LinkedIn just came out with an experimental feature on their site this week: InMaps, which allow you to visualize your network of connections on their site. The connectivism class I'm taking is focused on networks this week, so I found it perfect timing for this feature to be released.
I started the first decade of my career with a global, franchised training company, represented in dark blue on my network map. More recently, I've spent seven years teaching in higher ed, with my full-time position at Vanguard University, represented in dark orange on the map. Considering the length of time at both of those institutions, it isn't surprising that they make such a mark on the map.
I also was amused by the large orange dot in the middle (shown below). That is Dave, my husband, who I met while we were both getting our MA at Chapman University. We went on many years later to get our doctorates at Pepperdine University, which is represented in light orange on the map. We have a lot in common and it isn't surprising that our network connections overlap to such a high degree.
Here's a video with one of LinkedIn's engineer's describing this new, highly visual tool:
Check out your network InMap and share (in the comments) what observations you have about what it conveys…
It is really interesting to see the differences in people’s maps – how things cluster, or how clusters do or don’t overlap. Really fascinating. Mine is at http://bit.ly/i2yiG2 with some very fast analysis (if you can call it that) here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/choconancy/sets/72157625904648260/
@Nancy – Thanks so much for sharing your map. Yours was only the third one I had seen and already I was intrigued by the differences in the shapes and colors yours represented. I’m hoping more people share their maps, as like you, I am fascinated by them…
@Bonnie – I hope people share them too as the variations are really interesting. Stephen Downes posted his via his OLDaily today (which is how I found my way to yoU!)
@Nancy – thanks for letting me know how you found this. I somehow missed subscribing to his OLDaily, despite being connected to the #CCK11 class daily blog. I appreciate it and hope people keep on sharing their maps.
So glad that you wrote about this! Can’t wait to see what comes of this feature down the road…I can imagine it having some pretty amazing applications for people as it gets more popular and improves.
This may be enough to make me take LinkedIn seriously, Bonni. You’ve really made a fascinating presentation of InMaps here. Thanks so much!
You may want to peek in on this FB conversation about these maps. http://www.facebook.com/beth.kanter/posts/193423427349717 Beth Kanter is also collecting pictures of maps on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cambodia4kidsorg/sets/72157625781690621/ and here http://www.facebook.com/Beth.Kanter.Blog/posts/191958264163543
Great LinkedIn tool thanks!