Final Project

My final project "Soldiers Tale Weapons of Mass Destruction" is finally finished. I enjoyed putting this project together for several reasons. First and foremost have Matt tell history was eye opening. I personally have never taken the time to talk to Veteran about his or her experience. We take for granted as civilians, what the enlisted soldiers do to protect our country. I think every American should talk to a veteran about his or her experience in the military. Often the solider becomes invisible, it may be because as citizens to often we believe we are above the soldiers that protect our country of that we just don't care and take for granted what these men and women sacrifice for our freedom.
I also enjoyed polling the students hearing what they had to say about the education they are receiving, and how they perceive their world and ours. Democracy became the topic of many of my conversations with older students, many had not grasped the idea of democracy. I though it was important to stress the fact that they ponder this thought. Those going off to college will be confronted with the ideas of democracy on a daily basic.
Researching my argument has made me aware of many facts that I did not know about Iraqi war. I will continue to research other finding I have come across, so as to further broaden my knowledge about this subject.
This assignment was one of the more difficult task I had to undertake. I often found myself panicked that I was not follwing the formula for this assignment. The following is the link for final assignment:
http://soliderstaleweaponsofmassdestruction.weebly.com/

This is the link to my most recent Digital site
Soldiers Tale, Weapons of Mass Destruction http://soliderstaleweaponsofmassdestruction.weebly.com/

Due to the many complications I have faced trying to put the Vietnam related project together, I have made an executive decision to change my argument. I have been working closely with Matt Davis who severed in the Iraqi war. Matt served in a special unit "Bravo Company J" this sector searched for weapons of mass destruction in Baghdad and Fallujah. This sector of the service is small and only consist on 10 teams. My guiding question will be where is Baghdad and Fullujah? This is a question that many civilian can not answer. I will answer this question and also answer why the US military is their combating an enemy that has many faces. Matt has provided me with a personal interview as well as photos and video coverage. I will be building my site with the aid of weebly.com, which provides a simple format for me to built a website to present my findings.
http://whereisiraq.weebly.com/

Where is Baghdad?

Here is a glance at the Webpage I have thus far created
http://silentveterans.weebly.com/

Closed Communication The Silent Veteran

For most of this project I have been pursuing Vietnam Veterans that would commit to an interview. My objective was clear, I would be presenting questions that only dealt with the health care services that were available to Vietnam servicemen after they had served their tour of duty. This seem a harmless task and I was fairly confident that I could find a veteran to speak with me about this subject, but much to my chagrin, this was quite a difficult task. Vietnam Veterans are silent vessels. Some of the veterans that I came in contact with had never saw the battlefield, but they were still reluctant to speak to me. Of course this just made me more determined and curious as to why these servicemen chose to be silent. I need a new approach and came in contact with a father and son that had both served in the military. The father served in Vietnam as a pilot and his son Matt served in the Iraqi war. Matt was willing to do an interview with me and tell me his dads story as well as his own and how the two wars have many similarities.

The Questions:
What kind of health care was available to service men after the Vietnam war and the Iraqi war?
What in your opinion do you feel went terrible wrong with the system, and do you feel the health coverage sector has changed for servicemen since the Vietnam war as opposed to the Iraqi war?
These wars that you and your father partook in both have had serious mental health repercussions, have you or your father suffered from heath issues of this kind as a result of your service duties?

Review 3 Photography as a Weapon (Errol Morris, New York Times)

Errol raise the question "How reliable are photographs at portraying the truth"? Images of historical events speak volumes to the viewer about events, but what the photo is portraying can be completely different from the image one has perceived. Digital photography fraud is not a new concept, by the manipulation of photography has become much more high-tech. Technology and computer programs allows for a photograph to be digitally enhanced. 

