ENGL 481: Digital Humanities

Researching is being done to exime just how different a "genius" brain is, compared to a normal brain. This article discusses the finding when digging through tissue in Einstein's brain.

This article describes a quitbit. It juxtaposes the new quantum computer with its quibits to the current ones we have now that une the simple bit and byte mode of operation. Basically a quibit is a much more deeply complex for of the 0 and 1, yes and no unit that computers use traditionally.

A literature professor uses digital work such as electronic literature and videogames in his classroom to teach students building and sharing that they often find more enjoyable because they are working with technology they understand. She uses building as a way to integrate digital humanities in a classroom and how its the reproduction of knowledge. In a classroom she states the importance of collaboration between students to show how they are making something for each other and the outside world.

This article explores our useage/dependance on technology. Could this be the machine/device that, in human history, we have been most attached to, most intimate with. A video comments and explores our intimate dependance of technology to connect us with the world.

Are intelligence and pattern recognition the same thing? Do they go hand in hand? Or are the two completely unrelated? This article discusses the possibility of programs to either be intelligent or simply able to recognize a pattern.

Meet Watson, the new medical "miracle" machine. In an understaffed hospital this machine is being used to monitor and treat patients around the clock. It is interactive and meet the medical needs of patients based on their age. An interesting piece of machinery, that's for sure.

In this article we discuss the "intelligence" of the machine. They are able to do just about anything we ask of them these days, but are they actually able to "think" and "feel?" This article delves in to try and reason whether or not this phenominon is possible in the real world.

This article focuses on collaborative teaching in a classroom and uses Twitter to have a discussion. Usually teaching is done by one person which henders the collaborative work of the teachers and discourages collaborative between students. This article asks questions to how to collaborate in a classroom.

Alan Turing is written about in this article and praised for his pioneering efforts in the technology we see around us today. He set in motion that breaking of coding information to help spur on what we know today and information technology. He also had strong beliefs in the theory that technology could become intelligent.

This article discusses the theory of "the evolving brain" arguing that due to our environmental and cultural influences our cognitive skills and neurological giftings will constantly be different. For example, one of the men mentioned in the article never learned long division but argues he doesnt have to develop that skill when a computer can do it for him. At the same time, the arguement comes about that he will possess a different set of skills (like harnessing computer lioteracy) that are more applicable to himself and his surrounding enviorment.

Quantum computers, argue many skilled MIT professionals, are the new, revolutionary way to perform advanced parallel quantum equations. They harness the use of particle, instead of bionary, which allows for a fast, multitaking, more advanced computer.

Cryptography is the art of being able to encrypt coding onto computers. But what has this "art" done to the safety of our information online. If this information is put into the wrong hands, it could be devistating to someone whose information (and most of ours is now days) on the internet. This article brings up the importance of safe guarding our information against those who could potentially attempt to steal it.

Is our information safe out there? This is the real underlying question behing this humorous blog posting. I love the way this article pulls up the humors or encryptions and juxtaposes it with some of the ways that encrytion can be used in poor ways as well.

In this article four mathematicle "fanatics" as one might tend to call them sit down to discuss thier mathematical passions, how they began their journey into the mathmatic field, and what are the cons of math classes in today's classroom.

Exquisite Corpora is a Tumblr page created by the Harvard metaLAB. The participants are to be in teams of three and craft a detailed abstract for a proposal to a scholarly press based on the genre, platform, and audience cards that they received at the metaLAB grad school. Each one Includes one piece of media (an image, audio file, video, interactive piece, etc.) that illustrates their concept. They have 45 minutes to research, discuss, and compose their proposals before they upload it to the Tumblr. These are similar to the lightning talks we discussed in class.