The tools that digital humanists use have changed dramatically since people began using the term.  Often, DHers find and adapt existing technologies to new purposes.  However, sometimes software developers build software with the purpose of solving problems digital humanists have already identified (see chnm.gmu.edu/tools/).

I’m a software developer and I like to solve digital humanities problems.  I’d like to learn more about what unfulfilled digital needs digital humanists have:

• What are the problems you have that feel like they need a software solution?
• What area of your work is full of almost-there technologies that accomplish half of what you need them to, but lack essential features to make them really useful to you?
• What sorts of tools do you dream about having access to?
• What tools do you use that feel inadequate to the tasks you put them to?

This discussion could go in a bunch of different, beneficial, ways.

• We can identify common problems for digital humanists and begin to imagine solutions for them
• We can probably identify existing resources for people who just haven’t been matched with the right technology for them.
• We can feed the todo lists of future hackathons and the plant seeds in the minds of open-source and university-based developers.