Farid points out in this article that once and image has been viewed by the human eye the brain automatically embeds this image and it is used to recall the whole of an entire event. The photography is just a small portion or a faction of the larger event and the events purpose and outcome. When one falsifies a photography and displays the image for public purpose this is the image that is embedded, once the truth is revealed that the photo had been tampered with  it is hard to erase the image that has already been recored. The stigma attached to the fraudulent photo is often disassociated with the image in the long run.

The image in quest in this article is of four missiles  being fired from Iranian military forces. This photograph was posted in various American newspapers for the public to view. The problem with the image is that in actuality only three missiles  launched. The photograph source of origin was from Iran. This manipulated image portrays to the American audience viewing the photograph "Iran is building a fierce military force". This photograph strengthens the message that Iranian forces to sending the rest of the world. 

Long before technology photography was manipulated through the text attached to the image. The media thrives on this method of psychologically manipulating its audience. John Heartfield realized early on during  WWI that the public was being sold a war through propaganda. He chose to enlighten the public about the very fact that what they where being sold through images was not what it appeared to be. A war was being sold that was already lost, it was thriving on the ignorance of the people and the images that they believed told the true story. Heartfied took the manipulated images and turned them into truths. 

This article helps to put in perspective of how to process a photograph as a whole. By stopping and questioning   photographs and the  incorporated text, we can connect the truths that are being exaggerated  for the the sole purpose of manipulating society.

Research

Currently I am pursuing various resources in which I intend to incorporate into my digital site. I have recently contacted the volunteer unit at the Veterans Hospital in West Orange, NJ. I have a meeting set for this week with a social worker that is going to work with me on finding a Vietnam Veteran willing to talk about their experiences and their outlook on the treatment they received when they returned home from this war. I will address the medical care that has been given to them via the Veterans Association and their opinion of the system.
I am also pursuing other other resource outlets, such as the VFW association and internet sites setup by Vietnam Veterans. The final results that I am pursing is a video interview with a serviceman and or verbal recording of and interview. I would also like to include digitized photographs as well as any Vietnam artifacts.

Vietnam, Soldiers Rights to Medical Compensation

This image provides information about toxic substances that soldiers were exposed to while serving their country

Digital History Chapters 1-3

Chapter 1:
In this chapter Cohen and Rosenweig go into detail about the history of the inception of digital websites. Many points they make about early history websites are interesting. Much of what they describe about browsers, such as netscape and yahoo, I can relate to. A large part of how I researched historical interest came from categorized catalogs on the Internet. I am especially familiar with Nicholas Pioch and the web museum; I have frequented this site many times in the past. Going back to the site I am amused by the simplicity of the site, imagery and text this site contains. The site has not been updated to include all the bells and whistles of newer historical sites; the site is still fairly easy to navigate. The novices of the early Internet created simplistic history sites, which in its self spurred a need for others such as historians, universities and archival libraries to produce sites with large libraries, rich in primary documentation and resources.

Chapter 2:
This chapter introduces the reader to the Internet as a highly structured set of machines. It breaks down the transfer of webpage’s through HTML. By providing examples of HTML code (tag <1>), the reader can examine the difference between various coding (0s and 1s) and software applications. The author makes a point of explaining that the technological logistics of building a digital website should not be the primary concern for the creator. It is best to focus on a clear sense for purpose for your site and once you have established this move on to technical questions, such as server and software. This chapter also addresses website servers and how they function as part of the project you are creating. It breaks down cost, purpose and ease of using specific servers and programes such as ISP.

Chapter 3:
Breaks down analog data verses digital formats. The differences and purpose for this transition is from a personal preference and need to keep up with technology. Analog is an authentic representation of data (i.e. vinyl audio recordings) as apposed to digital format, which is a precise and flawless representation of data transfer rewritten in a programming code of 0s and 1s. By transferring analog to digital it preserves data that may be declining in its quality. The main argument about transition from analog to digital is how to handle the storage or disposal of analog sound and images. Digitizing does have drawbacks, which include lost of information through transfer and cost incurred when working on large projects. Solutions to digitization include mark up, this process allows for machine readability while controlling the lost of material through transfer. Other solutions involve linking pages with machine readable text proofread for humans. This allows for re-use of the same information for the purpose of breaking down a search in to categories, such as footnotes of captions for a specific work. By explains the origins of mark-ups the author allows for the reader to understand the mark-ups process easier and apply it to. This chapter also makes clear the process used for making text digital. Scanning being the preferred method. The most helpful portion of this chapter was explaining the digital image process and audio process, which in the past has left me overwhelmed.

