Complementing Static Scholarly Editions with Dynamic Research Platforms

Interactive Dynamic Presentation (IDP) and Semantic Faceted Search and Browsing (SFB) for the Wittgenstein Nachlass

Abstract

In 2000 the Wittgenstein Archives at the University of Bergen (WAB) published the CDROM edition of Wittgenstein’s Nachlass: The Bergen Electronic Edition (BEE). However, since the publication, it has become increasingly obvious that this edition does not meet all demands of the community that uses Wittgenstein’s manuscripts (his “Nachlass”) for research and learning. WAB has, therefore, for more than a decade now worked towards complementing the static CD-ROM edition with an interactive web platform that allows a more comprehensive, yet also a more tailored and user-specific utilization, of WAB’s Nachlass resources. The paper describes and discusses two specific web service tools of this platform: Interactive Dynamic Presentation (IDP) of the Wittgenstein Nachlass, and Semantic Faceted Search and Browsing (SFB) of Wittgenstein metadata. The paper argues that it is only when these two tools are fully implemented and functional that WAB can adequately serve the scholarly needs of the Wittgenstein Nachlass user community. The paper describes some selected features and functionalities of these two tools in detail. While pilot versions of both tools are already in use on the platform, they need substantial extension and optimization. This upgrade is being implemented within the Norwegian CLARINO+ project.