Building a Virtual Building a Virtual Research Environment Research Environment

for the Humanities:for the Humanities:Connecting user needs with Connecting user needs with

appropriate technologiesappropriate technologies

Ruth Kirkham – Project ManagerRuth Kirkham – Project Manager

John Pybus – Technical SupportJohn Pybus – Technical Support

http://bvreh.humanities.ox.ac.ukhttp://bvreh.humanities.ox.ac.uk

Digital Classicist Work in Progress Seminars

4th August 2006

What is a Virtual Research What is a Virtual Research Environment?Environment?

““A set of online tools, systems and A set of online tools, systems and processes interoperating to facilitate or processes interoperating to facilitate or

enhance the research process within enhance the research process within and without institutional boundaries.”and without institutional boundaries.”

Definition of a VRE:Definition of a VRE:

Mike Fraser - OUCS

What is a Virtual Research What is a Virtual Research EnvironmentEnvironment

A framework into which tools, A framework into which tools, services and resources can be services and resources can be plugged, rather than a free-standing plugged, rather than a free-standing product product

More loosely aggregated than a More loosely aggregated than a typical VLE typical VLE

Joining together existing components Joining together existing components in addition to developing newin addition to developing new

What is a Virtual Research What is a Virtual Research Environment?Environment?

Research administrationResearch administration Resource discovery & access Resource discovery & access

managementmanagement Data creation, use and analysisData creation, use and analysis Collaboration and communicationCollaboration and communication Research publication, curation Research publication, curation

and preservationand preservation

VRE ProgrammeVRE Programme

Part of UK wide JISC programme Part of UK wide JISC programme (~15 projects)(~15 projects)

Three projects at OxfordThree projects at Oxford Sakai VRESakai VRE Integrative Biology VREIntegrative Biology VRE Building a VRE for the HumanitiesBuilding a VRE for the Humanities

http://www.vre.ox.ac.uk/http://www.vre.ox.ac.uk/

The humanities division at Oxford University The humanities division at Oxford University wanted to create a virtual environment to assist wanted to create a virtual environment to assist researchers with their work researchers with their work

Preliminary Survey of Humanities researchers

The BVREH is a 15 month project to investigate The BVREH is a 15 month project to investigate the suitability of a VRE within the Humanities at the suitability of a VRE within the Humanities at OxfordOxford

The project breaks down into three main The project breaks down into three main stages…stages…

Project OutlineProject Outline

Stage One: Detailed ICT user requirements survey, initially of Oxford humanities researchers

Stage Two: Three to four demonstrator tools

Stage Three: Recommendations as to what might be included in a fully fledged humanities VRE

Project OutlineProject Outline

Requirements gathering Requirements gathering process process

Unstructured and semi-structured interviews, Unstructured and semi-structured interviews, researchers were asked about:researchers were asked about: Current IT usage Current IT usage Collaboration specifically using IT Collaboration specifically using IT Local and external tools/processes used to carry out Local and external tools/processes used to carry out

research research Interaction with all aspects of grant applications Interaction with all aspects of grant applications

such as seeking funding, interaction with  Research such as seeking funding, interaction with  Research Services etc Services etc

No specific questionnaires, informal meetings No specific questionnaires, informal meetings allowed our researchers to speak freely allowed our researchers to speak freely

Focus GroupsFocus Groups Wherever possible the interviews were Wherever possible the interviews were

recordedrecorded

Supporting the ‘Mechanism of Supporting the ‘Mechanism of Research’Research’

Many of the same, generic needs Many of the same, generic needs have been expressed time after timehave been expressed time after time

The division covers a very broad The division covers a very broad range of research activitiesrange of research activities

Individual researchers vary widely in Individual researchers vary widely in their relationship with technologytheir relationship with technology

User needsUser needs

Simon Brown: Researcher -18th Century German

Dr Mary White: Researcher at a university library

Bob Black: Researcher - Classics

Gwendolyn Green: Lecturer and artist in the Fine Art department

Disclaimer:

Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

No animals/researchers were harmed during the production of this presentation

User scenariosUser scenarios

Simon Brown: Researcher - 18Simon Brown: Researcher - 18thth Century Century GermanGerman

Representing those who believe themselves to be non-technicalRepresenting those who believe themselves to be non-technical

Simon Brown is a member of the Modern Languages faculty and specialises in 18th Century Simon Brown is a member of the Modern Languages faculty and specialises in 18th Century GermanGerman

He mainly uses primary sources and spends a great deal of time in the library. Simon admits He mainly uses primary sources and spends a great deal of time in the library. Simon admits to using his computer as a ‘glorified typewriter’to using his computer as a ‘glorified typewriter’

In recent years, Simon has used the internet to find out about more ephemeral material In recent years, Simon has used the internet to find out about more ephemeral material including articles by journalists and lesser known authors, which in the past he may have including articles by journalists and lesser known authors, which in the past he may have missed. missed.

