Reality Check: How Information Flows in a Real Office

The Flow of Information at the Googleplex

1/08/2008 07:37:00 AM

Posted by Bo Cowgill, Economics Group

Alright the last one was easy, let's see if you can find the following building. The building was the site of a study by Bo Cowgill, Economics Group of how information flows within an office environment. It measured this flow by tracking employee participation in Prediction Markets "at the Googleplex."

The article suggests that micro-geography (or who is sitting next to you) has more to do with the flow of information in an office than any other factor. This of course sparked a heated debate but the diagram from the paper (below) certainly seems to support the paper's findings. (Suggested Reading: Ambient Findability chpt 3.4 online "Safari Books" at Steen Library web site)

Here is the "When and Where" part. Where is the building located that the graph is displayed on, and when was the photo taken? Please send links and an explanation of your proof.

Good Luck :)

	R. Philip Reynolds preynolds@sfasu.edu rm. 202b 936.468.1453 Subjects - Computer Science, Military Science, Philosophy/Religion, Political Science/Geography