Digital humanities is the practice of using technology to aid in humanities research and development. Digital Humanities (DH) represents many disciplines, from Archival systems to Data recognition. It connects to the study of the humanities and helps professionals and interested viewers learn about and interact with all types of media, such as primary sources and commentary pieces. DH, on an academic level, can aid in processing data and research for a project and connecting with professionals from across the globe. For the general public, the connection to digital humanities can come through educational resources and more visual experiences of history. 3D modeling and unique exhibits through technology can effectively connect people to the source material. Digital history can also provide access to archives that are not always accessible to people; this benefits both the researcher and the general public.
Digital humanities has grown with advances and a shift toward more digital engagement, as well as advances in tools and resources for data analysis and the ability to create more opportunities for outreach in public history. A source from TaDiRAH helped shape this definition by showing the existing tags and classifications of sites already classified as DH. This showed how DH spreads across different forms. Through the specifications and tagging system, we could see the digital resource forming and being created, and the data being crafted to categorize it.(https://tadirah.info/pages/Browser.html)
During the Digital Humanities class at George Mason University, students were given a word cloud showing the words and phrases commonly used in quotes from multiple researchers and historians involved with digital history throughout the years. This helped identify what DH is on a wider scale, as well as the key words people pull from this broad subject; it is not a straightforward study, yet common words began to form a pattern throughout the decades. Developing, Artifacts, Computing, Education, Method, and Digital are some of the common themes. ( Dr. Stephen Robertson, 2.2: How has digital humanities changed over time?”)
These helped form the idea that DH is a tool to help navigate the changing world of the study of the humanities and will continue to grow toward a unique form of connection to those interested in the production and creation of the humanities.