“Explicit step-by-step procedures form the basis of computational activity. However, ambiguity and implicit assumptions are crucial to the humanities.”

Burdick et al. “One: Humanities to Digital Humanities,” in Digital_Humanities (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2012), 17

1+1>2

While reading Burdick’s “One: Humanities to Digital Humanities” in Digital Humanities, this quote caught my attention. As someone interested in computer science, I deeply understand the importance of explicit and coherent code in the digital world. On the other hand, the humanities is a field filled with ambiguity, assumptions, and interpretation. As the book states, “Digital Humanities is born of the encounter between traditional humanities and computational methods.” At first, these two seemingly contradictory fields may not appear to combine well. However, if we look at their differences from another perspective, we might arrive at a different conclusion.

The different properties of digital tools and the humanities can actually complement each other. Not everything in the world can be explained through pure, explicit logical reasoning or simply through 0s and 1s. At the same time, the ability of digital tools to collect, organize, and analyze large amounts of data can greatly support fields such as history and archaeology, helping researchers identify patterns and develop new interpretations. Rather than being contradictory, computation and the humanities can strengthen each other by combining the precision of computers with the ambiguity and interpretive nature of humanistic inquiry.

In my own experience studying data science at Carleton and visiting museums in different parts of the world, I have noticed how technology and data are playing an increasingly important role in how we understand and experience history. Many museums are beginning to use technologies such as 3D projections, interactive displays, digital reconstructions, and animations to represent historical events and artifacts in ways that traditional exhibits cannot. Seeing these technologies made me realize that digital tools are not simply ways of presenting information—they can also change how we interact with and interpret the past.

in the future

Moving forward, I look forward to learning more about text analysis of historical books and records, which I hope will build on what I have learned in data science. Text analysis is particularly interesting to me because historical records, whether first-hand or second-hand, are one of the primary ways we learn about the past. At the same time, combining text analysis with the ability of digital technologies to process large amounts of data could allow us to uncover new patterns and insights that may not have been possible to identify through traditional methods.