Data Mining

Within the last couple decades, technology has significantly altered the way we research, and technology continues to impact how we collect data. Search engines have greatly simplified the process of finding and linking data. Dan Cohen and William Turkel discuss data mining within this context. Their articles got me thinking the most, so I will just focus on them. In Cohen's article, From Babel to Knowledge, it's interesting that he points out the relationship between research, analysis, and time. This was not his main point, but it really struck me. Since information is so easy to instantly obtain today, historians spend less time doing research. This frees up a lot of time, which allows deeper analysis of the data found. While Cohen doesn't mention this, I have noticed that history involves so much more today than ever before. A great deal more is expected of historians now. For example, a common theme in all of my classes is that we tear historical monographs apart that do not represent both sexes and as many races and classes as possible, depending on the available data from that time. In the past, works that only considered white, upper class men dominated history. Diversity didn't explode in American History until after the 1960s. Historians are expected to include and represent as much as possible in their work today, and I think our quicker research tools has liberated (sometimes feels like shackled!) our analyses in this way. Because of technology and search engines, we have more time for further research and analysis, which enables historians to be so inclusive. Cohen seeks to extend the historian's search and lights the path to do so, which is helpful and insightful.

In Turkel's blog, he discusses the fact that AOL released their user search data in 2006 and relates this to Public History. People were still using AOL in 2006? I thought it died out of popularity at least by 2000, as Google began claiming the search engine reigns. Apparently some people were using AOL, because three months of data was presented from over a half a million users. Anyway, AOL ended up withdrawing the data (who would have thought: sensitive information about the randomly numbered users could be figured out...). But anything that has been on the internet, stays on the internet somewhere. Turkel demonstrates how easy one can manipulate the AOL data for the use of historians and how much insight such data can give. I found it interesting that by analyzing what people are searching, you can understand how they perceive and search for history. This is very useful to a public historian, who is trying to reach their audience in the best way. If we can think like them and know what they are searching...we can better engage our audience in history exhibits! Turkel seems to have a sense of humor, since he lastly points out the AOL user's obvious concern with privacy based on the search data. This made me laugh anyway, but that could be because I'm a terrible person that sometimes laughs at the ironic misfortune of others.