digital networks
Why are networks interesting? Because of a fundamental paradox: While networks offer the promise of greater efficiency and increase global interconnectedness, they also encourage greater separation of people from one other. Most networks are designed to knit us closer together in ways that enrich our lives (and our economies). News networks inform us of important happenings in our own municipalities and around the world so that we can more effectively plan, organize, or otherwise react to the situations in which we find ourselves. Telephone networks allow us to exchange spoken conversation in real time with individuals who may be tens of thousands of miles away. Entertainment networks bring comedy, drama, music, and dance directly to our homes.