Review 2 Los Angeles and the problems of urban historical knowledge

The introduction to this digital website is clear and concise. The format which Philip Ethington used to create this website, offers the viewer a straightforward historiography of the urban development of Los Angeles and its surrounding boroughs. Ethington stops to ask the question how can one authenticate the growth of an urban area from its beginings to its future. Much of the research he has done represents his findings through essay's, photography, maps and historical models available from archives.
The map images and essays work together to form a synopsis of Los Angeles during the start of its urbanization origins. The components of each section work well together. Ethington has strives to make his argument and prove his point implicitly from the aspects of technology. There are no sections that do not encompass a proportion of the whole aspect of the website.
The site can be studied as a whole or users may utilize the areas that piratical interest them and still grasp the concept of the material presented to its audience. The sites aim is to sort out the theme of Los Angeles’s as a historical metropolis and what makes it so unique as compared to other metropolis.
Ethington points out the daunting task he took on by putting together his argument. Encompassing all of L.A.'s vast urban history was overwhelming, and required Ethington to collaborate with various other historians to put together this site. Urban history changes quickly and it is hard to record each moment and trend that passes through urban society.
This site was created to bring a new form of representation to historical attributes of Los Angeles’s. Finding history in existing artifacts presented genuine sources of knowledge for Ethington. Scaled down models of the city of Los Angeles, provided evidence of renewal and the destruction of historical neighborhoods in L.A.
Walter Benjamin and Eduardo Cadava, historians that have contributed to Ethingtons’s site, have interesting theories and ideas about historgraphy and photography. By placing the space foremost and not representing ourselves, but understanding and grasping the history of space the photograph. By applying this theory when constructing a digital history website helps to brings perspective and purpose to the site. Reconstructing history through photographic sources can aid when trying to collaborating dates and events as well as other historical details. By recreating the past through photography one creates a porthole to the past.

Limitations, which Ethington met with while creating this site, were not being able to use “frames” which is a common way to organize web sites. Ethington did not view this as a obstruction, instead he feels it made the site more “simple and elegant.” The drawbacks that he did face were the laborious hours spent manually setting links. He laid out his directories in a hierarchical tree organization by a major categories menu bar. His labor, research, collaboration and vision worked out well. A novice or pro can easily navigate the site.

Project Proposal

My final project for this course will be based on the continuation of previous work I have completed in History Methods course last semester. I will be building my argument on organizations that where influenced a by the Civil Rights Movement. The research for my a argument will be based on Women Rights (gender rights), rights for the disabled (VETS) and rights for homosexuals. I will base my research on outside sources such as interviews, film documentaries, printed text and primary sources such as photographs and archived documents. By following the outline provide by the article recently reviewed in the Journal of American History Interchange: Defining Digital History. My guidelines will be to consider the historical questions I am researching, and the audience I am targeting and how I will control the environment of my site. The historical question will pertain to the influence and impact the Civil Rights movement had on other rights organizations. And how the these new entities worked together or against each other and how the coexisted with the Civil Rights Movement.