Simon finds signing up to email lists an annoyance due to the sheer amount of unwanted, Simon finds signing up to email lists an annoyance due to the sheer amount of unwanted, non-related information that results. However he does find one list of particular interest.non-related information that results. However he does find one list of particular interest.

Simon is particularly keen to hear about grants and potential sources of fundingSimon is particularly keen to hear about grants and potential sources of funding

Dr Mary White: Researcher at a university Dr Mary White: Researcher at a university librarylibrary

Representing those who work internationally and collaboratively and is just discovering Representing those who work internationally and collaboratively and is just discovering the benefits of technologythe benefits of technology

Mary White works on a research project in a university library, cataloguing Medieval Mary White works on a research project in a university library, cataloguing Medieval Manuscripts using local xml tools.Manuscripts using local xml tools.

Mary uses bibliographic tools and word processing packages extensively and is keen to be Mary uses bibliographic tools and word processing packages extensively and is keen to be ableable

to share her work easily and quickly. to share her work easily and quickly.

Mary works collaboratively with many researchers across the world. Typically she uses emailMary works collaboratively with many researchers across the world. Typically she uses emailand the telephone to communicate with them. Mary has recently experienced an IRC Chat and the telephone to communicate with them. Mary has recently experienced an IRC Chat meeting which she found particularly useful meeting which she found particularly useful

Mary is interested in the idea of the Access Grid however, she is concerned that her Mary is interested in the idea of the Access Grid however, she is concerned that her colleagues may not have access to the technology.colleagues may not have access to the technology.

Bob Black: Researcher - ClassicsBob Black: Researcher - Classics

Representing those who are technically minded and have significant involvement inRepresenting those who are technically minded and have significant involvement in digital projectsdigital projects

Bob Black is a researcher within the Classics faculty specialising in ancient Greek inscriptions. Bob Black is a researcher within the Classics faculty specialising in ancient Greek inscriptions.

Bob has been involved with many digitization projects, enabling resources to be made availableBob has been involved with many digitization projects, enabling resources to be made availablefor study. IT use already reflects the way his group is working.for study. IT use already reflects the way his group is working.

Bob often collaborates with other experts across the world and appreciates the benefits of Bob often collaborates with other experts across the world and appreciates the benefits of technology in assisting with this. Like Mary, Bob is concerned that his colleagues don’t have thetechnology in assisting with this. Like Mary, Bob is concerned that his colleagues don’t have thesame familiarity with ICT and although he actively seeks the latest tools, he finds relatively littlesame familiarity with ICT and although he actively seeks the latest tools, he finds relatively littleof use at this time.of use at this time.

Gwendolyn Green: Lecturer and artist in Gwendolyn Green: Lecturer and artist in the Fine Art departmentthe Fine Art department

Representing those actively seeking collaborations across subject and institutional boundaries

Gwendolyn Green is a lecturer and artist in the Fine Art department. Her work is heavily influenced by science and electronics.

Gwen uses the internet and various software and graphic design tools extensively in her work.

Keen to work with others across subject and institutional boundaries, Gwen wants to know what researchers are doing elsewhere and how she might work with them.

Gwen is keen on the notion of an ‘ideas pool’ where artists and interested parties can advertise their ideas and interests to one another.

Simon Brown: Researcher -18th Century German

• Centralised information regarding grants and funding

• Searchable lists of conferences lectures and seminars

Dr Mary White: Researcher at a university library

• Chat Facilities

• Working collaboratively on documents

• Assistance in publishing online

• Access Grid technology

Bob Black:Researcher - Classics

• Information about researchers and research interests

• Communication tools e.g. Video conferencing/ Access Grid technology and chat facilities

Gwendolyn Green – Lecturer and artist in the Fine Art department

• Information about researchers and research interests

• Centralised information regarding grants and funding

‘‘Supporting the Mechanism of Supporting the Mechanism of Research’Research’

ResearchResearch

Find MaterialFind Material Search on termsSearch on terms

View; Identify items of interestView; Identify items of interest Organise; make notesOrganise; make notes Compare; processCompare; process

Use specialised toolsUse specialised tools Maybe consult with collaboratorMaybe consult with collaborator

Repeat the aboveRepeat the above Compose output to great acclaimCompose output to great acclaim

Locating MaterialLocating Material

Search on-line databasesSearch on-line databases Cross Search multiple sourcesCross Search multiple sources Provide a Front End to ease this Provide a Front End to ease this

rather than replacement for existing rather than replacement for existing sourcessources

Retrieve and Integrate data from Retrieve and Integrate data from multiple sourcesmultiple sources DataGridsDataGrids

a Personal Spacea Personal Space StoreStore ViewView OrganiseOrganise Annotate...Annotate...

