Software
The DSC trains the UVic community in various software platforms and digital research methodologies. Below you will find a list of software we currently support and to which we provide access. If there is a program you would like to learn or think we should purchase, please let us know! Please note, the ABBYY FineReader station in the DSC classroom is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Current support includes:
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3D Printing, Scanning, and Design |
Bibliographic & Research Management Software |
Data Analysis & Visualization |
|
GIS Software (Geographic Information System) |
Multimedia (Video, Image, Music) Editing |
Physical Computing |
| Data Curation
|
Resource-intensive Computing |
Text/Document Processing or Storage |
|
Storytelling |
Video Game Design |
Web Design |
3D Printing and Design
Cura
Cura takes a 3D design file and prepares it for printing on an Ultimaker 3D printer. In Cura, you can preview, scale, or rotate a model and adjust other printer settings before printing via a network-enabled printer. Cura is cross-platform and open source.
- Supports multiple file formats such as .stl, .obj, .x3d and more
- Features plugins for importing from SolidWorks and AutoDesk
- Using advanced settings, can print models with two colours
LMI HDI 120 Structured Light Scanner
Like the Matter and Form scanner (see below), the LMI HDI 120 creates 3D models by scanning objects. It’s great for capturing texture or very fine detail.
- Works great for stationary objects (e.g. cave walls) or objects that are too large for the Matter and Form scanner
- You can physically move the scanner around the object to capture different angles, or use the rotary table
- Compared to the Matter and Form scanner, you have more control over each scan and how to align them (or align them automatically)
Examples: The UVic MakerLab has used this scanner for a number of projects, including the Early Wearables Kit and the Early Magnetic Recording Kit.
Makerbot Print
Like Cura, Makerbot Print prepares a design file for printing. With it, you can resize or rotate a model and adjust other printer settings. You can also preview the model slice-by-slice and check approximately how long it will take to print. For 3D-printing at the DSC, we ask for a Makerbot Print project file (.makerbot) with your desired settings (if you’re new to 3D-printing, we recommend taking a workshop).
- Supports multiple file formats such as .stl, .obj, .x3d and more
- Scale objects easily by clicking and dragging or typing exact measurements
- Adjust options for supports or infill
TinkerCAD
TinkerCAD is a web-based 3D design software that lets you build a model out of combined simple solids (cubes, spheres, pyramids etc.) and/or text. TinkerCAD is great for beginners, but can also produce very complex designs.
- Easily align, combine, and scale shapes or sockets
- Imports and exports designs in STL and OBJ formats
- A shareable link makes it easy to collaborate
- Designs are stored in the cloud, so you can access them from anywhere with an internet connection
DSC Workshops and Resources: We offer an intro workshop for 3D Design with TinkerCAD (see the lesson plan). For its application to book illustration technology or history, see our blog post on the topic.
Bibliographic and Research Management Software
DMP Assistant
DMP Assistant is a bilingual tool for preparing data management plans (DMPs). The tool follows best practices in data stewardship and walks researchers step-by-step through key questions about data management.
- Create an account and select a template to start writing your DMP
- Answer the questions that are relevant to your work, and follow guidance embedded
- Add collaborators to your DMP to co-edit or review
- Export your DMP into a PDF or other file format to share with granting agencies and colleagues
DSC Workshops and Resources: We offer introductory workshops in developing data management plans with the DMP Assistant. See our upcoming workshops page or our CC-licensed lesson plans for more information.
Open Science Framework (OSF)
Open Science Framework (OSF) is a free, open project management platform to support your research and enable collaboration.
- Start a project and add collaborators, giving them shared access to upload and edit research materials
- Use built-in version control to track file-level changes
- Store data, code, and other materials in OSF Storage, and assign files unique, persistent URL for citing and sharing
- Preregister your research projects before you start gathering data to prevent publication bias and reduce data dredging
DSC Workshops and Resources: We offer introductory workshops in developing data management plans with the DMP Assistant. See our upcoming workshops page or our CC-licensed lesson plans for more information.
Zotero
Zotero helps you organize and manage your research sources. For example, if you find a journal article on your research topic on JSTOR, you can download the PDF with metadata (e.g. author, title, publication date)—with just one click in your browser.
- Download articles or webpages for offline use (through the Zotero application)
- Add notes or tag sources with key terms/concepts
- Collaborate on or share research folders
- Automatically generate a bibliography in MLA, APA, Chicago, and other formats using Word Processor plugins
See also…
Data Visualization
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program that allows users to create arrays of data organized into rows and columns, in order to create calculations, graphs, and statistical analyses.
