{"id":170707,"date":"2011-04-21T20:52:29","date_gmt":"2011-04-21T20:52:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/project\/digital-heritage-and-humanities\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T09:56:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T16:56:33","slug":"digital-heritage-and-humanities","status":"publish","type":"msr-project","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/project\/digital-heritage-and-humanities\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Heritage and Humanities"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span id=\"c34f5340-c291-4789-8bb3-e43b162866bd\" class=\"ImageBlock fl\"><span id=\"ImageCaptionc34f5340-c291-4789-8bb3-e43b162866bd\" class=\"ImageCaptionCoreCss ImageCaption\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-194129 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/digital-heritage-and-humanities-2.jpg\" alt=\"Digital Heritage and Humanities\" width=\"270\" height=\"180\" \/>Digital Humanities is a broad collection of scholarly activities that apply new technologies to humanities research. Some of its many facets include enhancing the scholarly lifecycle, preserving and illuminating collections that are otherwise difficult to access, encouraging new creative expression by using digital media, studying the impact of technology in the humanities, and providing cultural commentary. Digital Heritage is a subset of Digital Humanities\u00a0that focuses on preserving and exploring our combined cultural heritage.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t<div data-wp-context='{\"items\":[]}' data-wp-interactive=\"msr\/accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"btn-group align-items-center mb-g float-sm-right\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-bi-aN=\"accordion-collapse-controls\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"btn btn-link m-0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-bi-cN=\"Expand all\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-controls=\"state.ariaControls\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-expanded=\"state.ariaExpanded\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--disabled=\"state.isAllExpanded\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--inactive=\"state.isAllExpanded\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.onExpandAll\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand all\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span aria-hidden=\"true\"> | <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"btn btn-link m-0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-bi-cN=\"Collapse all\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-controls=\"state.ariaControls\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-expanded=\"state.ariaExpanded\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--disabled=\"state.isAllCollapsed\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-class--inactive=\"state.isAllCollapsed\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.onCollapseAll\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCollapse all\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"msr-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"m-0\" data-wp-context='{\"id\":\"accordion-content-2\"}' data-wp-init=\"callbacks.init\">\n\t\t<div class=\"accordion-header\">\n\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\taria-controls=\"accordion-content-2\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"btn btn-collapse\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-expanded=\"state.isExpanded\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-button-1\"\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\tBackground\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div\n\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-button-1\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"msr-accordion__content\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--inert=\"!state.isExpanded\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-run=\"callbacks.run\"\n\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-2\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"msr-accordion__body\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>Microsoft Research is exploring multiple applications of technology in service to the humanities. Our interactive storytelling initiative encompasses a number of Digital Humanities projects\u2014such as <a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.worldwidetelescope.org\/Home.aspx\">WorldWide Telescope<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/project\/rich-interactive-narratives\/\">Rich Interactive Narratives<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/publication\/tag-me-maybe-perceptions-public-targeted-sharing-on-facebook\/\">Touch Art Gallery<\/a>, <a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/aidstimeline.org\/\">AIDS Quilt page<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/project\/chronozoom\/\">ChronoZoom<\/a>\u2014that are designed to enable individuals to explore the vast repositories of humanities data that exist, learn about our combined cultural heritage, and use this knowledge to develop insights that benefit the individual, organizations, and society as a whole.<\/p>\n<p>Additional efforts include <a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/cs.brown.edu\/~bcz\/worktop\/\">WorkTop<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a>, which provides a unified workspace that helps Digital Humanities scholars capture, display, and link heterogeneous research documents; the <a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.dgcam.org\/dgCam\/Home.html\">Gigapixel Camera<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a> project, which is developing new hardware to capture data; and the Materials Simulation project, which uses various algorithmic approaches\u00a0for modeling fabric and metal to bring ancient and fragile artifacts to life.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"m-0\" data-wp-context='{\"id\":\"accordion-content-4\"}' data-wp-init=\"callbacks.init\">\n\t\t<div class=\"accordion-header\">\n\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\taria-controls=\"accordion-content-4\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"btn btn-collapse\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-expanded=\"state.isExpanded\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-button-3\"\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\tCurrent Research\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div\n\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-button-3\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"msr-accordion__content\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--inert=\"!state.isExpanded\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-run=\"callbacks.run\"\n\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-4\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"msr-accordion__body\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2>Heritage<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.dgcam.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">dgCam\u00a0\u2013 A Digital GigaPixel Camera<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Humanities<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.worldwidetelescope.org\/Home.aspx\">WorldWide Telescope<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/project\/rich-interactive-narratives\/\">Rich Interactive Narratives (RIN)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/cs.brown.edu\/researchhttps:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/?post_type=msr-project&p=169770tag\/\">Touch Art Gallery (TAG)<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/cs.brown.edu\/~bcz\/worktop\/\">WorkTop<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(formerly known as HumBub)\n<ul>\n<li><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.browndailyherald.com\/project-mixes-humanities-and-technology-1.2396936\" target=\"_blank\">&#8220;Project mixes humanities and technology&#8221;<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.chronozoomproject.org\/\">ChronoZoom<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/aidstimeline.