DemonstratorsDemonstrators

Currently building the following Currently building the following demonstrators:demonstrators:

Research Discovery ServiceResearch Discovery Service Application of Physical ToolsApplication of Physical Tools Eighteenth Century Workspace (Jane Eighteenth Century Workspace (Jane

Austen)Austen) Virtual Workspace for the Study of Virtual Workspace for the Study of

Ancient DocumentsAncient Documents

Research Discovery Research Discovery ServiceService

Medical Sciences projectMedical Sciences project Database of researchers and research interests across the Database of researchers and research interests across the

divisiondivision BVREH adapting for the HumanitiesBVREH adapting for the Humanities

a Research Discovery a Research Discovery ServiceService

Database of research interestsDatabase of research interests Enables collaborationEnables collaboration Similar project already underway in Similar project already underway in

Oxford (Medical Sciences)Oxford (Medical Sciences) Needs to provide good coverage of Needs to provide good coverage of

up to date informationup to date information How do we bootstrap the process?How do we bootstrap the process? What Classification / Taxonomy?What Classification / Taxonomy?

Physical ToolsPhysical Tools

Physical tools such as Physical tools such as communication and novel user communication and novel user interface devices such as digital pen interface devices such as digital pen and paper (Anoto) and Personal and paper (Anoto) and Personal Interface to the Access Grid (PIG)Interface to the Access Grid (PIG)

It’s all about keeping track of 669 845 157 115 773 458 169 very small dots.

Eighteenth Century WorkspaceEighteenth Century Workspace

To support a study of Jane Austen’s To support a study of Jane Austen’s workwork

Current thinking to integrate four Current thinking to integrate four online resources:online resources: Samuel Johnson, A Dictionary of the Samuel Johnson, A Dictionary of the

English Language (1755)English Language (1755) Eighteenth-Century Collections Online Eighteenth-Century Collections Online

(ECCO)(ECCO) Chadwyck-Healy Literature OnlineChadwyck-Healy Literature Online British Fiction 1800-1829: A database of British Fiction 1800-1829: A database of

production, circulation and receptionproduction, circulation and reception

Virtual Workspace for the Virtual Workspace for the Study of Ancient DocumentsStudy of Ancient Documents An interface allowing browsing and An interface allowing browsing and

searching of multiple image searching of multiple image collections, including tools to collections, including tools to compare and annotate the compare and annotate the researcher’s personal collectionresearcher’s personal collection

Virtual LightboxVirtual Lightbox

Embeds in BrowserEmbeds in Browser JavaJava Multiple ImagesMultiple Images Multiple sitesMultiple sites

Maryland Institute for Maryland Institute for Technology in the Technology in the HumanitiesHumanities

VLMAVLMA

Extension to Virtual LightboxExtension to Virtual Lightbox

Reading University & Reading University & Max Planck Institute for the HistorMax Planck Institute for the History of Sciencey of Science

Sponsored by the JISCSponsored by the JISC

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Principle Investigators:Principle Investigators:Professor Alan Bowman and Dr Charles CrowtherProfessor Alan Bowman and Dr Charles Crowther

Centre for the Study of Ancient Documents, Centre for the Study of Ancient Documents, OxfordOxford

Dr Michael FraserDr Michael Fraser

Oxford University Computing ServicesOxford University Computing Services

Other acknowledgements:Other acknowledgements:

Anne Bowtell - Anne Bowtell - Medical Sciences Division, OxfordMedical Sciences Division, Oxford

Feedback/QuestionsFeedback/Questions

Any questions?Any questions?

ruth.kirkham@humanities.ox.ac.ukk

jojohn.pybus@humanities.ox.ac.uk

http://bvreh.humanities.ox.ac.uk/http://bvreh.humanities.ox.ac.uk/

RDFRDF

RDFRDF

Resource Description FrameworkResource Description Framework W3C standard to represent W3C standard to represent

metadatametadata

Subject ObjectPredicate

Simon Brown: Researcher -18th Century German

• Least likely to jump headfirst into such a system

• If uses VRE for generic functionality may experiment as becomes more familiar

Dr Mary White: Researcher at a university library

• Collaborative editing tools (integrated with chat)

• XML base allows to export work from VRE to local system

Bob Black:Researcher - Classics

• ‘Virtual Workspace’ ideally suited to his needs

• Stores images from other collections and adds annotations

• Enthusiastic to use and share with colleagues

Gwendolyn Green – Lecturer and artist in the Fine Art department

• Keen to test the limits of the collaborative possibilities

• Finds new collaborators through RDS system and uses VRE to help overcome distance

• Find images helpful to her work

So, back to our hard-working researchers

Shortly after the new system goes live…