一种源起于非洲的病毒

in the United States in a matter of hours?

短短几个小时内就能登录美国？

Why are Facebook and Google such powerful companies

为什么脸谱网和谷歌

在连接全球上起着至关重要的作用？

at creating global connections?

Well, in a word:

答案就是：

networks.

“网络”

But what are networks?

但是“网络”这个词又是什么意思呢？

Everyone knows about their social network,

大家都知道社交网络，

but there are all different kinds of networks

但是除此之外，还有许多种网络

you probably haven't thought about.

你或许从来没有意识到

Networks are collections of links

网络是链接的集合

which combine by specific rules and behaviors if they are alive.

它们按照一定的规矩和行动连接起来 就好像有生命的一样

We say that networks are alive

我们之所以说网络像是有生命一样

because they are in constant change.

是因为他们始终处于变化之中

Over time, the connections within a network

随着时间的推移，网络中的各种连接点

migrate and concentrate in new places,

不断的移动并聚集在新的地方

forming evolving structures.

形成新的结构

How the evolution and concentration

研究这些连接点们是如何

of constantly changing connections occurs

不停地变换、进化、聚合

is the subject of a whole discipline called

是一门学科的主题

network theory.

这门学科就叫：网络理论

We can think of networks as neighborhoods.

我们可以把网络理解为邻里

Neighborhoods are defined by maps.

邻里由地图来标记区分

A Google map demonstrates the relationship

谷歌地图用来界定

between locations in exactly the same fashion

两地之间距离的方法

a network connects hubs and nodes,

和网络连接中心信息点与节点的方法 一模一样

using streets as links to connect neighborhoods.

那就是：通过街道来连接两个地点

The reason a network can expand and evolve so quickly

网络可以迅速延伸和发展的原因在于

is based upon a mathematical concept called

它是基于一个数学概念

power functions.

叫做幂函数

A power function is a mathematical amplification mechanism,

幂函数是一个数理增长机制

which over specific and very small ranges,

一个很小的基数

accelerates changes logarithmically.

在幂函数里可以呈对数增长

That is, a very small change in one parameter

这就意味着，一个参数的一点点变化

produces a huge change in another

就可以导致另一个数值

over a very specific range of values.

出现巨大的变化

An example of how network structure emerges

举一个例子来说明网络结构是如何形成的

is the algorithm used by Google.

谷歌所运用的算法

As the number of links around a search term, say "friends", increases,

比方说，“朋友”这个关键词的链接增多了

connections begin to form among millions

数以百万次的对“朋友”一词的搜索

of different searches using the term "friend".

就使得围绕着这个关键词的联结点产生了

What Google has cleverly accomplished

谷歌所完美实现的

is a real-time mathematical model

是一个实时数理模型

for how to predict the emergence of growing connections

这个模型从千万个搜索词中

among billions of search terms.

预测到了联结点们的出现

The algorithm Google derived collects

谷歌的算法收集的是

the number of references to any search object.

涉及到搜索词的文本数量增多了

As references to a search object increase,

文本数量的增多

the number of links also increases, creating a node.

伴随着链接的增多与节点的产生

As the node increases in size,

而当节点形成一定规模的时候

it eventually becomes a hub,

就会形成信息中心点

which links to many nodes.

这个中心点把每一个小节点联系起来

Networks will continue to emerge

网络会不断的发展

as new ways of connecting and creating neighborhoods are defined.

因为连接和创造“邻里”的方法在不断更新

Perhaps you can begin to see why networks are so powerful.

也许从谷歌身上 你可以明白为什么网络是如此重要

As Google continues to collect the billions of daily searches,

谷歌一直在收集 每日数以千万计的搜索信息

new clusters of links will rapidly emerge,

新的链接集群会快速产生

forming additional and growing networks.

形成另外的新生网络

Despite the logarithmic expansion of your network,

抛开你那成对数增长的网络不谈

the laws of six degrees of separation still apply.

六度隔离理论仍旧适用

Therefore, if you explore a close friend or acquaintances

这就是说 如果你观察你在脸书上的

好友或者熟人

in you Facebook network,

everyone on average will be separated

他们平均会通过大概六个人

by six individuals or less

区分开来

and a map of your social network will create neighborhoods

你的社交网络地图会形成“邻里”关系

linked by common connections among friends.

把你和你的朋友们联系起来