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">AIDS Quilt Timeline<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"m-0\" data-wp-context='{\"id\":\"accordion-content-6\"}' data-wp-init=\"callbacks.init\">\n\t\t<div class=\"accordion-header\">\n\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\taria-controls=\"accordion-content-6\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"btn btn-collapse\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-expanded=\"state.isExpanded\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-button-5\"\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\tPast Research\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div\n\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-button-5\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"msr-accordion__content\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--inert=\"!state.isExpanded\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-run=\"callbacks.run\"\n\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-6\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"msr-accordion__body\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2>Heritage<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.vividdesignconsultants.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Microsoft Research India&#8217;s Digital Heritage<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Microsoft Research Asia&#8217;s Forbidden City\n<ul>\n<li>The Digital Existence of Cultural Heritage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Materials Simulation\n<ul>\n<li>Fabric Modelling<\/li>\n<li>Virtual Restoration of Metal<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/dl.lib.brown.edu\/garibaldi\/\" target=\"_blank\">Brown University&#8217;s Garibaldi\u00a0Project<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Humanities<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/project\/beneath-the-surface\/\">Beneath the Surface<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/project\/large-artwork-display-on-surface-lads\/\">Large Artwork Displays on Surface (LADS)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"m-0\" data-wp-context='{\"id\":\"accordion-content-8\"}' data-wp-init=\"callbacks.init\">\n\t\t<div class=\"accordion-header\">\n\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\taria-controls=\"accordion-content-8\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"btn btn-collapse\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-expanded=\"state.isExpanded\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-button-7\"\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\tThe Future\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div\n\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-button-7\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"msr-accordion__content\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--inert=\"!state.isExpanded\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-run=\"callbacks.run\"\n\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-8\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"msr-accordion__body\">\n\t\t\t\t<p>In the near future, we plan to provide a number of free, open-source technology platforms based on RIN, ChronoZoom, TAG, and WorkTop to empower humanities and heritage research communities to combine data from many different sources and draw insights that can improve our understanding of humanity, culture, and society.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/li>\n\t\t<li class=\"m-0\" data-wp-context='{\"id\":\"accordion-content-10\"}' data-wp-init=\"callbacks.init\">\n\t\t<div class=\"accordion-header\">\n\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\taria-controls=\"accordion-content-10\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"btn btn-collapse\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-expanded=\"state.isExpanded\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-button-9\"\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\tRelated Resources\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div\n\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-button-9\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"msr-accordion__content\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--inert=\"!state.isExpanded\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-run=\"callbacks.run\"\n\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-10\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"msr-accordion__body\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.dancohen.org\/\">Dan Cohen&#8217;s blog<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/digitalhumanitiesnow.org\/\">Digital Humanities Now<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/mediacommons.futureofthebook.org\/blogs\/kfitz\">Kathleen Fitzpatrick&#8217;s blog<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/scalar.usc.edu\/\">Scalar @ The Alliance for Networking Visual Culture<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/thatcamp.org\/\">ThatCamp<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"msr-external-link glyph-append glyph-append-open-in-new-tab glyph-append-xsmall\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/infocamp.info\/\">InfoCamp<span class=\"sr-only\"> (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Digital Humanities is a broad collection of scholarly activities that apply new technologies to humanities research. Some of its many facets include enhancing the scholarly lifecycle, preserving and illuminating collections that are otherwise difficult to access, encouraging new creative expression by using digital media, studying the impact of technology in the humanities, and providing cultural commentary. Digital Heritage is a subset of Digital Humanities\u00a0that focuses on preserving and exploring our combined cultural heritage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"msr-url-field":"","msr-podcast-episode":"","msrModifiedDate":"","msrModifiedDateEnabled":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"_classifai_error":"","footnotes":""},"research-area":[13559],"msr-locale":[268875],"msr-impact-theme":[],"msr-pillar":[],"class_list":["post-170707","msr-project","type-msr-project","status-publish","hentry","msr-research-area-social-sciences","msr-locale-en_us","msr-archive-status-complete"],"msr_project_start":"2011-04-21","related-publications":[],"related-downloads":[],"related-videos":[],"related-groups":[],"related-events":[],"related-opportunities":[],"related-posts":[],"related-articles":[],"tab-content":[],"slides":[],"related-researchers":[],"msr_research_lab":[],"msr_impact_theme":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-project\/170707","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-project"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/msr-project"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-project\/170707\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1167655,"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-project\/170707\/revisions\/1167655"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=170707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"msr-research-area","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research-area?post=170707"},{"taxonomy":"msr-locale","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-locale?post=170707"},{"taxonomy":"msr-impact-theme","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-impact-theme?post=170707"},{"taxonomy":"msr-pillar","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-pillar?post=170707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}