Complex networks: An invitation

Abstract

Most of us recognize that connections are important. The science of connectivity has formalized and quantified this broad truism and produced a collection of concepts and tools that have proved to be remarkably useful in practice. With this brief opening chapter, we aim to prepare the reader for the cutting-edge and application-specific material to be found in the rest of the book by providing some motivation and background material. We also hope to give a taste of the excitement and the challenges that this area has to offer. © 2010 Springer-Verlag London Limited.