- Import or manually enter data, and use tools to organize and standardize values
- Conduct mathematical calulations and statistical analyses using built-in functions
- Produce charts, tables, and other visualizations to communicate trends and patterns in your data
DSC Workshops and Resources: We offer an introductory workshop on Data Analysis with Excel. See our upcoming workshops page or our CC-licensed lesson plans for more information.
R using ggplot2 (Sept-April)
R is a programming language and software for statistical analysis while ggplot2 is an add-on package specifically for data visualization. R is widely used because it is free, open-source, and cross-platform (Windows, Linux, Mac).
- Upload .csv files and run calcuations (e.g. mean, standard deviation) on them
- R has a steep learning curve because it requires writing code
- Strong and active user community
DSC Workshops and Resources: We offer introductory and intermediate workshops in Data Analysis with RStudio. See our workshops page or our CC-licensed lesson plans for the introductory or intermediate workshop. We also have a graduate student expert in RStudio and Data Analysis available for consultation.
RStudio (Sept-April)
RStudio is a software environment or suite of tools designed to make programming in R easier (where R refers to the programming language).
- Dataviewer for inspecting datasets in human-readable format
- Searchable command history lets you reuse or review the context of your previous code
- R package manager for downloading packages (code and documentation to extend R’s capabilities)
DSC Workshops and Resources: We offer introductory and intermediate workshops in Data Analysis with RStudio. See our workshops page or our CC-licensed lesson plans for the introductory or intermediate workshop. We also have a graduate student expert in RStudio and Data Analysis available for consultation.
Tableau
Tableau is a data analytics platform used for querying relational databases and spreadsheets to generate interactive visualizations and dashboards.
- Import data into Tableau or connect to an external data source
- Build workbooks and dashboards to reveal and communicate trends in your data
- Share your insights by publishing your workbooks and dashboards to Tableau Public
DSC Workshops and Resources: We offer an introductory workshop on data visualization with Tableau. See our upcoming workshops page or our CC-licensed lesson plans for more information.
See also…
GIS Software (Geographic Information System)
Google Fusion Tables
Google Fusion Tables lets you import spreadsheets and visualize your data as pins on a map, bar graphs, heat maps, network graphs, and more.You can search for and import public datasets or provide your own.
- Merge tables with matching columns
- Share data/visualizations via Google Drive or a link
- Collaborate with others on the same data/visualization
Example: a heatmap of geo-located #MeToo tweets.
DSC Workshops and Resources: To learn more, take a workshop or see our CC-licensed lesson plans.
Google My Maps
With Google My Maps, you can search locations (using Google Maps) and pin them to a map. You can annotate each location with images and text.
- Add different icons, lines or shapes, directions from Point A to B
- Sort points into different layers and toggle visibility of each layer
- Collaborate on and share maps via a link or keep them within a select group
Example: In Patagonia, a collective mapping project by Mo Pelzel and students.
Juxtapose JS
With Juxtapose, you can compare two images by clicking and dragging, almost as if you were pulling a sliding door. Juxtapose works best for similar images that highlight gradual or drastic change over time.
- You only need an image URL or you can upload images
- Share link to the juxtapose or embed it in a website
- Use a horizontal or vertical slider
Example: the Mountain Legacy Project by UVic students, faculty, and researchers or “Visualizing Mr. Darcy” by Caroline Winter.
QGIS
QGIS (Quantum Geographic Information System) is an open source project for creating or editing data, as well as for spatial analysis and visualization. QGIS allows for in-depth analysis and works with many different file types (e.g. vector vs. raster) and formats.
- compatible with Mac OSX, Windows, Linux, and Unix operating systems
- has extended capabilities via plugins such as GRASS, GPS tools, Topology Checker, and more
- offers a growing number of external Python plugins, Python Console
Example: Digital Athens by Sheila Dillon, Timothy Shea, and Nikos Gkiokas.
DSC Workshops and Resources: We offer an Introduction to QGIS workshop.
StoryMaps JS
With StoryMaps JS, you can create a narrative around a series of events and locations. Each event and its location becomes a slide in an interactive slideshow. You can also use StoryMaps to annotate fictional landscapes or even artworks by drawing attention to specific features of an image.
- Pull in content from Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, Wikipedia, and more
- Works best with high resolution image files (called Gigapixels) if using
- Type in a location and StoryMaps will automatically suggest matches on its map
Example: Arya’s Journey in Game of Thrones by KnightLab
DSC Workshops and Resources: See also “Mapping The Mysteries of Udolpho with StoryMap JS” by Caroline Winter.
Multimedia (Video, Image, Music) Editing
Adobe Creative Suite
Students can access and use Adobe Creative Suite software via Music and Media (1st floor). Aside from the dedicated desktop computers, we also offer Adobe software on Macbook Pros. Music and Media also has a graphics tablet.
