Blog 6: Maps and Virtual Spaces
Virtual tourism transforms how heritage sites and cultural memories are experienced. Through the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and 3-D modeling, users can understand historical contexts that they would not be able to through traditional media. For example, GIS maps cultural data, showing how different cultural events and places are connected. By visualizing this information, traditional history lessons (Often just text or images) are turned into interactive experiences.
Projects such as the “One Orlando” digital memorial display the potential of these technologies in preserving and interpreting history. Digital memorials such as this, honor the memory of events and create spaces for communal healing. These projects help create a deeper emotional connection by including images and videos.
Our next unit on digital curation is on the practical application of virtual tourism and heritage. The work our class is doing with the Maine MILL Museum, the UNH Art and Art History Department, and the Dimond Library is not just about digitization but creating narratives that mean something to the public. This involves careful consideration of the materials we collect, how we present them, and the stories we choose to tell.
In the project focusing on the Maine MILL digital memorial, the goal is to create a collection that captures the community’s experiences related to the Lewiston shooting. Here, the techniques from GIS such as georectification and geocoding can help map out these stories, allowing users to understand the importance of the location involved. It is also important to consider ethical issues such as those from Chapter 9 since we want to honor those affected while making sure we present an accurate account of what happened.
Additionally, using 3-D modeling in the UNH Art and Art History project can increase visitor engagement, allowing them to interact with works of art and historical artifacts in a more meaningful way. This approach aligns with the need to make our digital exhibits not only informative but also immersive.
Vijay Basraa
Professor White
My digital humanities project that I had looked at during the beginning of the semester was a virtual reality tour of the National Museum of Natural History. The purpose of this museum was to connect society to its natural history. Like you mention, the 3-D natural of the virtual museum tour was a way to increase visitor engagement and to allow for more people to have access to a history that connects society as a whole.
ReplyDeleteFrom Gabby: Responding to Vijay’s blog post, I really agree with the sentence, “The work in our class is not just about digitization but creating narratives that mean something to the public” I think that is such an important way to view virtual spaces and what these can do to society. Allowing people to form connections and increase engagement at the same time is something that is difficult to do in this day and age with all that media has to offer. But through this upcoming project I think we will all be able to confidently understand the social ideals this creates for society as a whole.
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