by With the project reaching its conclusion, I feel that I haven’t gone over why I ended up choosing Scalar 2 over other programs I have used in the past. Since discovering Scalar 2 over the last few weeks, I ended up having to learn an entirely different program with such a short amount of time. What about the program made me want to learn it with the project deadlines coming up? What makes Scalar 2 appealing to me over tools like Omeka, WordPress, or other digital tools I’ve used before? In short, there are three key reasons why I ended up utilizing this program over other digital programs.
Telling the Story
In order to discuss my topic of choice, I wanted to tell the story of the Normans and the cross-cultural and multicultural experiences in the Central Mediterranean region. In order to do that, I needed to explore all digital programs that could do such a thing. This led me to Omeka and WordPress originally, but still felt the programs weren’t enough to tell it. When I discovered Scalar 2, I found it as an advanced version of Omeka, where the usage of text and media for the program can be manipulated to tell any store that any content creator wants to use. Going over the different examples of Scalar 2 projects had me formulate what I wanted my project to look like and how I wanted the story of the Normans to be told.
The Different Types of Interactivity
Another big thing I looked at with different digital programs was the variety of available digital tools and interactivity for viewers to explore. When going through Scalar 2, I got to see the wide variety of digital tools that could be utilized with the proper knowledge. While some coding experience may be needed, the program is relatively easy to understand when it came to importing different kinds of media and interaction. Scalar 2 provides the content creator to use timelines, videos, grids, media galleries, and even Google Maps. In order to provide an immersive experience for my audience, this factor was critical and Scalar 2 provided it in spades.
Bridging the Gap between Primary and Secondary Audiences
Lastly, my project had to cater to audiences that delve in scholarly research and individuals who don’t care too much for history. That meant that every detail of the project needed to be appetizing for a wider audience pool than normal. Aside from my research, Scalar 2 was able to provide that outlet for me on a practical and intellectual level. Simplicity is the key! Scalar 2 has a sophisticated level of simplistic use for viewers to read and interact with the project when compared to others like Omeka.
To conclude, Scalar 2 became the backbone for my project for a variety of reasons. It’s ability and programming to tell a story, its variety of digital tools, and its simplicity for viewership were just some of the critical factors in creating this project. Telling the story of the cross-cultural and multicultural aspects of the Normans in the Central Mediterranean alone was a difficult task to get any viewer hooked on. However, Scalar 2 served as a catalyst not only for this project, but for potential projects in the future.