- Photoshop for image editing (e.g. cropping, retouching, raster graphics)
- Illustrator for vector graphics editing (e.g. designing logos, illustration)
- InDesign for (page design, publishing layout
DSC Workshops and Resources: We offer an Introduction to Photoshop workshop and a CC-licensed lesson plan and workshop materials.
GarageBand
GarageBand lets you combine different instruments, tracks, and templates (e.g. songwriter, electronic) for mixing your own music. You can also use GarageBand to edit any audio files (e.g. an audio interview or podcast).
- Huge library of pre-recorded sample audio, filtered by genre, instrument, or mood
- Import audio and split into different tracks, or trim the beginning or end
- Record, edit, save, and export audio directly in GarageBand
DSC Workshops and Resources: We offer an Introduction to GarageBand workshop and a CC-licensed lesson plan and workshop materials.
iMovie
iMovie is Apple’s video editing software. You can import clips, split them into separate clips, or trim it on the beginning or end. You can also add transitions or change play speed. iMovie also supports green-screen or blue-screen effects (you can book a green screen at the library).
- Many options for animated titles, credits, or special effects
- Built-in music, sound effects and voiceover recording
- if you have other Apple devices (e.g. iPhone), you can
DSC Workshops and Resources: We offer an Introduction to Video Editing with iMovie workshop and a CC-licensed lesson plan and workshop materials.
Physical Computing
Arduino
Arduino is a small, credit card-sized computer for interacting with the physical world. Arduino projects often involves collecting sensory data, such as light, sound, or motion, and making decisions based on that data. For example, you could create a simple trip-wire alarm that detects motion and then triggers a buzzer.
- We have several different types of boards or computers, including one that connects to WiFi (Internet of Things) and another that is only about an inch long
- You can use Arduino for wearable computing, fashion design, or props
- You can find many sample projects and instructions online
Example: A “Stranger Things” light wall or a voice changer for Halloween.
DSC Workshop and Resources:
We currently have Arduinos available to borrow from the main Ask Us desk (1st floor MacPherson). Components (e.g. resistors, sensors, motors) are available upstairs at the Digital Scholarship Commons.
We run Introduction to Arduino workshops (see our CC-licensed lesson plan for the workshop) and have run Internet of Things workshops in the past (CC-licensed lesson plan). Other things we’ve made in past workshops include a Halloween “spooky box” and a tilt-activated kaleidoscope.
Raspberry Pi
Like the Arduino, the Raspberry Pi is also made for physical interaction. However, the Raspberry Pi is more like a personal computer: for example, it has an operating system, has more memory than an Arduino, and can run different applications (Arduino can only hold one program at a time).
- More “pins” or connections available
- Can handle complex tasks such as running image slideshows, image-recognition software, or emulating an 80s-style arcade machine
- Has peripherals (e.g. a webcam) for added functionality
Example: A DIY weather station
DSC Workshop and Resources: We currently have Arduinos available to borrow from the main Ask Us desk (1st floor MacPherson). Components (e.g. resistors, sensors, motors) are available upstairs at the Digital Scholarship Commons.
Data Curation
NVivo 12 (for Windows)
NVivo helps you organize your data according to user-defined themes, keywords (called nodes), or classification schemes. You can then query this data or explore relationships between items using concept maps or network visualizations.
- Work with documents, survey results, audio, and video files all in one place
- Code particular words, phrases, or sentences for analysis or visualization
- Analyze themes and sentiment between units of observation (documents, participants, locations, etc.).
DSC Workshops and Resources: We offer an introductory workshop on qualitative data curation and analysis with NVIVO. See our upcoming workshops page or our CC-licensed lesson plans for more information.
OpenRefine
OpenRefine is an open source application for data cleaning and transformation, also known as data wrangling.
- Import or connect to a range of data sources, and analyze the distribution of variables
- Clean datasets by restructuring rows and columns, clustering and standarizing values, and renaming variables
- Transform data by converting to other formats
- Automate cleaning procedures by exporting processes to a JSON script that can be reapplied to other data sources
DSC Workshops and Resources: We offer an introductory workshop on cleaning data with OpenRefine. See our upcoming workshops page or our CC-licensed lesson plans for more information.
Resource-intensive Computing
Compute Canada Supercomputers
Projects that crunch a lot of data or perform many calculations, such as a machine learning project, often require more computing power or time than the average personal computer. Through Compute Canada, UVic has access to supercomputers for research purposes.
- Need to be sponsored (sponsorship is free) by a professor or librarian to register for a Compute Canada account
- Once installed and set up, you can interact with the network via Linux Command Line
- You can send jobs to the supercomputers that will be queued automatically
DSC Workshops and Resources: We have run workshops on this topic from time to time. Look out for similar upcoming workshops on our workshop page.
