Although relatively short, I found the “With Criminal Intent” article to still reveal significant information. Put briefly, the article discusses a way of datamining through the use of three online resources: the Old Bailey Online, Zotero and TAPoR. Together, the narration uses the programs to research various data pertaining to criminal cases to uncover particular information. I did not find the overall process to be all that intriguing but I did find the combination of several programs to reach a goal to be very fascinating. Using the three resources in conjunction not only allowed for a denser and more thorough research, but expanded the capabilities that one could do alone.
Often, there are various items or programs that ultimately serve the same purpose but vary in their strengths and weaknesses. We have to then weigh the pros and cons of each product and commit to the one we find best suited. In the case provided from the article, there is unification between the programs that allows for cohabitation and a process that efficiently goes beyond the scope of each individually.
Similarly, this example is very similar to the Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) used for audio engineering. As mentioned, certain programs may have aspects that the others do not offer or allow for secondary purposes that are not capable through another program. In the case of DAWs, a method known as Rewire allows there to be communication between different software. For example, by using Rewire, an audio engineer can use Logic Pro X with Live (both DAWs) and increase functionality. Through this process, a wide array of musical instruments and mixing capabilities become available along with an efficient workflow.
While others may not find my example to be relatable or significant, the mere fact that two separate programs can be bridged together to increase efficiency and expand upon their individual capabilities should be. Furthermore, allowing for a proficient linkage between programs may lead to greater and speedier developments. As we continue to gravitate towards a technology-rich world, cohesion between programs will become even more important to promote a sense of seamlessness.
Sources:
1. http://criminalintent.org/%20%20getting-started/