However, one of the strongest attributes of the field is that the iterative versioning of digital projects fosters experimentation, risk-taking, redefinition, and sometimes failure. It is important that we do not short-circuit this experimental process in the rush to normalize practices, standardize methodologies, and define evaluative metrics.
Burdick et al. “One: From Humanities to Digital Humanities,” in Digital_Humanities (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2012), 21.
This quote points out one of the many key aspects that makes the field of digital humanities beautiful. In this technologically innovative world, society exponentially gains knowledge and functionality in new digital systems and infrastructure previously unavailable in the pre-internet world. With the advent of a digital world, those who partake in digital humanities are able to capitalize on new technological capabilities such as networks and file-sharing methods to test, develop, and set new protocols. Data sharing and communications services allow and even promote more prototyping. Failure and being able to fluidly communicate where things went wrong have never been easier, which only further progresses the importance of the iterative framework being utilized within the digital humanities. A new era focused on research and experimentation has dawned. The gunho absentminded rush for the finished product or the end goal is now obsolete. Productivity is definitely essential, but rushed productivity is detrimental, and this new digital humanities generation favors the flexible process over the end product.
The reason why so many innovations have developed in this past decade is because many of the industries that dominate the market today comprehend that innovation can only come from multiple cycles of failure. This repetitive process of prototyping, trial, and failure is ingrained within the industrial and entrepreneurial framework. Take, as examples, the Silicon Valley or many of the Steel Industries. Many tech corporations fund their employees to risk take, think, and try to produce. While many do not come up with a final product, the process of failing to do so enables other workers, coders to pick apart substantial data and information from their co-workers attempts. The technological, digital era of today allows this process of failure to be highly productive and even treats it as a form of labor.
