Machines of Knowledge

Reflections on Period II

Divergent and Convergent Thinking

Looking back on our classes of Design thinking & Maker culture throughout the semester, I think this course is the one that makes me feel the most relevant to my past and future work. In addition to systematically learning a lot of processes and related methods of how to do digital humanities projects, such as user-centered design and multimodality. I also learned a lot of thinking methods, such as critical thinking and divergent and convegent thinking. And these process methods and thinking methods, I might have used or participated in it in the past, but I didn’t understand the underlying principles and reasonable usage. In addition, these methods can not only be used in projects, but will be of great help to us in solving problems in future life and even the human world.

Regarding Divergent and convegent thinking, I think it is a very important way of thinking that I learned in this project. As I mentioned above, this course is the one most relevant to my past work. Therefore, I often think about my past practices when I study. As for thinking, this seems inconspicuous, but it is the beginning of everything. I think my way of doing it in the past was to choose the ideas that I thought were more mature among the few ideas that first appeared in my mind. This is sometimes because of tight time and heavy tasks, but more because I am used to my way of thinking. And this method often limits my thinking and projects, putting me in a safe range of thinking, but it lacks opportunities for breakthroughs. In addition, during the brainstorming session with the group, I used to be a person who often raised negative points when ideas came up. This course reminded me of the importance of expanding my thinking and breaking restrictions during the stage of collecting opinions. Especially the lotus tool that we use. I feel that this tool and method of constantly generating new ideas in a short period of time really helps to inspire thinking and get as much innovative as possible.


Digital Archive

In the study of Machines of knowledge, we reviewed the development process of the Internet and the changes in the form of people acquiring knowledge, storing files, understanding information, and communicating with each other with the development of the Internet. In addition, we also discussed and learned about the values that emerged and the impacts and problems arising from these changes. I think there are many fascinating topics in this course, such as feminism and the public sphere. Because they are not only closely related to many popular events today, but also some very controversial topics that require humans to slowly explore the answers. But today I want to talk about one topic that I think is worth continuing to study in the academic field, and that is digital archives.

Regarding digital archives, we know that it is a form used by humans to record knowledge. It is not limited to text, but also includes pictures, sound effects, architecture, etc. The cultural heritage and historical heritage of mankind is a special treasure for all mankind. I think digital archives are important because they are a bridge between mankind and the past. Digital archives not only record history, store knowledge, but also awaken people’s emotional connection with the past, so that modern people pay more attention to the protection of cultural heritage and help people use past experience to solve current problems. At the same time, digital archives remind us to rethink the relationship between power and knowledge. I think one of the key points throughout our entire study is the relationship between power and knowledge. Whether in ancient times, the record of knowledge has changed with the power of those in power, or in modern times, with the development of the Internet, it seems that digital citizens are no longer just consumers, but content producers under knowledge crowdsourcing. However, as long as the controlling and supervising class still exists, even if it exists in other forms (such as large social media platforms), then power controls knowledge and affects knowledge. This is a question worthy of our deep consideration and research to get closer to the answer.

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