Histography, https://histography.io/. Created by Matan Stauber at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design. The project was over seen by Ronel Mor as a final project. This database is an interactive archive that is presented as a timeline. The timeline crosses through 14 billion years of events, starting from the Big Bang all the way to the end of 2015. The large amount of data that is being processes into this website is being siphoned through Wikipedia. Each page of major events that are mentioned on Wikipedia are placed onto this extended timeline and are represented by a dot.
When you begin working with the interface a pop up opens to explain very simply in two sentences how to begin using the timeline. Once pressing “got it,” the user is free to roam the timeline. At the bottom of the timeline there is a bar that allows the user to decide upon the years that are shown more in depth. When the sliding bar is moved it also gives the user the name of the eras that are being shown for that section. After deciding upon years, the user can hover over the dots (events) and look at a short snapshot of what the event is. When pressing the dot, the snapshot expands and some of the extra links that can be seen are related events, read wiki page, and watch video. Clicking on related events takes the user to other dots on the timeline, read the wiki page and watch video opens a pop up within the site.
The extras on this website can be seen on the top and on the left of the timeline. The top of the timeline Has three options, the first is the “about” page which takes you off the website. Then there is the “based on Wikipedia,” section that sends you to the Wikipedia website. At the end there is a simple “sound on” button that allows the user to turn of the music for concentration. On the lefts is a list of topics being Literature, Music, Wars, Politics, Construction, and Inventions. Selecting one of these topics like Music changes the timelines shape and only places important musical events. If the user decides to click on another topic like Politics, then the timeline morphs once again and is separated into two parallel timelines. The bottom black timeline being about music and the top white timeline being about Politics. Every time the user selects a new topic then the topic chosen before is sent to the bottom and the new topic chosen takes it place.
The project could be used by classrooms, researchers, history enthusiasts, librarians, university professors, and students. The website URL is short and easy to access and easily searchable in a Google search engine. One of the only cumbersome points is the website automatically reloads if the user decides to visit another open page on the desktop. It is also somewhat difficult for the user to select specific years with the sliding tool bar.
The effectiveness in the capacity of digit media is positive when it comes to comparing topics in specific eras. It is a great teaching aid in showing what event are happening during an era and how it could affect or mirror another event. The website is user friendly and simple to interact with, yet it would be difficult to convert the project into print or film. It may be possible to create a snapshot of the database into an exhibit to show different events happening at the same time.
Overall the digital project is very informative and eye opening. The different ways to manipulate the timeline can be helpful in multiple realms of historical, digital, and informational research. Syphoning information through Wikipedia allows the designer a vast amount of information with a workforce that continually pushes more information out. The timeline only goes to 2015 and I do not know if the designer is going to be continuing the digital project, but it will continue to be useful.
