For today’s call we read chapters 4 and 6 in Ingolds which was suggested by Geof as an interesting read. Ingolds proposes concepts of lines, traces, threads, surfaces, and braids, and uses applications like genealogy and circuits to help explore the concepts. While this may seem like an odd read for understanding CyberInfrastructure, but we found a new platform for unpacking CI development.

An interesting point from Leigh was the typical layered model that is used to describe infrastructure in contrast to the linear model Ingolds proposes. Comparing the line and the layer has forced us to ask what the relationship of these two geometric ways of depicting progress. Layers accrue in a linear progression, but are not inherently linear. This is especially of import given the move towards Cloud Computing, which is distinctly not layered.

We are now thinking of how we can use the notion of lines and specifically braiding to understand the various interplays between collaborative rhythms and other CI processes that fall within our gaze. All-in-all a very interesting read and one we are excited to explore more fully beyond our one hour conference call.