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Introduction to Digital Humanities: A-State Main Menu Syllabus Outline, Outcomes, Policies Resources Readings , Tools, Websites Assignments Requirements, Prompts, Deadlines Schedule Weekly Overview

Week 3

27471

Exploring the Tool Box: An Experiential Introduction

Our Relationship to Tools, Media and Things

The philosopher and media theorist Marshall McLuhan is often credited with the idea that "We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us." Keeping this idea in mind watch, read and collaboratively annotate:

1. Marshall McLuhan, "The Message is the Medium," in Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1964). Hypothes.is link.

2. Wilson Miner, "When we build," Build, Anaheim, California, 2011. https://vimeo.com/34017777.

3. Jane Bennet, “Preface and Chapter 1,” in Vibrant Matter: A Political Ecology of Things (Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2010). Hypothes.is link.

Assignment

As you think about our relationship to tools, media and things, I would like you to locate and carry out a formal academic review of a DH tool from the DiRT directory that is not listed on the "Resources" page. For tips on how to conduct and structure your review consult the directory's Assignment-in-a-box. Post the review to your "Tool Review" page of our Scalar workbook and be prepared to present your selected tool to the class.

This page has paths:

Schedule Andrea Davis
Contents of this path:
1. Week 1
2. Week 2
3. Week 3
4. Week 4
5. Week 5
6. Week 6
7. Week 7
8. Week 8
9. Week 9
10. Week 10
11. Week 11-15

This page references:

Understanding Media
Wilson Miner - When We Build “We shape our tools and our tools shape us.” As more of the tools we live with every day become digital instead of physical, our opportunity – and responsibility – as designers is multiplying. We live in a world of screens, and we are the ones who decide what goes on them. We are in a unique position to have an impact – one that lasts longer than the next redesign or the latest technology. What happens when we stop thinking of ourselves not just as developers or experience designers, and take up the mantle as a new generation of product designers for a digital world?

About Wilson
—
Wilson Miner is a designer and web developer based in San Francisco. Currently the head of design for Rdio, a new social music service, Wilson has also previously been responsible for co-founding neighborhood news site EveryBlock, leading the first comprehensive redesign of Apple.com in more than 10 years during his time at Apple, and co-creating the original version of the Django web framework. Wilson is returning to Build after speaking at the first conference in 2009.

Recorded at Build 2011
http://2011.buildconf.com/