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The manuscript images are of very high resolution and a movable magnifying glass makes it easy to study the scripts in minute detail. The transcript for each line can be viewed by passing the mouse over the line number. This feature can be disabled for teaching purposes.
The screen shot above shows the list of manuscripts down the left, with the analysis of the first manuscript to the right.
The program also includes video clips showing how the scripts were most likely written by medieval scribes. The second release will include more such videos as well as an interview with the calligrapher who features in them, Terry Pepperell, of Melbourne, Australia. Terry will describe the art of the scribe and the materials that they used. There will also be a section devoted to recent developments in the digital analysis of scripts as created by our development group, 'Medieval Multimedia' (medieval manuscripts in the Multi-medium Aevum.
Interactive supporting documentation includes comprehensive glossaries of over 300 terms with illustrations, manuscript types, full transcriptions, a bibliography and an electronic portfolio of associated art work. Below is an example of a Ductus glossary term. (Note: Because this is only an example, the hyperlinks are not active.)
calamus: The reed pen used by scribes in antiquity; it was gradually replaced by the quill made from a feather.
A calmus in the middle with a quill on either side.
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Ductus is in CD-ROM format and runs in a web browser (Netscape or Internet Explorer), making it suitable for either local or remote use (via the web). Remote users can access high resolution images mounted locally from the CD-ROM while connected directly to the home site during a session. Regular upgrades will be down-loadable via the net.
This year the introductory paleography course is offered via the net using Ductus. The course is available to anyone anywhere in the world, regardless of the size of the class. The first course for 2000 is underway; please contact Bernard Muir to arrange to participate in the digital experience of paleography.
Ductus was developed by Nick Kennedy (Multimedia Manager, ArtsIT) for Bernard Muir, Reader in Medieval Language and Literature. Graeme Smith (Professional Officer, Computing, HLC) was responsible for the video production and image preparation.
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