VERA the use of Digital Devices

VERA the use of Digital Devices Presented by: Prof Mark Baker ACET, University of Reading Tel: +44 118 378 8615 E-mail: Mark.Baker@computer.org Web: http://acet.rdg.ac.uk/~mab mark.baker@computer.org

Outline • Aims and objectives of the VERA project. • Using Digital Devices: • Digital Pens, • Digi Memopads, • Screen-based devices, • GPS. • Summary and Conclusions. mark.baker@computer.org

Using Digital Devices • The VERA project aims to produce a fully-fledged virtual research environment for the archaeological community. • VERA Aims: • The overall aim of the project is to assess, enhance and introduce new tools and technologies that can aid the archaeological processes of recording, manipulating and analysing archaeological data. • Our goal is to create a situation where “the information flows seamlessly from excavation, through post-excavation to archive and publication”. • In addition, we are creating various tools and utilities that help the post-excavation research processes. mark.baker@computer.org

Silchester Roman Town The 'Town Life' Project mark.baker@computer.org

Silchester/VERA Web sites http://vera.rdg.ac.uk/ mark.baker@computer.org

Silchester – An Overview • The annual excavation allows us to: • Study the use of IT in an archaeological context; • Investigate the tasks carried out within an excavation; • Ascertain how and where technologies can be used to facilitate information flow within a dig; • Inform the developers how to adapt the tools used in the trench and for post dig analysis. • To ensure that the software and tools are appropriate we are engaging all the on-site team and the researchers who undertake post excavation analysis in the usability studies. mark.baker@computer.org

Research: Recording Urban Change

Integrated Archaeological Database (IADB) • The IADB is a key component within the Silchester and the VERA project. • The IADB was designed to address the data management requirements throughout the lifespan of archaeological excavation projects, from initial excavation recording, through post-excavation analysis and research to eventual dissemination and archiving. • THE IADB is used for recording: • Finds, Contexts, Sets, Groups, Phases, Objects, Images, Illustrations, Stratigraphy Diagrams, Documents and Bibliography References. • Based on MySQL, PHP, Javascript, AJAX and SVG. mark.baker@computer.org

Digital Device Trials • We have experimented with: • Hand-held IPAQs – good for querying database, • Ruggedised tablet PCs – sunlight a major problem, • Nokia 800s – OK, but hard to use on-site. • Digimemo pads – useful, but not very robust. • Wireless Web Cams, • Digitial Pens. mark.baker@computer.org

Contexts mark.baker@computer.org

Patented, • A tiny camera in the digital pen, • Tiny dot patterns and grids on the paper, • Pen moves across the dot patterns and grids, • Marks, coordinates and relative time points, • Send the stored sequences to computer. mark.baker@computer.org

mark.baker@computer.org

Thoughts on the Digital Pens Pros: • Pens and paper are relatively cheap, • Work in a range of weather conditions as ordinary paper and pencils, • Reassuringly “low-tech”, • Integrate well into existing recording methodology, • Field Code system is very flexible. Cons: • Field Code system takes time to learn, • Requires sequential input! • Forms based system could be better, • Formatted Context Forms are expensive, • Limited trial size! mark.baker@computer.org

2008 Excavation Summary • 591 out of 1352 or 44% of context cards recorded with the digital pens. • Simple training. • Robust (weather, mud and student proof). • Speeds up post-excavation work (context cards must otherwise be transcribed). • Encourages legible handwriting. • Paper master copy created in the trench in case of computer related disasters.

Digimemo pad mark.baker@computer.org

Digimemo Pad mark.baker@computer.org

Digimemo Pad Specification mark.baker@computer.org

They Feel Familiar and Natural • Feel as comfortable as you normally write with a regular pen on paper. • Immediately get both a digital record and a hardcopy duplicate of your handwritten notes even when you are on the move. • Instantly and digitally record your notes, ideas, sketches, drawings and flowcharts, without scanning. • Any ordinary paper or notepad can be applied. • Only problem was that the out of the four bought, three failed! • However, lots of future possibilities though! mark.baker@computer.org

Global Positioning System mark.baker@computer.org

Other Digital Devices • Digimemo pad: • Can cope with the current paper-based context sheets, • Easy to use for both text and diagrams, • Not robust, four used during 2008 excavation, three failed! • IPAC/Laptops/Nokia 800s • All work well and are useful on-site! • But can not see the screen in direct sunlight, need to be in shade or in hut to use these devices. • GPS • Provides XYZ coordinates for contexts and artefacts a lot faster… staff need training though! • Look at cheap laptops again this next season! mark.baker@computer.org

Summary • The use of various digital devices are speeding up the process of inserting excavation data into the database: • In the past, entering the contexts would take three/four months efforts after the dig, • Now all the contexts are entered during the dig. • This means that analysis and research can be undertaken immediately on the IADB, and publication are produced more quickly. • The use of these digital devices means that we have to train the staff and students before the excavation, but it having a significant effect. • Some sceptics, but the majority of people who work on the excavation are happy to use the devices. mark.baker@computer.org

Conclusions • User driven design and implementation of tools and utilities for the project. • Availability of the Internet and WiFi across the site is very useful. • Up front and on-site training, and extensive documentation helps the archaeologists take up the digital technologies and various tools more easily. • Digital pens and Digimemo pads are a success, even though the latter was not that robust. • Still cannot find a screen-based digital device that can be used easily in direct sun light. mark.baker@computer.org

The VERA Project Team The VERA project has a core team of researchers based at the University of Reading (UoR), University College London (UCL), and York Archaeological Trust (YAT). To advise the project, VERA has a Steering Group made up of experts in the field of Archaeology, Virtual Research Environments, and the user community. • Project Manager and Director: • Professor Mark Baker (UoR) • Associate Directors: • Professor Mike Fulford (UoR)Ms Amanda Clarke (UoR) • Mr Mike Rains (YAT) • Dr Claire Warwick (UCL) Dr Melissa Terras (UCL) • Research Assistants: • Dr Hugo Mills (UoR)Ms Emma O’Riordan (UoR)Ms Claire Fisher (UCL) • Steering Group: • Dr Stuart Dunn (King's College London)Mr Steve Gough (University of Reading)Professor Gary Lock (University of Oxford) Dr Jeremy Huggett (University of Glasgow) Professor Vince Gaffney (University of Birmingham) Professor Julian Richards (University of York) Dr Robert Allan (Daresbury Laboratory) Mr Edmund Lee (English Heritage) Mr Chris Brayne (Wessex Archaeology) http://vera.reading.ac.uk mark.baker@computer.org

VERA the use of Digital Devices