Humanities Scholarship in a Vast Universe: Modelling integrated scholarly opportunities between scales of digital information and meaning

Authors

  • Jon Saklofske Acadia University, INKE

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22230/src.2014v5n4a179

Keywords:

Prototype, Scale, Close reading, Distant reading, Big data, Networked interpretation, Knowledge community, Digital environment, Visualization, Databases

Abstract

Imagine a Google Earth-like opportunity to move between the “street view” of a close reading environment through aerial views of the inferences, influences, and dynamic constructions that emerge from the routes that grow up around a text, to satellite views of larger, constellated fields of contextual data. What kinds of scholarship and scholarly communication would such an environment enable? How would the inclusion of mapping and terraforming tools (that parallel the functions demonstrated in a game like Minecraft, or within Outerra’s impressive planetary mapping demo and sandbox prototype) encourage further occupation and influence? The Modelling and Prototyping group at INKE (Implementing New Knowledge Environments) is working to engage with such possibility spaces in an effort to address these questions.

Author Biography

Jon Saklofske, Acadia University, INKE

Jon Saklofske is an Associate Professor in the Department of English and Theatre at Acadia University, 10 Highland Avenue, Wolfville, NS  B4P 2R6. Email: jon.saklofske@acadiau.ca

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Published

2014-12-17