The Digital Age

Digital Humanities or Humanities computing is the study of the intersection of computing and how it interlinks with the ideals of the Humanities. By investigating and analysing computer media we are able through Digital Humanities to compare how it is received within the disciplines of Humanities it’s self. The traditional disciplines of Art and Humanities such as Art, Philosophy, History, Linguistics and Music are researched by not only students but teachers alike so that they can report the computational analysis and electronic publication data through the mediums of visualisation and project design.

The best way in layman’s terms to look at Digital Humanities, is to see it as the study of technology and how this new technology affects the ideals of knowledge. At this time the study of Digital Humanities still is not recognised by all and the results of the data collected, riddled with flaws make it problematic to say the least. The reason for this is that as humans we are naturally curious and unable to truly understand non-verbal knowledge bearing objects. This has been named in the field as “thing knowledge” by Davis Baird. Baird raises the point “How are knowledge-bearing objects going to be preserved for future generations?” Visual media such as documentaries, games and popular cultural multimedia are not recognised by the Literates as just entertainment. But the real truth behind this is that recognition of knowledge bearing objects is at crucial point and inevitable and urgent attention is required to make sure they are preserved before they are lost to us all.  

To be able to work with Digital Humanities, you must be able to fully understand and have the abilities within the fields of; cultural/literary studies, new media, globalization, computational sciences and culture, GIS and cultural mapping, advanced visualization, media theory and Internet culture. It is about joining Technologists and Humanists together through interdisciplinary collaboration.

But it must be understood that Digital Humanities is not a replacement for technical support.  It is not a support network that is used in conjunction FOR the other departments, but a support network that is used in conjunction WITH the other classic departments. The specialists who use Digital Humanities are researches who work and then publish their findings showing that both within computer science and the traditional disciplines ( linguists, literature, art, history and music to name just a few), that there is more to the internet just speeding up the researching Humanities, which provides us with a new light on the traditional ideals that we work with.

When working with Digital Humanities common terms that you will come across is; interdisciplinary discipline, interactive research, software specific, standard and durable solutions, proprietary tools and computerphilologie.  

Digital Humanities are a specialist part of the course within and under the Humanities banner. The study of Humanities computing is not for everybody as it is confusing, difficult and full of more questions than answers, also some Universities and traditionalists still do not recognize the study as being valid and of significant reason enough to study.