Review 1 (The Promise of Digital History)

This article was insightful in many ways, it broke down the genre of digital history and what to expect from this course. Digital history combines past works with current technology. These technologies include computers, Internet and software systems. These are the tools of digital technologies. What this article address is beyond the tools of technology. It gives insight on how to tackle putting together resources to represent a Digital History site. Much consideration must be given to the audience you want to reach and the historical content you will be controlling for your audience.
Each scholar that participated in this article contributed a factor and concern about the formation of digital history and its future. Must of what they touched upon is essential to understanding digital history as a discipline. Thomas, informs the reader that digital history creates a ontology, through technology for people to experience, read and follow arguments pertaining to historical problems. This type of cyber social interaction helps share ideas in a worldwide forum. It also allows for students and scholars to exchange ideas and knowledge. It enhances facts and directs the participant to explore new associations. Digital history sites should allow the audience to branch out and explore other sources associated with the historical content they are presenting.
Digital history is also a cost effective way for many to reach a wider audience. Cohen mentions sites within this article such as the Library of Congress and Proquest, these digital sites allow easy access to sources. These sites also save researchers, scholars and students valuable time in compiling necessary primary documents. The information provided by these websites doesn’t present unnecessary jargon in which its intended audience would not benefit from. Cohen also mentioned the Zotero site, I took the opportunity to check out this program and benefited by doing so.
The evolution of digital history has reached a panicle moment. Students now have opportunities for developing transcripts and study guides at the touch of a button. This is an asset to this generation and future generations. But what not be forgotten is that history is comprised of many things. Though out this article the pro’s and con’s of digital history is examined. Many sources for enriching ones knowledge still exists out side of cyber space. Researchers, scholars and students need to socially connect in humanistic forms, this is an important aspect of creating history. The scholars in this article address the social effects digital history, which is important to acknowledge when considering institutions and museums.
When a person partakes in a virtual tour of a historical site or museum it should be to entice them to explore the physical place in which they are visiting digitally. Substituting virtual with physical some how loses its purpose. Artifacts and art should be appreciated up close and personally. It also allows a person to share social aspects of discussion about the historical representation of the artifact. Combining digital history with exhibits can be useful in many ways; it can bring an artifact alive, by producing fact and dialect through video technology.
Scholar and researchers must not forgo the process of physically researching information to present to their digital audience. This is still a large part of their processes to providing the best possible information available about the subject they are representing. With the aid of technology it can broaden the spectrum in which primary sources are available. Google Earth offers a great interactive program which routes out famous historical routes through out the country. This can enhance a physical adventure for those seeking knowledge about a particular historical event.
The advantages to digital history are sites can be updated constantly, where as to update printed material it takes time and can be a costly process. Scholars can learn about new events that may be relevant to readapting certain historical facts. Historical facts rarely change but ideas about the facts are constantly evolving. Through digital history a more didactic approach can be taken in which books sometimes do not afford the reader.
Many of the scholars in this article propose that when guiding a student in creating a digital site the projects should be centered on a historical question. Students must also keep in mind, who will be viewing the site and what can you offer the your audience. The approach they suggest is to know about how to do the research for the intended site you are creating and, also consider how to interpret the text and resources for your intended audience. By controlling the experience, you audience will be partaking in a balance of technological skill and historical research. This will enhance their learning experience and advance their knowledge about the particular historical event you are presenting. You also allow you’re audience to visualize the past in a very unique way. Digital history can be thought provoking if presented by following the guide lines as suggested in this journal.

Digital History:
As a future educator exploring online resources has aided me in research projects and creating assignments. Many of the assignments that I have used internet sites for have included building websites, power points and lesson plans. Much of the knowledge I have obtained about Digital History has come from my own exploration in the field. Digital History is an intricate part in bridging the gap for educators and students. Much of what is available through internet sites should be carefully interpreted. Using sites created by armatures can pose problems. Making sure to check the content and the author is and important step when citing a website.
Digital History is an innovative way to enhance ones historical knowledge. Many of the sites that I have worked with have provided film, photography, text and insight. These sites have provoked a new perspective on bland text and documentary works. By exploring Digital History it allows takes me one step further in my research.
I am hoping to gain more knowledge in building my own library of Digital History which will aid as a teaching tool for future endeavors.

New Digital History Blog