The challenges I am facing this week include language conversion, interview recording, and selecting a plugin for future mobile access. I managed to download a plugin for Korean language. However, only selected words (e.g. tags and Dublin core) in Omeka were translated into Korean, but the English words were unavailable. I am trying to find a way to include both Korean and English. Also, I have to double check each word that is translated into Korean because I am noticing that most of the words that were changed to Korean were just the Romanization of the English words. I would like to add the Korean word for that English word. For example, instead of translating “tag” into the Korean pronunciation of tag, I hope to find the actual Korean word for “tag” if it exists. Another challenge I am facing is the downloading and converting of the interview recordings. I changed from using Samsung Galaxy to the Apple iPhone, so I am learning how to use the recorder properly and download segments of the interview. I might resort to using the voice recording editor via the web. After reading the material and exploring the sites in Module 8, I am learning how to include a plugin that will allow me to include an app for possible mobile conversion of my project site. So, I am researching Bootstrap as a possibility.
Tag: language
A Reflection on Doing Local History or Affinity-Group Community History Mediated by Digital Technology
Working on local history or an affinity-group community history mediated by digital technology invites various challenges. One challenge involves communication via the digital space. Selecting the right interface to present the public history contents requires carefully paying attention to the audience, design, and content management. Another challenge is creating ways to engage a broad audience. The digital public history site needs to be displayed in different ways to capture the audience’s attention in order to engage them. According to Gutterman, “Digital history scholars have emphasized the need for interactivity, but most digital history Web sites fail to attain this goal” (“Outhistory.org” 102). So, various digital tools or plug-ins have to be tested in order to find the right ones for engaging a broad audience. The third challenge would be designing the project’s site with various digital tools to create and share historical knowledge with a broad audience. For example, Outhistory.org invites the audience to “Create Content” and to share their stories “Tell Us Your Story.” They allow the audience to take part in building the digital public history site. Whether the audience is a scholar or someone from the general public, the digital technology must be accessible and user-friendly. The last challenge is to constantly keep the communication open for collaboration of new and shared ideas to maintain the digital public history site.
After carefully reading the articles and viewing the project sites of local history or affinity-group community history, I have noticed several things that I need to consider with developing my project. I am in the process of looking at another plugin to add to my project site. The plugin would be for a timeline. Another thing I would like to consider is reorganizing the featured sections. I may order the sections differently. Also, I would eventually need to test the site with actual users, people who represent my proposed audience/persona. Testing the site will help me see the flaws and gain knowledge about my real audience. To broaden my audience and to encourage more people to contribute to building the Koreatowns in North Texas project, I would like to add a Korean language feature; so I can include both English and Korean. Also, I have learned that I need to collaborate with more people who have knowledge about the Koreatowns and Korean American history in North Texas. The collaboration will help me with designing a bigger picture for my project. Therefore, while I am selecting the digital tools and designing the interface, I have to keep in mind the audience and the communities throughout the development of the project.
