Hope all's well, everyone, and apologies for my belated response. I've been teaching and in meetings all morn. 

For now, I'd like to pick up a few existing threads and run with them. 

On the topic of terminology, I concur with Dan and Neil: alternatives to high-low dynamics, as well as service paradigms, might be best. In the lab at UVic, we've been thinking of these issues largely through materialist approaches to time: media archaeology, the long now, and speculative physical computing, for instance. How can time and related labour practices be studied through old and new technologies? How do we design and build with long-term thinking/planning? And so on. That said, in addition to the emphasis on space and geography in this project, how might infrastructure be articulated through temporal differences?

For example, could John's "DH on a Stick" (a name that I quite like) be a component of a larger "Tangible Futures" or "Transnational Archaeologies" project? I'm not sure either of those is the best name, but I hope they give impressions of possibilities. And the benefits of underscoring time and its material conditions include: 1) stressing differences across localities, cultures, and communities (including access, bandwidth, and delivery issues); 2) possibly avoiding a top-down logic or hierarchy; and 3) highlighting the ways in which technological conditions are embodied, lived conditions. I hope this makes sense. Let me know where and how I can clarify.

Generally speaking, I'm struck by the possibility of thinking about how technologies and time are experienced differently across geographies, and making things accordingly. As a collaborative effort across regions and communities, could "DH on a Stick" be at once interoperable and custom-built?   

As for related initiatives, I should mention two things in particular. At HASTAC 2013 (at York in 2013), the Maker Lab at UVic --- together with the Humanistic Fabrication Lab at Western and the Ontario Augmented Reality Network --- are organizing a makerspace, which will be open through most (if not all) of the conference. For that event, we focusing on building possible futures through re-purposed technologies, replicators, micro-controllers, and the like. Here, we're influenced by the work of Anne Balsamo, Kari Kraus, Bill Turkel, Tom Igoe, and Garnet Hertz (among others). For DH 2013 (in Nebraska), we've been considering a similar workshop, which we will propose soon (even if it does not manifest as a makerspace proper). I'm happy to report out on these events, as they relate (if at all) to the work being discussed on this list. I'm also happy to facilitate collaborative efforts during those events, should anyone be interested. 

All that said, I'm quite keen on an infrastructure that's built (or designed) with existing conditions --- and, as Dan mentioned --- minimalism in mind. One perk of physical computing projects is that many of them communicate well across devices and platforms. Microcontrollers are also quite inexpensive, and they can be purpose-fit, if need be. Additionally, something like an Arduino could be mobilized for, say, text analysis as well as quick fixes to an automobile or household appliance. One model here --- especially for transnational or large-scale geographic work --- may be aspects of Neil Gershenfeld's fabrication initiatives.  Values design and computing for social justice are two other general areas, too. 

Exciting stuff! Thank you for including me, Dan. 

Best,
Jentery

On 2013-01-11 12:08 PM, Neil Fraistat wrote:
Yep. My concern, too, Dan. Let's try to move with the idea and come up with a better name for it.

Neil

On Fri, Jan 11, 2013 at 2:37 PM, Daniel O'Donnell <daniel.odonnell@uleth.ca> wrote:
I've been wondering about this as well... and something I've discovered in this project already is just how important correct terminology is.

In various discussions I've heard, I've seen Low-tech DH, low capacity computing, low bandwidth. What I don't like about all those terms is that they don't seem to be to be neutral, but instead suggest a deviation from an implied norm.

I wonder therefor if something like "minimal requirement computing" or "Minimalism" or something might be a more accurate description of the field.

Anyway, a terminology debate is not central to the technological work. But I have been impressed by how important language does become in the end.

On 13-01-11 09:05 AM, Neil Fraistat wrote:
I've had very similar thoughts to John's since the Cuba conference and
have been thinking of labeling such efforts "Low-Tech DH," which would
include John's DH on a Stick idea and other creative ideas being used in
Cuba and other such places around the world.

It was interesting to hear the Cubans critique obsolescence as a
capitalist ideology: the repurposing of equipment and DIY ethos would
also be a part of Low Tech DH, and I think that many DHers would be
interested in working in this vein if we launched an initiative.

