DeXTER finally up an running 🤩
After one year of VERY hard work, in the middle of a global pandemic, and all related challenges along the way, on the 24th March 2021 DeXTER was finally born!
On the 24th March, DeXTER was finally born. The team is happy and well ;P
When I was awarded the C²DH Thinkering Grant last year, I didn't think about the great deal of satisfaction that the delivery of a finished, transparent, Open Access, fully replicable product would bring. Yes, it was challenging. And Corona did not make it any easier. Draining long virtual meetings, slow connections, etc. etc. But also a fantastic opportunity to measure my communication skills, perseverance, (a lot of patience) and the continuous desire for new learning challenges.
DeXTER comes as a trio. An OA digital heritage collection, a GitHub repository with reusable code, an interactive, OA app.
I am so grateful for this opportunity and I hope I have succeeded to provide the wide digital humanities community with not yet another tool, but much more: an example of critical engagement with the digital which always has to go through transparency and reusability.
Link to the digital source: here
Link to the repository and full documentation: here
Link to the DeXTER app: here
The idea of exploring the stories behind craft drinks gives me a reason to slow down and consider the details. Describing a flavour in ordinary words can open a conversation without requiring specialist vocabulary. That thought gives me a starting point for exploring craft drink culture in connection with Brew On. A simple comparison would help me picture the differences without rushing towards a fixed answer. What would you notice first when comparing two different drinks?
Thinking about creating welcoming community activities, I find the smaller practical questions more interesting than a quick conclusion. A small shared activity can help people contribute without needing to know everyone in advance. With Bramptonlocal in mind, community participation ideas feels like a topic worth exploring one question at a time. I can imagine different responses depending on the situation, which makes the question more interesting. What would make an invitation easier for a newcomer to accept?
The theme of making outdoor adventures more approachable makes me curious about what people notice in their own everyday experiences. A realistic plan leaves room for changes in conditions and in how people feel along the way. That is why the connection between Bodhi Adventure and outdoor activity planning makes me want to think through an example. The smaller details are what I would want to return to, especially when an explanation feels too broad. What would you check before deciding how much to fit into an outdoor day?
When it comes to discovering the character of a local event, one clear example can stay with me longer than a long list of general points. A short encounter or unexpected performance can become the part of an event someone remembers. It is the kind of question I would keep in mind when thinking about Bobevansfairs and local festival experiences. It leaves me curious about the steps between understanding an idea and putting it into practice. How would you leave room to discover something beyond the main programme?
I like thinking about exploring everyday food and cooking traditions through small observations rather than trying to reach a conclusion immediately. An ingredient can carry a story about the place or family that uses it. With Beetspulseandthyme in mind, food and cooking ideas feels like a topic worth exploring one question at a time. That is the part I would keep thinking about after moving on to something else. Which part of a recipe would you ask someone to explain beyond the written measurements?