Grid Creators

Blog

  • My DHd App: Ihr persönlicher Konferenzbegleiter

    Die DHd 2026 – die Jahrestagung des Verbands „Digital Humanities im deutschsprachigen Raum” – findet dieses Jahr in Wien statt. Mit einem dichten Programm aus Sessions, Workshops und Postern kann es schnell unübersichtlich werden. Genau dafür hat Grid Creators das Mydhd App entwickelt, die Ihnen hilft, über das Smartphone den Überblick zu behalten und Ihren ganz eigenen Konferenzfahrplan zusammenzustellen.

    Was kann die App?

    – Gesamtes Programm durchblicken – Alle Sessions, Workshops und Poster auf einen Blick, filterbar nach Tag und Zeitfenster.
    – Lesezeichen setzen – Interessante Beiträge vormerken und unter „Mein Programm” gebündelt wiederfinden.
    – Abstracts lesen – Per Klick auf einen Sessiontitel lassen sich Abstracts und Einzelvorträge ein- und ausblenden – ideal zur Vorbereitung.
    – Persönliches Programm speichern – Mit einem kostenlosen Konto bleibt Ihre Auswahl dauerhaft und geräteübergreifend erhalten.

    Für wen ist die App gedacht?

    Für alle Teilnehmenden der DHd 2026, die sich vorab oder vor Ort schnell orientieren und gezielt planen möchten – ob auf dem Smartphone, Tablet oder Laptop.

    Technik im Hintergrund

    Die App läuft direkt im Browser, ohne Installation. Sie basiert auf einer schlanken Architektur mit Flask im Backend und purem HTML, CSS und JavaScript im Frontend. Das sorgt für kurze Ladezeiten und eine reibungslose Bedienung – auch bei schwächerer Konferenz-WLAN-Verbindung.

    Jetzt ausprobieren

    Die App ist ab sofort verfügbar. Öffnen Sie sie einfach im Browser (optimiert für Smartphone) über https://mydhd.grid-creators.com, stöbern Sie durch das Programm und stellen Sie sich Ihren individuellen Konferenzplan zusammen.

    Wir wünschen allen Teilnehmenden eine inspirierende DHd 2026 in Wien!

    Herzlichst,

    Tinghui Duan

  • Introducing Wikidata Geo-Explorer: Discover the World Around You

    In our welcome post, I shared the mission of Grid Creators: to build intuitive tools that unlock the power of Linked Open Data for everyone. Today, I am excited to unveil one of our first experiments in this direction: the Wikidata Geo-Explorer.

    What is Wikidata Geo-Explorer?

    Wikidata is a treasure trove of structured knowledge, containing millions of items with geographical coordinates—from historic landmarks and museums to sculptures and train stations. However, accessing this data often requires writing complex SPARQL queries, which can be a barrier for many.

    Wikidata Geo-Explorer bridges this gap. It is a lightweight, interactive web tool that allows you to instantly visualize Wikidata items around any location on Earth. Whether you are a digital humanist researching local history, a traveler curious about your surroundings, or a data enthusiast, this tool gives you a “Wikidata lens” on the world.

    Key Features

    • Interactive Design: Simply search for a city (e.g., “Berlin”, “Kyiv”) or click anywhere on the map to set your center point.
    • Adjustable Radius: Use the slider to explore the immediate neighborhood (1 km) or a wider region (up to 50 km).
    • Visual Distinction: The map clearly distinguishes between items that have photos (green markers) and those that don’t (blue markers), helping you identify well-documented areas versus those needing contribution.
    • Multilingual Support: The interface is available in English, German, French, and Chinese.
    • Learn SPARQL: For those interested in the code, the tool generates and displays the live SPARQL query used to fetch the data. It’s a great way to learn by example!

    Examples in Action

    Let’s look at two of examples to see what we can discover.

    1. Schloss Friedenstein (Gotha)

    Imagine you are visiting the beautiful city of Gotha in Germany. By searching for “Schloss Friedenstein” (Friedenstein Castle) and setting a small radius (e.g., 1 km), the map lights up with entities.

    Exploring the rich details around Schloss Friedenstein

    You won’t just see the castle itself; you’ll find individual monuments, the Ekhof Theater, and various collections housed within the museum—all pulled dynamically from Wikidata.

    2. Forbidden City (Beijing)

    Let’s travel to the other side of the world. Using the “Quick Select” for 北京 (or searching for Beijing), then we can zoom into the Forbidden City.

    Visualizing the density of cultural heritage items in the Forbidden City

    The tool quickly renders the complex layout of the palace grounds, showing how Wikidata models individual halls, gates, and pavilions.

    Try It Yourself

    We are releasing Wikidata Geo-Explorer as an open tool for the community. We believe that visualization is the first step toward better data. By seeing what is (and isn’t) on the map, we can better understand the coverage of our shared open knowledge.

    Launch Wikidata Geo-Explorer

    As always, we welcome your feedback. Happy exploring!

    Sincerely,

    Tinghui Duan

  • Welcome to Grid Creators!

    Hello and a warm welcome to the inaugural blog post of Grid Creators! I’m thrilled to finally open the doors to my new web development agency, a venture born out of a deep passion for unlocking the power of structured data and making it accessible to all.

    At Grid Creators, we specialize in developing intuitive and powerful web tools designed for exploring Linked Open Data. My journey into this exciting field has been shaped by years of immersive experience within the Digital Humanities, a discipline that constantly seeks to bridge the gap between traditional scholarship and cutting-edge technology.

    My background in Digital Humanities has provided me with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities presented by vast datasets. I understand the need for tools that are not only robust and efficient but also user-friendly and designed with the specific needs of researchers, cultural institutions, and knowledge enthusiasts in mind.

    A significant part of my expertise lies in working with Wikibase, the powerful software behind Wikidata. I’ve had the privilege of contributing to and working extensively with Wikibase instances, understanding its intricate architecture and its immense potential for building rich, interconnected knowledge bases. This hands-on experience has equipped me with the skills to develop bespoke solutions that leverage the full capabilities of Wikibase, allowing you to create, manage, and explore your data with unprecedented ease.

    Whether you’re looking to:

    • Visualize complex relationships within your data

    • Build custom interfaces for navigating large knowledge graphs

    • Integrate external datasets with your existing Wikibase instance

    • Develop user-friendly tools for data input and curation

    Grid Creators is here to help you turn your vision into reality.

    My commitment is to build tools that not only meet your technical requirements but also enhance your ability to discover new insights and share your knowledge effectively. I believe that by making linked open data more accessible and understandable, we can foster a more connected and informed world.

    I invite you to explore the possibilities with Grid Creators. Let’s work together to build the next generation of web tools for exploring the rich tapestry of linked open data.

    Stay tuned for more updates, insights, and exciting projects!

    Sincerely,

    Tinghui Duan