From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Msuck: nntp://news.gmane.io/gmane.comp.tex.context/55441 Path: news.gmane.org!not-for-mail From: John Haltiwanger Newsgroups: gmane.comp.tex.context Subject: A thesis not just using, but on, ConTeXt. Date: Mon, 4 Jan 2010 11:30:56 +0000 Message-ID: <4c1f1f861001040330i486486cu7e7694bddf1525cc@mail.gmail.com> Reply-To: mailing list for ConTeXt users NNTP-Posting-Host: lo.gmane.org Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="===============0933148491==" X-Trace: ger.gmane.org 1262604675 26413 80.91.229.12 (4 Jan 2010 11:31:15 GMT) X-Complaints-To: usenet@ger.gmane.org NNTP-Posting-Date: Mon, 4 Jan 2010 11:31:15 +0000 (UTC) To: mailing list for ConTeXt users Original-X-From: ntg-context-bounces@ntg.nl Mon Jan 04 12:31:08 2010 Return-path: Envelope-to: gctc-ntg-context-518@m.gmane.org Original-Received: from balder.ntg.nl ([195.12.62.10]) by lo.gmane.org with esmtp (Exim 4.50) id 1NRl9P-0000HG-Ue for gctc-ntg-context-518@m.gmane.org; Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:31:08 +0100 Original-Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by balder.ntg.nl (Postfix) with ESMTP id C5F0FC9BA1; Mon, 4 Jan 2010 12:31:05 +0100 (CET) X-Virus-Scanned: Debian amavisd-new at balder.ntg.nl Original-Received: from balder.ntg.nl ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (balder.ntg.nl [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with LMTP id q0xoaesL5PQM; Mon, 4 Jan 2010 12:31:01 +0100 (CET) Original-Received: from balder.ntg.nl (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by balder.ntg.nl (Postfix) with ESMTP id D16FEC9B66; Mon, 4 Jan 2010 12:31:01 +0100 (CET) Original-Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by balder.ntg.nl (Postfix) with ESMTP id 0E1F1C9B66 for ; Mon, 4 Jan 2010 12:31:01 +0100 (CET) X-Virus-Scanned: Debian amavisd-new at balder.ntg.nl Original-Received: from balder.ntg.nl ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (balder.ntg.nl [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with LMTP id jPXJSKRKygn3 for ; Mon, 4 Jan 2010 12:30:58 +0100 (CET) Original-Received: from mail-bw0-f220.google.com (mail-bw0-f220.google.com [209.85.218.220]) by balder.ntg.nl (Postfix) with ESMTP id 78A1FC9B03 for ; Mon, 4 Jan 2010 12:30:58 +0100 (CET) Original-Received: by bwz20 with SMTP id 20so9121913bwz.34 for ; Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:30:58 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=domainkey-signature:mime-version:received:date:message-id:subject :from:to:content-type; bh=EYqwPIWYZpCquvYtNjEcD/lmX1XoA+s7bs121H4EjTo=; b=Lexwai6AaJax90o5a5KbqK0ApdrFhQYGeZOspT4hISotCeR4XzuKwEoW5BC+WIyKSj LoPZ73jhzlKM6JpfxmkNE7F9WTTrn1UjF80FN/1WMRQdJtNYGyDd/mMLGpXpVon33Lta Z7vYyjl/jW7K2reNxyZuXjuZYCc46jRGlSsTo= DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=gmail.com; s=gamma; h=mime-version:date:message-id:subject:from:to:content-type; b=kukfaQ24M/zH+uovdQtaYml7eThc91Ssb2GeQUbkJHo26+uJnYTfeDz/NK4tOClrJQ fKvxomuWRyPDkRQHDMLFNfpj8fh3H1AcPd9tpA9l9s0r76G6MDCQYI/HxUjAEkI8jZnB d097LAs7/JkMi0bxIH+AoLrW5q3SEdfW/kD4w= Original-Received: by 10.204.16.81 with SMTP id n17mr4856958bka.102.1262604656494; Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:30:56 -0800 (PST) X-BeenThere: ntg-context@ntg.nl X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.12 Precedence: list List-Id: mailing list for ConTeXt users List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Original-Sender: ntg-context-bounces@ntg.nl Errors-To: ntg-context-bounces@ntg.nl Xref: news.gmane.org gmane.comp.tex.context:55441 Archived-At: --===============0933148491== Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=00504502438e0ac8f3047c550ee7 --00504502438e0ac8f3047c550ee7 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 I have narrowed down my subject options for a masters thesis (New Media at Universiteit van Amsterdam) and landed on a software studyof TeX through the lens of ConTeXt/LuaTeX (the idea being to document the cutting edge). For instance, the many materialities of a TeX document, the fact that it exists as a source file, an evolving memory heap during compilation, a ready-to-print document, and (often) as a print document. Part of my thesis, and a good reason to investigate ConTeXt, is exploring the material aspects of texts generated specifically for on-screen use/how an interlinked PDF differs from a website/etc. Naturally, a materialist analysis leads to discussing liberational potential, and the entire assemblage of TeX will be examined in light of Benkler's 'virtuous software'. (See Benkleror mefor more.) More, I'm sure, will arise. The second half of the thesis is an operational component: setting up an online collaborative web application (with Ruby Waves ) that is able to interweave git, reST/markdown/HTML (or a new one of my own that I convert to ConTeXt), pandoc (unless option 2), and ConTeXt to craft a system capable of outputting anything, not the least of which a PDF with layout and typesetting specific to that system (in this case, a new open, post/pure peer review journal of new media studies). I feel this must be possible because I've read that some of you folks are running highly automated typesetting jobs with ConTeXt. However, it occurs to me I should discuss the feasibility of at least the operational component with you folks before I end up trying to develop something impossible come March. The theoretical component relates to the operational component in as much as it seeks to justify it--this part is basically saying 'typesetting matters' but in the sense that a good typeset will a) make the journal feel much more established and allow an easy means to produce an on-demand print version, and b) liberate the information in as much as it is available in both PDF and machine-parsable ASCII, along with everything in between. Hmmm, maybe that _is_ taking a bit on.. Especially sense I don't know much ConTeXt at the moment (for instance, not using them on my final papers this semester). However, I will have significant time to dedicate to this thesis (all day every day starting March), and I've become something of an obsessive about TeX and typesetting, despite not having a lot of free time to dedicate right this second. For instance I find myself reading the Mark IV documentation (perfect for a software studies, btw!) rather than other, perhaps more pressing things. I guess I'm just sending a ping out to see what kind of response you folks have to such a project. I don't feel as if anything is set in stone, per se. The final proposal presentation is yet to happen, so I have time to make changes. Sincerely, John Haltiwanger --00504502438e0ac8f3047c550ee7 Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I have narrowed down my subject options for a masters thesis (New Media at = Universiteit van Amsterdam) and landed on a software study of TeX through the lens of Co= nTeXt/LuaTeX (the idea being to document the cutting edge). For instance, t= he many materialities of a TeX document, the fact that it exists as a sourc= e file, an evolving memory heap during compilation, a ready-to-print docume= nt, and (often) as a print document. Part of my thesis, and a good reason t= o investigate ConTeXt, is exploring the material aspects of texts generated= specifically for on-screen use/how an interlinked PDF differs from a websi= te/etc. Naturally, a materialist analysis leads to discussing liberational = potential, and the entire assemblage of TeX will be examined in light of Be= nkler's 'virtuous software'. (See Benkler or me for more.) More, I'm sure, will arise.

