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  > Dynamic Social Network Analysis

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Commetrix is a Software Framework for Dynamic Network Visualization and Analysis. The software is around for about 15 years already but still works well for Social Network Analysis, in particular, when network data needs to be analyzed over time. Commetrix is currently FREE for non-commercial users and provides easy exploratory yet comprehensive access to network data and allows for:

  • Exploring and analyzing all sorts of your own social network data that is formatted according to Commetrix data formats in .xml, .sql or .xls or .csv.

  • The data format can include time stamps, contents/text, variables, relationship strength or relationship types (e.g., positive vs. negative)

  • Exploring virtual community structures and evolution in electronic communication networks

  • Analyzing dynamic network change, properties, lifecycles, and structures 

  • Creating rich expert network maps or recommendation systems from communication logs or other network data sources (including surveys)

  • Searching, filtering, navigating social corpora, like e-mail, discussions

  • Understanding and utilizing your social networks

  • Trace dissemination of topics or properties through the network

  • Extendable to all sources of network data (e.g. collaborative work on electronic documents or contents, electronic project collaboration, VoIP telephony/Contact Centers, Instant Messaging, E-Mail, Discussion, ...)

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Exploration and Analysis of Network Structures and Dynamics. Commetrix is an exploratory analysis tool for dynamic network data. Its connectors can conveniently read all sources of accessible network data, like co-authorship or business process networks. Still, the focus is on analyzing evolving patterns of electronic communication, including e mail, discussions, voice over IP, and instant messaging. Technically, we extend current SNA methods by blending social network analysis, dynamic graph visualization, gestalt theory, and text mining with combinable search and filter algorithms to achieve a social network intelligence tool. For optimal organic graph layout, we developed a dynamic spring embedder with nodebased dynamic temperatur control for realtime-rendered 2D and 3D layouts. The resulting bird's eye views enable clients from industry and research to easier cope with large heterogeneous networks. They can do exploratory social network analysis, identify communities, elicit core structures, observe evolving important actors, study the stability or fragility of the network at hand, or observe how two networks integrate (e.g. after a merger of discussion groups or organizations). With our added text mining features, users can search a large network for topics and their authors, filter out ego-networks, or watch animations of topics spreading through parts of customer communities. Such results can also simply be used to recommend or explore optimal contacts based on the topics of their communication. Conventional SNA measures are computed for the complete network and for selected parts. It can also be displayed in charts. In our research, we show artefacts of static SNA measures and develop metrics for patterns of network measures over time, i.e. topic trend indicators or network stability or the fragility of a central actor's position. We explore new means of measuring actors' importance in terms of their networking activity (e.g. brokering actions). With Commetrix, the detailed lifecycle of a communication network of thousands of simultaneously changing relationships becomes observable.
 

 

Some quotes from recent reviewers:


"Nice combination of data(web)-mining and visualization supported inspection of network data." 
Vladimir Batagelj (Computer Science) University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

 

"Commetrix is a fascinating tool that ensures optimisation of resources, information on a wide range of areas by putting real science into our messy everyday world. Its animated movies serve as shortcuts, the user can understand in a flash what is really happening."
Annamaria Talas (Science Producer) Avalon, Australia

 
(Source: NetSci2007 Competition)

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