In this week’s blog post, we are required to explore one of the maps provided. The map I chose to explore is the Digital Harlem map. The Digital Harlem website present records of people’s everyday life in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood in 1915-1930. One I click on the link to the website, an informational window immediately appear, the window consists information about the panel on the side of the map that allows us to search people, location, and events on the map. The window also offered explanations on how to access through the information on the map and how to use the map. I thought this feature is very helpful for people who visit the website for the first time.
On the left side of the map, there is a list of different selection that enables a faster, more detail search for the visitors. The options are event, places and select person, within each of the selections, there is more selection which makes the research easier. In addition, after selecting a particular person and time period to explore, there is detail description that appears on the pinned points of the map. There are lines that are highlighted in different colors that appear on the map to show the area, the pinpoint is designed to look like little building which I think is a very interesting feature of the map. The map is shown or displayed in ways that are introducing the materials to the visitors, the map shows the perspective of the visitors in my opinions, it almost feels like there is someone narrating the information to us.
At first, I personally was a little bit confused by the map because of the location of the bar on the side, I thought the features will directly show up on the map instead of the side. I noticed some of the classmates that are also doing their blogs on Harlem suggested modifications for the categories of the current map. I agree that although the categories of the map consist important information, I believe there are other important aspects of everyday life that could be included. There is also some modification that could be made about the visualization of the map such as pinpoint, section colors to highlight certain parts of the map. Overall, I think the map did a good job of displaying the everyday life in Harlem neighborhood and is a good source that will benefit anyone that needs the information the map can provide.
Hi,
Thanks so much for going into detail about what you liked and didn’t like about the Digital Harlem mapping project. I think the maps did a fairly well job of highlighting specific and important parts of the neighborhood, but I agree that it would be great if additional aspects of everyday life in Harlem were also visualized.