The architecture of cyberspace: affect & abduction

This thesis analyses user behaviour in cyberspace using an architectural model. Specifically, it examines the hypothesis that an open architecture has led to enhanced or increased growth in cyberspace. To this end, its primary research goal is to develop an interdisciplinary and comprehensive definition of an “architecture” including its key dimensions and design principles. Its second research goal is to examine the impact of this architecture on user behaviours in cyberspace and on innovation and inclusion in particular as drivers of growth. Building on these goals, the research objectives of this thesis are to use an architectural model to analyse growth in cyberspace, where growth is measured in terms of users, user activity, technological capacity and valuation. It does so by verifying or refuting commonly accepted heuristics or “laws” in cyberspace such as Moore’s Law and Metcalfe’s Law.It achieves these goals and objectives using a four-part strategy. First, it employs an extensive literature review to identify the dimensions and design principles of the architecture of cyberspace. Second, it uses an online survey to establish user attitudes and values in this space. Third, it seeks qualitative and quantitative evidence to verify or refute these beliefs. And lastly, it synthesizes these findings into a coherent architectural model.It concludes that an open architecture did lead to increased growth in many different aspects of cyberspace although it also finds that some of the key heuristics in this space are misleading or false. At the same time, it notes that this open architecture was dependent on an associated closed architecture that was essential in developing the infrastructure of cyberspace.