Digital Humanities

Digital Humanities (DH)

Digital Humanities (DH) is an interdisciplinary field that merges the methodologies and tools of the digital world with the traditional practices of the humanities. It involves using computational techniques to analyse, interpret, and present human culture, history, and society. This can include digitizing historical texts, employing data visualization to understand complex historical trends, and using algorithms to analyse large sets of cultural data. The aim is to enhance our understanding of humanities subjects through the lens of modern technology, making historical and cultural analysis more accessible and comprehensive.

In practice, Digital Humanities can cover a wide range of activities. Researchers might create digital archives of rare manuscripts, develop interactive maps to trace historical events, or use text-mining techniques to uncover patterns in literary works. DH encourages collaboration across disciplines, bringing together scholars from computer science, history, literature, and beyond to explore new ways of understanding our cultural heritage. By integrating digital tools with humanities research, Digital Humanities not only preserves and revitalizes traditional academic disciplines but also opens up new avenues for innovation and discovery in the study of human culture

Digital Humanities vs STEM

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics are collectively known as STEM. STEM subjects are synonymous with change and progress; the humanities, on the other hand, are associated with the unchanging or eternal; these differences supposedly demonstrate their mutual exclusivity.

“It is technology … married with the humanities that yield us the results that make our heart sing.” - Steve Jobs, Apple.

However, universities are moving toward greater integration among the STEM and humanities disciplines set apart in the late nineteenth century. Will the future of the humanities in higher education emerge from programs, projects, and methodologies more typical of technological universities?

Source: https://humantech.lmc.gatech.edu/goals/