Storytelling
Twine
With Twine, you can create interactive, nonlinear stories similar to interactive fiction or Choose Your Own Adventure books. A user makes decisions by clicking on some linked text, which will bring them to another passage with more linked text (and so on). While Twine is very beginner-friendly, advanced users can also add custom HTML, CSS, or JavaScript to their stories.
- Click and drag visual editor that shows connection
- Has robust documentation and “Twine Q&A” (help forum)
- A good introduction to basic web coding/design (HTML/CSS) and programming concepts (e.g. variables)
Example: Emily McCue’s “Chinese Immigration Project” or Maddox Pratt’s “Anhedonia”
Timeline JS
With Timeline JS, you can create an interactive timeline. Clicking on an event brings up more information or description. Users can also cycle through events by clicking the left or right arrows.
- Pull in content from Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, Wikipedia, and more
- Works best with chronological events or to add context to an important historical event (e.g. causes leading up to World War I)
- Embed timeline onto a website with a simple link
Example: “Women in Computing” by KnightLab
Text/Document Processing or Storage
ABBY FineReader 11 OCR (Optical Character Recognition)
Ever tried to copy/paste or search text in a PDF—only to realize the PDF is made of page images? An OCR program such as ABBYY FineReader converts images of text into an editable, searchable format. For example, it can convert scanned images into a Word document, PDF, or e-book. This is especially useful for research with large amounts of archival material that have not yet been digitized.
- Automatically recognizes documents written in one of 189 languages, including Arabic, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Hebrew, Japanese, Old French, and Latin
- Has automated conversion feature with option to view and edit results
- Detects and retains the overall structure of the document, including formatting, hyperlinks, e–mail addresses, headers and
footers, image and table captions, page numbers, and footnotes
Example: See the ABBY FineReader 11 User Guide for more information.
DSC Workshops and Resources: ABBYY FineReader is installed on a computer in the Digital Scholarship Commons (3rd floor). Students using FineReader have priority on that computer.
GitHub
Similar to Google Drive, Github is a service that lets you store, share, and download information on/from the web in repositories or “repos.” Although specially designed for code and documentation, it can also store many types or formats (e.g. images, PDFs, spreadsheets, 3D models).
- Has a version control system and history to keep track of changes
- Lets you create simple websites or even digital editions with Github Pages and/or Jekyll
- Advanced users can use the command line to quickly download and modify a copy of code (called “forking”)
DSC Workshops and Resources: We recommend downloading Github Desktop on your computer. We offer Introduction to Version Control with GitHub workshops (see workshop schedule or our CC-licensed lesson plan).
LaTeX
LaTeX is a plain text document preparation system. The writer uses markup tags to structure the document, stylize the text, and add citations.
- Write documents and stylize text
- Create table of contents, sections and title pages
- Insert and refer to figures, tables, mathematical equations and references
DSC Workshops and Resources: We offer an introductory workshop on LaTeX. See our upcoming workshops page or our CC-licensed lesson plans for more information.
Jupyter Notebooks
Jupyter Notebooks allows you to create and share documents that contain live code, equations, visualizations and narrative text.
- Jupyter supports over 40 programming languages, including Python, R, Julia and Scala.
- Notebooks can be shared using email, GitHub and NB Viewer.
DSC Workshops and Resources: Currently in development…
Video Game Design
Oculus Rift
Oculus Rift is a virtual reality (VR) headset and software to create VR applications or video games.
- Can be used for playing or making VR applications or games (e.g. on Steam/PC)
- Works with Unity Game Engine (see below)
- Oculus Rift can cause eye strain, nausea, or disorientation. See health and safety information at www.oculus.com/warnings
Example: BBC Home – A VR Spacewalk
See also…
Web Design
Balsamiq Mockups (Wireframing)
Balsamiq is an fast and easy way to sketch or prototype web interfaces and features without investing too much time and energy into designing a fully functional site or feature upfront.
- Drag-and-drop interface designed for non-technical people
- Share or collaborate on the same designs
- Insert and resize components such as buttons, links (to other wireframes), ratings, and more
- Supports differently sized screens for phones or tablets
WordPress (Online Academic Community)
WordPress is software for creating, designing, and publishing a website. OAC (Online Academic Community) is an instance of WordPress specifically for UVic faculty, students, researchers, and staff.
- Offers more than 20 up-to-date and customizable website templates (called “themes”)
- Can be used for blogs, portfolios, or course sites
- Has settings for site visibility (e.g. visible only to registered users) and inviting user to collaborate/edit
Example: The DSC website runs on WordPress/OAC.
DSC Workshops and Resources: We offer an intro course on Personal Websites with WordPress. See our CC-licensed lesson plan.