databases

[Florian Mühlfried]

Sergey Arutiunov from the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, has just got in touch with me and told me that he would like to join our group. As the former leader of the Caucasus section of this respective institution, he is of course extremely knowledgeable when it comes to the anthroplogy in/of the Caucasus, and I think it's a great honour to have him here.

Furtheron, he told me that he will send me some "texts .. that I have stored in my computer". If he allows me to, I would like to make these texts accessible in our group. (Of course, I have to ask first).

The reason I'm writing this now is the following: Is there a general interst in building up some kind of database? We could create a virtual place where to store our bibliographies, texts, and/or syllabi.

Is this the right direction?

[Tamta Khalvashi]

In my opinion, if we create a good virtual database accessible for all members of the group and store articles written by us as well as by other authors, this will help to be more involved and engaged in this virtual community of the Caucasus anthropologists! I appreciate this idea!!!

[Oliver Reisner]

When I was working at the Central Asian Studies Department at Humboldt University I got an impressive introduction into the virtual world of the united Tibetologists, that was really impressive. All kind of local interviews were put on the web, with GPS to locate the specific dialect and so on. This was in 2002, I do not know how far their web site developed now, but I suppose that the Caucasian community of researchers will not be much bigger. Your proposal might be an excellent start.

[Kevin Tuite]

I think it's an excellent idea, Florian. Many of us already make our texts available on personal web pages, but it certainly would be helpful to have a central clearinghouse from which these scattered databases could be accessed.

[NIKOS GOUSGOUNIS]

I agree to the inicial ideaof Florian about the creation of a data base that could be enriched by our personal contributions with comments , critiques etc.

[Florian Mühlfried]

Thanks for your positive feedbacks. I will try to create some kind of e-infrastructure for uploading and accessing 1. bibliographies, 2. texts / literature, and 3. syllabi. Am not much of an technical expert, but will try my best. Would you like to put any more topics on the agenda? (I mean besides bibliographies, texts, and syllabi.)

[Florian Mühlfried]

Okay, I am trying to sort built our database. For this reason, I have just posted a question in the forum. There is a trhead dedicated to content/projects. I got the following two answers:

* Ning allows you to upload files on your profile by adding a profile application called "Box.net Files". If the network had a wiki, people could then add links to individual files stored at Box.net (I think this is in the works???). Or, on your Caucasus group you could make an area for people to post links to the files. I haven't yet seen any other way that Ning allows people to post documents. (Stacie Gilmore)

* A wiki is in the works. Ning doesn't provide one (yet?), but there will be one linked to the main site soon. Hopefully it will help to collect the syllabi from all the groups which have already started reading list threads, as well as becoming a central e-database for other information. (Francine Barone)

I have to admit that I don't understand everything in detail, but my feeling is that we should wait until the wiki (look up wikipedia if you don't know what this is) is at works for the entire OAC. And use this as infrastructure for our postings.

Or should we begin now, get some webspace somewhere, upload our files, and link them to our Caucasus page?

Any hint welcome!

[Florian Mühlfried]

Next step. I followed Stacie's hint that it is possible to to "upload files on your profile by adding a profile application called "Box.net Files". Indeed, it is, and it is quite easy. I used the the option "Add profile Apps" on my page (you can find it on the left side, just below your photo). You will see a list with lots of funky gadgets, and on the second page, I found the "Box" application. Dwonload, register, use. You will find a frame for "Box net files" right next to your picture, on the right. You can easily upload files here. This files are then available to all members of the OAC.

As a testcase, I uploaded a syllabi of the course I am teaching at UNICAMP now. Ignore the content, it is just for the technical procedure.

What I will try now, is to create something on our group site, which allows to place links or something like this to the uploaded files of our members. Let's see if it works.

In the future, I think we should rely on wiki, once it is available for OAC. This will definitely contribute to the exchange of material and opinions.

[Florian Mühlfried]

Now I am going on your nerves, I know, because as often, I act before I think. Resp.: I post before I have checked everything. But I guess I have good news: Forget about the "Box.net" stuff. Things are very very easy. We will create three discussion threads in the beginning, one dedicated to syllabi, one to texts, one to bilbiographies. We can either place our links directly in the texts, or we can directly upload files. That's what I've just done - gain, just as a testcase, and not because the content really matters. Please share your files with us! Please start uploading! And please use the existing discussion threads for the syllabi, texts, and bibliographies! (The latter two yet have to be created.)

[Artak Dabaghyan]

Dear Florian,
Here is an URL to a database, good information- bibliography on N. Caucasus mostly. Might be interesting.
http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Enterprises/2493/circbibliog.html

[Florian Mühlfried]

Thanks a lot, Artak! Will check this out and add this to our database.
Best, Florian

Artak Dabaghyan said:

Dear Florian,
Here is an URL to a database, good information- bibliography on N. Caucasus mostly. Might be interesting.
http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Enterprises/2493/circbibliog.html