What do you all think?
Neil

On Fri, Jan 11, 2013 at 10:23 AM, John Simpson <jes6@ualberta.ca
<mailto:jes6@ualberta.ca>> wrote:

    Hello Global DHers,

    I'd like to pursue an idea that came up in Havana that can be
    roughly summarized as "DH on a Stick".  Roughly it would focus on
    the minimal tools and materials necessary to get started doing DH in
    environments that are less ideal.  The core idea is to understand
    what software and materials could be loaded on a USB drive for
    distribution, taking into consideration space limitations, language
    constraints, processing power, end user needs/goals, etc.  Building
    out from this are ideas having to do with new simple techs like
    Raspberry Pi.

    Beyond the practical value of linking the community together and
    enabling new members it would also have deep research value in
    creating discussions around what is essential.  Various snapshots of
    stick flavours or versions taken over time would be valuable to
    analyze in the future.

    Here's a link to the summary that I wrote up after the INKE Havana
    Conference that is in my Dropbox:

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/7tosulwfwwk5rgq/DH%20on%20a%20Stick%202012-12-14.pdf

    If the link doesn't work and you are interested then let me know and
    I'll send the file directly.

    -John



    On 2013-01-11, at 5:00 AM, globaloutlookdh-l-request@uleth.ca
    <mailto:globaloutlookdh-l-request@uleth.ca> wrote:

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    than "Re: Contents of globaloutlookdh-l digest..."


    Today's Topics:

      1. Executive and Chair Nominations/Volunteers (Daniel O'Donnell)
      2. Infrastructure discussion (Daniel O'Donnell)


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Message: 1
    Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:44:11 -0700
    From: Daniel O'Donnell <daniel.odonnell@uleth.ca
    <mailto:daniel.odonnell@uleth.ca>>
    Subject: [globaloutlookDH-l] Executive and Chair
    Nominations/Volunteers
    To: A list for participants in the ADHO DH Global Outlook Community
    <globaloutlookdh-l@uleth.ca <mailto:globaloutlookdh-l@uleth.ca>>
    Message-ID: <50EEFDEB.6080009@uleth.ca
    <mailto:50EEFDEB.6080009@uleth.ca>>
    Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"; format=flowed

    Hi all,

    As many of you will know, we received approval from the ADHO steering
    Committee last week to be recognised as a formal Special Interest
    Group
    (SIG).

    This brings with it some organisational and reporting
    responsibilities.
    We must elect a chair and establish an executive that includes (in
    addition to other volunteers or elected members) ex officio
    representation from the various constituent organisations that
    make up ADHO.

    In order to set up our initial administrative structure, we ask you to

    a) Nominate or volunteer to be a candidate for chair.

    b) Nominate somebody or volunteer to be a member of our first year's
    executive committee. This will be a group of 6-10 people that will
    help
    with general administrative tasks, which include coordinating
    different
    activities and regional efforts, administering and raising funds,
    managing our web presence and outreach. The chair and executive will
    also work this year on drafting bylaws for approval by the SIG and on
    helping establish regional and project-oriented workgroups. We'd
    especially like to ensure that we have a diversity of views,
    experiences, languages, etc. on this, so if you have any interest
    at all
    in the committee, please consider volunteering.

    If you would like to nominate or volunteer for either chair or
    executive
    you can do so by writing to Alex Gil (colibri.alex@gmail.com
    <mailto:colibri.alex@gmail.com>) with the
    subject line GO::DH Exec Council. Alex will coordinate the
    election of
    the chair if required. If he receives a larger or smaller number of
    volunteers for the executive than is manageable, he will return to
    the
    list for advice.

    We'd like to have the executive and chair in place by the end of next
    week, so nominations/self-nominations should be submitted to Alex no
    later than next Thursday (January 17, 2013).

