Taking a sharper look to different networks, it’s possible to notice a particular feature which is often bound with the concept of “Fluid Hubs” : there are few real and permanent connections between two or more nodes.
Of course the simplest example is provided by our daily experience with the Internet: we know that the majority of site pages is linked to other resources (in particular internal ones), however the only “navigation guides”, for “large” movements above all, are some common search engines which aim is to adapt their external structure according to specific queries provided by each user. Every result appers to be connected to the search engine through a real link, however we all know that such a connection can be realized only if someone tries to search a small subset of keywords, but it’s completely hidden for any other visitor.
Thus a Fluid Hub can be defined as: << A network hub which is virtually unable to show all its connections >>; on the contrary, there are networks which links are always clearly visible and it’s often counterproductive avoiding to show them all. A network made up of companies is an unmistakable example where each node makes a great effort in order to promote its connections even when its “interlocutor” has precise and particular interests. However, regardless of every possible attitude (maybe sometimes it could be usefult to hide improper relations…), a (pseudo)-social network exists only if its members don’t forget, broadly speaking, their previous connections and, therefore, establish “permanent” links with other nodes.
The presence of several fluid hubs is instaed a symptom of general need to find out possible nodes (according to particular criteria) without “compelling” every user to keep alive all connections that have been set.
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