Thoughts on my Original Definition:

My original definition of digital humanities encompassed the idea that it was a field of study that blended digital tools with humanities materials for the purpose of preservation and accessibility. Since my initial development of this definition, my understanding of the digital humanities has changed. I now understand that my original definition should have included information on how digital tools (computational methods and techniques) are useful in creating new methods for the analysis and interpretation of data. 

What would I keep from the original definition? 

I continue to maintain that the digital humanities combines digital tools with humanities materials for the purpose of sustainability and increased access. I also mention how the Digital Humanities promotes interdisciplinary collaboration amongst scholars, librarians, archivists, curators and the public. My own personal experience with crowdsourcing, podcasts and open source web publishing deepen this understanding. Crowdsourcing enables volunteers from the general public to engage in cultural research projects through digital platforms such as Wikipedia or transcription services. Members of the public can then work with academics in preserving cultural heritage.  In doing so, cultural artifacts are maintained for future generations.  Similarly, podcasts make scholarly research more engaging for the general public by utilizing sound design, audio editing, voice acting and narration. These elements combined transform academic works into compelling stories for the average listener that can be retold with time. 

In the case of open source web publishing, sites like Omeka enable the creation of digital collections. These digital collections can then be used to preserve the historical memory of various artifacts while also increasing their general accessibility. For example, I created an Omeka site to digitize my father’s collection of retro lunchboxes. I was able to interpret the information presented in the lunchbox collection and note my findings. The website itself creates a record of the lunchboxes in my father’s collection while also enabling me to share the collection with others in online exhibits. 

What would I now include in my definition? 

The digital humanities is not only important for preserving and increasing access to humanities materials but also for the analysis and interpretation of information.  An array of digital tools and computational methods can be used for this purpose. These tools include and are not limited to: AI (ChatGPT), Wikipedia, podcasts, Omeka, text mining, mapping and network analysis software. These digital tools can create visual re-representations of data that then make it easier to distinguish the relationships and patterns prevalent in the research. 

How do these tools allow analysis and interpretation? 

• AI uses a conversational format to re-represent data to then initiate deeper inquiries into various subject matters.
• Wikipedia uses crowdsourced knowledge to create articles on infinite subjects that then include hyperlinks to other sources of information. Wikipedia contributors can contribute to each article and utilize the talk features to collaborate with one another on making changes to an article. This then demonstrates the continuities and changes in the subject overtime. 
• Podcasts utilize theatrical elements and dialogue to re-represent academic knowledge. Podcast hosts and experts can then assist in the interpretation and analysis of primary source information.
• Omeka allows for the creation of digital exhibits and collections that can be interpreted and analyzed by the curator and site visitors. 
• Text Mining software tools allow users to upload links of textual information into data sets to then be processed into a digital corpus. Then, depending on the software, the information can then be adapted into a visual interactive tool that makes patterns in the data more apparent. Voyant is an example of a text mining tool that can be used to transform text into a visual interactive. 
• Digital mapping software tools can be used to visually enhance uploaded mapping data. In mapping software like kepler.gl, features like points, clusters and heat maps enhance uploaded data for interpretation.
• Network analysis software can be used to transform datasets into visual interactives. Tools like Palladio enable users to modify the dimensions, layers, sources, targets, facets, nodes and links of uploaded data for analysis and interpretation. 

Final Thoughts:

My initial definition of the digital humanities was quite simple. My experience with digital humanities projects and tools have enlightened me in that now I realize the significance of digital tools in the interpretation and analysis of knowledge. Ultimately, the digital humanities has the potential to use digital tools to transform the way in which knowledge is preserved and accessed over time as well as the way in which it is interpreted and analyzed. That said, as time goes on, I am sure my definition will continue to evolve and improve with experience.