introduction to digital humanities

Digital Humanities

Mark LocklearWeb/Systems AdministratorAdjunct Instructorjohnmlocklear@abtech.edu

@marklocklear

Roadmap

● Define Digital Humanities● Text Encoding Initiative (TEI)● Markup Languages● GIS (Geographical Information Systems)● Data Visualization● Tools for Digital Humanities● Questions

The study of human culture: Art, Literature, History, Philosophy, Music, Social Sciences,

etc.

What are the Humanities?

What is Digital Humanities

● The digital humanities is an area of research, teaching, and creation concerned with the intersection of computing and the disciplines of the humanities.

● Using technology to do the work of the humanities.

● http://docsouth.unc.edu/gtts/

● An XML-based schema for marking up texts

● Work began in 1987 with consortium formed in 2000

● Currently in 5th major revision● Formally endorsed by MLA & NEH

Text Encoding Initiative (TEI)

● Facilitate scholars’ access to textual data● Make preservation easier by using an

open, flexible, well-documented standard● Supply a common format for

representing knowledge about texts● Overcome platform dependence and

obsolescence

The problems TEI addresses

Information about atext that existsalongside that text but is distinct from the text itself.

Markup (Language)

“Old School” Markup

“A (document) markuplanguage is a modern

system for annotating the presentation and formatting of text that is separate from the

text itself.”

Defining Modern Markup

HTML Markup

• Separates document structure from document display

• Asserts something about the nature of each part of the document, i.e., it labels

components

• No display or processing instructions, generally speaking

Semantic Markup

XML Markup

(HTML display tags vs. semantic tags)

<FONT> <person>

<COLOR> <location>

<SIZE> <lastName>

<B> <I> <U> <flightNumber>

Display vs. Structure

● http://www.wwp.brown.edu/outreach/seminars/_current/handouts/tei_samples/

The Swinburne Archive is a digital collection devoted to the life and work of Victorian poet A. Charles Swinburne.

● HTML View● Raw XML● Timeline

Examples

● Allows for plotting of data points on a map● Allows you see patterns you may not

otherwise recognize● Tools are ARCGIS, Google Maps and

openGIS

Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

● Altas of Early Printing○ http://atlas.lib.uiowa.edu/

● Beyond Steel: Industry and Society in 19th and 20th century LeHigh County, Pennsylvania○ http://gisweb.cc.lehigh.

edu/BeyondSteel/● Caribbean Cholera Map

○ http://caribbeancholera.org

GIS Examples

A linear representation of data; events, pictures, video, ect.

● http://www.timetoast.com/● http://timeglider.com/● http://www.tiki-toki.com/● http://timeline.verite.co/ (jquery)

Timelines

● TEI● GIS● Omeka (LAMP)● Wordpress/DH● Custom

Other DH Tools

Data Visualization

Visual representation of information that has been abstracted in some schematic form.

● Identify your data set○ How large/small is the data set○ What is the format○ What is the complexity

● Analysis of data○ Does the data need to be aggregated○ If so, what tools will we use to process

it● Visualize it

○ Identify what works for your dataset○ It’s a process; wash-rinse-repeat

Process of Data Visualization

What can DH do for you?

Academics○ View data in new and interesting ways○ Get your data online (accessible to the public)○ Motivate students of different learning styles

Technologists○ Use your skills to solve interesting problems○ Collaborate outside of technology○ Use data in interesting ways

● http://digitalhumanities.unc.edu● http://digitalscholarship.wordpress.com/● http://omeka.org/blog/2013/08/20/back-to-

school-edition-use-omeka-in-your-class/

Resources

●

TODO