By: Rosemary

Rosemary — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:06:49 +0000

I also have contemplated using a digital format for my dissertation. Yes, I would bind hard-copies of a print version for library repositories as well. But I envision your reader assuming an avatar and walking through a virtual: museum and then an archeological dig and then an era-appropriate studio. These would be nice tightly knit spaces that did not require your avatar to be driven over long landscapes (like I see in so many games) instead, the person would turn a corner in the studio and see around her the art object, the tools of craft and the period-specific trappings of the studios and as the avatar “looks at” or centres an image in her sights, the text relating to the image would appear in the lower dialogue box of the screen. For detailed write-ups the reader could continue to scroll through the text while the avatar remains looking at the object. Similarly, in the museum, the objects on which the avatar gazes would be revealed simultaneously in text. There could also be a set of questions in the lower right side bar. The questions would be conversational in tone asking the museum interpreter (an AI version of you) about the age, providence, artist, materials of the object. This would allow the reader to ask a question that is specific to his interest and the answer in the text box would immediately skip to the paragraph you had prepared on that topic as it relates to that object/image.
Wow. I’ve enjoyed putting myself conceptually in your shoes!

Comments on: Session proposal – Digital Tools and Dissertation Work

By: Rosemary