Hardware

Virginia Tech showcases humanities research via kiosk

Photo: Adobe Stock

March 13, 2026

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Virginia Tech's Newman Library has introduced an arcade-style digital kiosk designed to showcase digital humanities research, according to a Virginia Tech News report. Located on the first floor near the Goodall Room, the structure resembles a classic arcade cabinet but features a large touchscreen and interactive display. The kiosk highlights digital scholarship created by University Libraries, Virginia Tech Publishing & Press and other campus partners. Its purpose is to make humanities research more visible, accessible and engaging for students, faculty, and visitors.

The kiosk features exhibits that highlight stories from historically marginalized groups, including veterans, descendants of enslaved people in Blacksburg and migrant workers. These projects combine short video clips and written narratives drawn from longer oral history interviews. As new research is developed, additional projects will be added and rotated through the kiosk, often in collaboration with departments and research centers across the university.

Exhibit curator and learning environments librarian Scott Fralin collaborated with the library's Prototyping Studio to build the structure, while student graphic designer Noora Kumar created the visual design.

The project builds on years of digital humanities initiatives at Virginia Tech, particularly projects focused on oral histories and community engagement. By presenting short clips and narratives on the kiosk, along with QR codes that link to full interviews and additional materials, the kiosk aims to make these stories more accessible while fostering empathy and public understanding of diverse historical experiences.