While diffusion and contagion are not identical, there are certainly some shared elements we can leverage for our analysis prior to jumping into a visual assessment using Gephi. Remember, in our contagion discussion, the importance of physical contact coupled with the probability of transmission as critical elements in spreading the disease. With diffusion, we recognize that physical contact is not necessarily required for spreading information, but there is still a probability element at work, especially when product adoption is involved. I'll illustrate this briefly before we move onto the graphs.

Suppose a new tablet is planned for upcoming release, supported by a large marketing campaign and plenty of insider buzz about the virtues of the product. Some of your friends have talked about getting the new tablet, but you are unsure whether it's worth the investment, as you already have a perfectly capable unit purchased just 12 months earlier. What factors will sway...