Abstract
We present a speculative design of handwritten text recognition
(HTR), a form of automatic image-to-text recognition, resulting
in plain text files of historical materials which can be presented
in a variety of formats (Muehlberger et. al 2019). HTR is
beginning to shift historical methods and practice, from sampling
data to exhaustive interrogation of primary sources (Muehlberger
et al. 2019). The aspiration of recognising the hands of people
from various backgrounds, nationalities, professions, and education,
with equal competence, surety and speed, has largely been
realised (although this remains to be seen for marginalised communities).
However, questions of equity, diversity and inclusion in
the technology and tools of HTR are yet to be properly addressed.
This paper will adopt a speculative design approach to imagine
a minimal HTR design, informing how collaboration and inclusivity
are approached in the next stage of its development.
(HTR), a form of automatic image-to-text recognition, resulting
in plain text files of historical materials which can be presented
in a variety of formats (Muehlberger et. al 2019). HTR is
beginning to shift historical methods and practice, from sampling
data to exhaustive interrogation of primary sources (Muehlberger
et al. 2019). The aspiration of recognising the hands of people
from various backgrounds, nationalities, professions, and education,
with equal competence, surety and speed, has largely been
realised (although this remains to be seen for marginalised communities).
However, questions of equity, diversity and inclusion in
the technology and tools of HTR are yet to be properly addressed.
This paper will adopt a speculative design approach to imagine
a minimal HTR design, informing how collaboration and inclusivity
are approached in the next stage of its development.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 254-255 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jul 2023 |