Cultural Heritage and New Technologies: The Role of Technology in Preserving, Restoring and Disseminating Cultural Knowledge

Abstract

This article focuses on the role of new technology in the preservation, restoration and dissemination of cultural knowledge illustrated by the example of the ‘Hoffmann Collection of Cultural Knowledge’ (HC-CK). Some background information on the conceptualisation and aims of the project are given in the introduction. New technologies as an integral part of research, preservation, restoration and presentation are then discussed. The focus of the discussion in the second part will be on the inclusion of new technology as an essential part of research outputs, on the powerful capacities of intermediality as observed in the ‘Hoffmann Collection of Cultural Knowledge’ and on an example of a digitally created space (database) where all genera of primary and secondary productions meet to offer researchers the possibility to convene multiple places. This article finally suggests that it is the right time to connect the astounding predisposition of new technologies in the form of digital media to reshape the unique spaces of research and the dissemination of research outcomes.

Okun Radio Online as an impetus for maintaining the dialects and cultural heritage of Okun-Yoruba people

“…She identifies the second approach as the upsurge in computer-mediated communication with its interactive technologies, "Web 2.0". Small and marginalised communities have taken the advantages that new technologies provide on the web to promote not just their indigenous languages but also their identity as well as their cultural and traditional heritage (Tiam-Tong 1996;Warschauer 1998Warschauer , 2000Sallabank 2010;Seargeant et al 2012;Campbell and Huck 2013;Joubert and Biernacka 2015;Ola-Busari 2015;Stern 2017). The Okuns, like all other indigenous people all over the world, have taken up the opportunities provided by the Web 2.0 revolution to advance their ethnic interest.…”