Summary
Networked Triadic Spaces is an investigation into the emergence of network
art, communities and information architectures. The practical aspect if this
thesis follows the conceptual construction of an online agent software called
the Information Personae. Following Buckminster Fuller's assertion that triangles
are nature's most stable 'building blocks' for models, architectures and biological
systems, I am arguing that the same is true for designing distributed software
systems. The construction of the Information Personae prototype is based on
these principles that are closely linked to philosophies of open, interdisciplinary
environments. The thesis is divided into three main sections within which
reside three chapters. The first section, Breaking with Tradition, looks at
the evolution of a network artist, the relationship between art, science and
technology and the emergence of a telematic culture. The second section, Building
Many Worlds, looks at network identities, information overload, network communities
and e-commerce. The third section, Construction of the Information Personae,
examines some current scientific thoughts that have proven to be an inspiration
for the concept and development of an agent prototype, looks at current efforts
to visualise network topologies, describes the planned beta projects that
plan to use the Information Personae and looks into many possible futures.
