I propose a session wherein we explore ways genre can be constructed in a social situation. Normative definitions of genre (stemming from, but not exclusively, Aristotle) have had their own share of noted and notable problems; as a result, genre theorists have turned to descriptive accounts of genre makeup. I would turn away from a descriptive model framed only by critics, but instead from a broader look at reader response to particular works. In particular, I want to look at ways that Goodreads, as a social media expression of the kinds of books being read in the real-time now, can change the way we look at genre construction. What kinds of data can be useful in talking about genre? How might the tagging of particular works within genres change the way those books are read and received? What are the limits regarded the use of crowd-sourced data regarding the tagging of books?

Pamela Mack, Clemson History

I propose a session on finding and using aerial photographs (back to the 1930s) and satellite images (back to the 1970s) for GIS.  I can share a little of the history of aerial and satellite photography and show some of the places where they can be reliably found.  But an equal priority is conversation about the uses of aerial and satellite photography to illustrate and analyze historic landscapes.

What Does the Library Need to Do to Support DH Projects? By  Camille Cooper

When faculty and graduate students conceive of a DH project, do they think about their library’s resources, both material and human, as sources to consult?  If not, why not?  I’d like to talk about ways to determine what needs are out there and then ways to effectively communicate what it is the library can do to meet those needs.

Wearable computing has received growing attention in the media, market and scientific research in the past decades. There are new devices available each day and they provide a lot of new opportunities for applications. Available in many different form factors, wearable devices aid to support not only gaming, fitness and fashion, but also safety critical and medical emergencies.

Glasses help to quickly access information, document life events through photos and videos, receive notifications and alerts, etc. Intelligent armbands aid to keep track of activities, including: eating and sleeping habits, and physical exercises.

Although wearable devices provide a lot of new opportunities, they are not (yet) widespread. Users may be concerned about privacy issues, or do not see clear benefits of these devices, perhaps their costs are still too high.

Better understanding what users (or potential users) think about wearable computing, can help to improve the design of these devices, and consequently to meet users’ expectations.

We propose developing a template for a mobile app promoting tours of an area, such as a campus.  The tours may focus on the history of the area, the architecture of the buildings, the flora and fauna, the academic layout, a sports complex, a nature preserve, tourist information, or any other theme.

Copyright restrictions can be significant barriers to digital humanities projects. I would like to chat about the current scholarly communication system, and ways that we can reduce these restrictions while making our research openly available via the web.  By working together to ensure that our current scholarship remains accessible and repurpose-able, we can greatly expand the future possibilities for work in this field.

Jan Holmevik, Sean Morey, and I want to meet with other THATCampers to chat about Google Glass, the opportunities it might create for teaching, learning, and research; future app development; and more. The three of us are new Google Glass “explorers” and so will be ready to share our experiences thus far.

The lead programmer for Neatline Texts, David McClure, will be demonstrating the new version of Neatline, a platform for humanistic argument with digital images and maps. You can see the announcement for the platform here, and one demonstration of its use for manuscripts here.

In a time of information saturation, students and faculty have no trouble finding information…but it is the RIGHT/BEST information? How do they go about getting help from their friendly librarians? Do they know that librarians are out there?

I propose a session to talk about ways that librarians can help create just in time research help for students and faculty. I’ll talk about the things that we’re trying out here at the Clemson Libraries…everything from online classes to tutorials to video tours to live chat…and I’d love to hear what other folks are up to in the provision of just in time help.