Proposal by Ken Chitwood, U of Florida.

Augmented Reality Criticisms (ARCs) present a compelling opportunity for scholars in the humanities to harness mobile computing technology, specifically Augmented Reality (AR) apps, to create and circulate public discourse and critique. This proposal seeks to discuss the why, what, and how of ARCs. Pointedly, it will include how overlaying physical objects or locations with digital content available through mobile device applications can encourage positive political and cultural exchange on specific social issues. The “Religion@UF” project will be offered as an example to explore ARCs. Created in collaboration between the UF Religion & English Departments, the “Relgion@UF” ARC is a mobile AR application that reveals the hidden religious history in and around the University of Florida campus through exploration of some of its physical locations and sites of interest. Once completed, users will be able to look at specific buildings and signs through their phone or tablet camera and view multimedia overlays informing them of the religious history related to different locations around campus. For instance, users will be able to view the engravings located on Heavener Hall and receive information about this ongoing religious controversy.

The advent of digital technology and social media has not only transformed how today religious communities function, they have also changed how scholars teach about and conduct research on religion more broadly. If you are interested in how technology is changing—or can change—the work of religious studies scholars, then we invite you to attend the THATCamp AAR/SBL 2015!

THATCamp stands for “The Humanities and Technology Camp.” They exist to bring scholars and technologists of every skill level together to learn how to integrate digital technology into their teaching and research. This means the format is not your typical conference proceedings.

THATCamps are “unconferences,” which means sessions are built around hands-on workshops and collaborative working groups rather than formal presentations. Participants are encouraged to propose sessions they would like to attend in advance of the meeting on the THATCamp AAR/SBL blog. Topics we could cover include academic blogging, social media in the classroom, social media in religion, digital research methods, web-based class projects, online publishing, and countless others.

Sessions largely take one of four formats.

1. Talk Sessions offer the chance for a group discussion around a topic or question.
2. In Make Sessions, someone leads a small group in a hands-on collaborative working session with the aim actually making something–software, best practices document, a syllabus, etc.
3. In Teach Sessions, an individual leads a hands-on workshop on a specific skill or software tool.
4. In Play Sessions, anything goes. You can suggest literally playing a game, or spending some quality time exploring existing tools and resources for digital work.

For more information about proposing sessions, visit the “Propose” page of this site. All new session proposals will be posted to the home page. If you will be attending, please be sure to comment on the sessions that you would like to participate in!

The final schedule will be determined during the first session of the day, so be ready to vote for your favorite session ideas on November 20th.