The second half of the thesis is an operational component: setting up a= n online collaborative web application (with Ruby Waves) that is able to interweave git, reST/markdown/HTML (or a= new one of my own that I convert to ConTeXt), pandoc (unless option 2), an= d ConTeXt to craft a system capable of outputting anything, not the least o= f which a PDF with layout and typesetting specific to that system (in this = case, a new open, post/pure peer review journal of new media studies). I fe= el this must be possible because I've read that some of you folks are r= unning highly automated typesetting jobs with ConTeXt.

However, it occurs to me I should discuss the feasibility of at least t= he operational component with you folks before I end up trying to develop s= omething impossible come March. The theoretical component relates to the op= erational component in as much as it seeks to justify it--this part is basi= cally saying 'typesetting matters' but in the sense that a good typ= eset will a) make the journal feel much more established and allow an easy = means to produce an on-demand print version, and b) liberate the informatio= n in as much as it is available in both PDF and machine-parsable ASCII, alo= ng with everything in between.

Hmmm, maybe that _is_ taking a bit on.. Especially sense I don't kn= ow much ConTeXt at the moment (for instance, not using them on my final pap= ers this semester). However, I will have significant time to dedicate to th= is thesis (all day every day starting March), and I've become something= of an obsessive about TeX and typesetting, despite not having a lot of fre= e time to dedicate right this second. For instance I find myself reading th= e Mark IV documentation (perfect for a software studies, btw!) rather than = other, perhaps more pressing things.

I guess I'm just sending a ping out to see what kind of response yo= u folks have to such a project. I don't feel as if anything is set in s= tone, per se. The final proposal presentation is yet to happen, so I have t= ime to make changes.

Sincerely,
John Haltiwanger
--00504502438e0ac8f3047c550ee7-- --===============0933148491== Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline ___________________________________________________________________________________ If your question is of interest to others as well, please add an entry to the Wiki! maillist : ntg-context@ntg.nl / http://www.ntg.nl/mailman/listinfo/ntg-context webpage : http://www.pragma-ade.nl / http://tex.aanhet.net archive : http://foundry.supelec.fr/projects/contextrev/ wiki : http://contextgarden.net ___________________________________________________________________________________ --===============0933148491==--