Text searching, or keyword searching as was stated by Professor Guidone, has been a constant in the way that I search larger databases for the information needed. Typically used for research projects or academic papers, looking through a document by inputting a more simple word or phrase always seemed like the fastest option to drive results. Other uses of the text search would be the infamous Google search engine, or even the control F function commonly used on any document reachable by computer. By the end of Professor Guidone’s presentation, it was learned that this is not usually the case, and keyword searching can limit the possibility of receiving the results that are desired of the reader. 1
Digital projects are a faster, more efficient way to present information to the public, and make artifacts readily accessible outside of their place of origin. Because of the constant, growing prevalence of technology in today’s world, a digital project holds the strength and power to push boundaries, and thus create social change by bringing information to the people. The Enslaved Children of George Mason project that was reviewed in class is an excellent example of this. For example, they present documentation that exhibits the life of George Mason, and how he interacted with his slaves. A letter included within the project details the proof of vaccination against small pox that was given to Mason’s slaves, of which it is mentioned that he “owned” over 100. This is an excellent source to use to drive social change because it is angering to see that somebody, after whom we named our acclaimed university, was able to see other humans as property similarly to how we see dogs. 2
Yes, these powerful figures from history have done great things, but because of the ability to see what happened around them, it’s now possible to think about the cost at which these great things were achieved. I believe that this new outlook is due to the concept of digital projects.
Through the use of digital media, the original meanings of the source can be lost. This was evident in the organization of the newspaper, the Essex Register, Professor Guidone showed. Information was presented in a specific way in the 1800s and digitizing that source could mess with the original layout of the publication. The meanings of objects that would typically be conveyed by touch is another example of what could be lost, as the reader of the digital media would not be able to feel the exact materials of that time, and would not necessarily know the meaning behind why that material was used. 3
A large point made by Professor Guidone was that the access to artifacts and information is democratized through the use of digital media, and we as readers are able to come into contact with this information at a much faster pace, which leads to new questions in our research. He mentioned that everything before 1920 has been digitized, and we have gained access to a wealth of knowledge that was made possible by the use of technology. 4
References
Bracey, A., Farrow, K., Fatima, A., Perez-Garcia, E., & Murshed, F. (2017). The Enslaved Children of George Mason. Retrieved from https://ecgm.omeka.net/
Guidone, T. (2019). Digitization and Keyword Research [PowerPoint Slides].