    In addition to the core council, we will be supporting working
    groups.
    I've been discussing with Neil Fraistat, the ADHO chair, Alex Gil,
    and
    Marcus Bingenheimer, who have been acting with me as (self-appointed)
    co-chairs of the initial proposal, and we think that it might also be
    useful to follow the following principles in structuring and staffing
    these working groups:

    1) That our core activities are Discovery, Community-building, and
    Research.
    2) That we seek always to ensure that perspectives from different
    regions, types of economies, languages, ranks, and types of
    employment
    are represented in our leadership, activities, and working groups
    3) That we support the use of multiple languages in our activities
    and
    leadership as much as possible.

    We are also working hard on our web presence
    (http://www.globaloutlookDH.org/) and we will have some news about
    that
    shortly, including a list of current activities that fall under
    our purview.

    All the best,

    =dan
    --
    Daniel Paul O'Donnell
    Professor of English
    University of Lethbridge
    Lethbridge AB T1K 3M4
    Canada

    +1 403 393-2539 <tel:%2B1%20403%20393-2539>



    ------------------------------

    Message: 2
    Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2013 12:05:10 -0700
    From: Daniel O'Donnell <daniel.odonnell@uleth.ca
    <mailto:daniel.odonnell@uleth.ca>>
    Subject: [globaloutlookDH-l] Infrastructure discussion
    To: A list for participants in the ADHO DH Global Outlook Community
    <globaloutlookdh-l@uleth.ca <mailto:globaloutlookdh-l@uleth.ca>>
    Message-ID: <50EF10E6.7090205@uleth.ca
    <mailto:50EF10E6.7090205@uleth.ca>>
    Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"; format=flowed

    Hi all,

    One of the many exciting things that have been going on in the
    last week
    is a discussion among a number of the Canadians who were at the INKE
    meeting in Cuba last month picking up the question of computing
    infrastructure, and working with minimal resources (this is a
    discussion
    that was started in the Cuban meeting).

    Not everybody in the discussion was on the globaloutlook list at the
    time, so it was happening off list. But since this is a topic on
    which
    different perspectives are absolutely constructive, it would make
    a lot
    of sense to move it here, at least initially, so that others who are
    interested can get to know each other.

    We don't really have a model for conducting such discussions. Should
    people work things out on this list, for example, or instead invite
    people to participate off list and report back so as not to flood
    people's inboxes?

    It seems to me that once the executive is established, we may find
    that
    we want to set up working groups on specific projects and regions who
    could initiate projects and report back periodically. Maybe this
    is one
    of those.

    Anyway: I'll had the floor over to John Simpson at Alberta and
    Jentery
    Sayers at UVic to explain more about the discussions they've all been
    having on this topic.

    -dan
    --
    Daniel Paul O'Donnell
    Professor of English
    University of Lethbridge
    Lethbridge AB T1K 3M4
    Canada

    +1 403 393-2539 <tel:%2B1%20403%20393-2539>



    ------------------------------

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    End of globaloutlookdh-l Digest, Vol 5, Issue 5
    ***********************************************



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--
Neil Fraistat
Professor of English & Director
Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities (MITH)
0301 Hornbake Library North
University of Maryland
301-405-5896 or 301-314-7111 (fax)
http://www.mith.umd.edu/
https://twitter.com/fraistat


_______________________________________________
globaloutlookdh-l mailing list
globaloutlookdh-l@uleth.ca
http://listserv.uleth.ca/mailman/listinfo/globaloutlookdh-l


--
Daniel Paul O'Donnell
Professor of English
University of Lethbridge
Lethbridge AB T1K 3M4
Canada

+1 403 393-2539

_______________________________________________
globaloutlookdh-l mailing list
globaloutlookdh-l@uleth.ca
http://listserv.uleth.ca/mailman/listinfo/globaloutlookdh-l



--
Neil Fraistat
Professor of English & Director
Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities (MITH)
0301 Hornbake Library North
University of Maryland
301-405-5896 or 301-314-7111 (fax)
http://www.mith.umd.edu/
https://twitter.com/fraistat 

-- 
Jentery Sayers, PhD
Assistant Professor, English
Director, Maker Lab in the Humanities
University of Victoria
jentery@uvic.ca | http://www.jenterysayers.com/