The Digital World

The Humanities Research Institute is actively building capacity, expertise and track record in the application of arts and humanities research within the modern information society as part of the University's overall 'Digital Worlds' research stream. The HRI believes that arts and humanities research brings a unique perspective on the problems which face the knowledge economy thanks to the methodologies which are inherent within its subjects.

The arts and humanities constitutes a diverse range of subjects, and academic research within the domain often relies on a record of human knowledge which, unlike the majority of scientific data, is idiosyncratic and inconsistent, whether it be the deeds of a Tudor dynasty written in unfamiliar English, the cartoons of an unidentified Renaissance artist, a nineteenth-century industrial landscape which is intertwined with settlements from previous ages, or a dance performance which is intended to be ephemeral. As such, the methodologies and technologies necessary for enabling effective research in such a diverse domain have a much wider value within today's information society which shares the same characteristics of complexity, idiosyncracy and inconsistency.

Although most of today's knowledge is born-digital, it exhibits the same messiness as cultural and historical data and poses the same problems for discovery, organisation, comprehension and communication.

Therefore the HRI believes that the wider economic value of the arts and humanities within the modern information society is at least in part methodological. For example, a medievalist has an innate understanding of the problems concerning the context, production and consumption of knowledge in its written form, even though a detailed understanding of Chaucer might not appear to be immediately relevant to twenty-first century Britain.

The HRI is continuing to develop projects and networks which build upon this position in collaboration with external public and commercial partners, giving particular emphasis to the value of arts, humanities and heritage research within the domains of 3D virtual worlds, augmented reality and serious games. However, it should be emphasised that the HRI is not primarily about developing new technology. The HRI's interests lie in the application of arts and humanities research methodologies to existing technology within new contexts, and the economic, social and cultural change which this brings.

The HRI is also a soft leader for the Culture and Heritage research stream within the University's 'Interdisciplinary Research in Socio-Digital Worlds' network (IRiS).

Anyone wishing to discuss possible research activities should contact Michael Pidd (m.pidd@sheffield.ac.uk) in the first instance.