The Rise of Digital Memorabilia: Interview with Jim Boulton

Following our report on the ‘Future of Football,’ we looked back in time and recruited digital archaeologist, Jim Boulton, to find more about how we collect memorabilia now versus a few decades ago – and how the selfie craze has impacted all of us.
For those not familiar with what a digital archaeologist is, can you explain in few words what you do?
I document the early years of digital culture. We tend to see the digital world as something disposable; we are not very good at documenting or archiving it, and if we do, it is usually in a medium that quickly becomes obsolete. So, what I do is rescue these pieces of digital history and try to restore them to their days of glory – not only the software but also the hardware. So if I am showing a website from 1992, I’d try to show it on a computer from that time too.
What do you want to achieve as a digital archaeologist? What is the your ultimate goal?
That’s a tough question. I am just trying to do my bit, really. Ultimately, what I want to do is to get the message out there and show the importance of our digital history.
‘Digital archaeology’ debuted at Internet Week in NYC in 2011 and became one of the central events, attracting over 12,000 visitors. Why do you think people are so interested in this topic?
I think it’s because it affects everybody. I was quite surprised by the type of people that attended, to be honest. I expected people working in the industry to attend but academics, librarians, and all sorts of other people were interested in seeing it too.
What kind of websites did you curate for this show?
I chose over 80 websites from the 1990s, mostly about website design over e-commerce, and I showed them in a machine of that time. I would have either a magazine, a mobile phone, camera or any other gadget from that year to create a time capsule.
Smartphones have become a key part in our lives, but why do people lately have an increasing urge to document their daily lives?  
I believe it comes down to the fact that the person that we find most interesting is ourselves. We have always been interested in documenting our own lives and now smartphones have given us a convenient and easy to do it. Technology now allow fans to be part of the memory, it is almost like a digital diary. And that means we are also part of the conversation. It’s almost a fundamental need to talk about ourselves.
This has also impacted our football experiences. Your report on Digital Memorabilia investigates how technology impacts on the way football fans collect, store, and share their football experiences. The research discovered some interesting facts, like how digital football memorabilia is on the rise. How has football memorabilia changed though history, and particularly in the 21st century?  
Initially, people collected football memorabilia around matches; things like a program or a scarf. They would create their collections in an individual way and would look at them and spark memories but nowadays it is about bringing people together with the same interest and sparking conversations. So instead of connecting you to a club, it is connecting you to other fans.
Another thing that I found is we have an intimate relationship with our phones, much like we have with our football club. ‘Belonging to a place’ is a human psychological need – connectivity and being part of something bigger than yourself is what makes teams and clubs so powerful.
In the report there is a unsurprising reference to the ‘death of the autograph’ versus the selfie as the ultimate match day memento. What do you reckon has triggered this change in the way we collect memorabilia?
Before working with HTC I did a lot of research on social networks and the web, and not that much about collecting and the implications of technology on it. One of the things I discovered is that the autograph first emerged in the 16th century as a personal introduction to get a job or meet another person but it developed on to something to show who you are connected to.
With selfies we have now reached a new level – self esteem – which is about having a sense of self worth and communicating a status to people. This is what a smartphone has allowed us to do.
Going back to your expertise, ‘Digital Archaeology’ is a pretty new discipline. How many people are currently working on this around the world, and do you see it evolving in the near future?
There are quite a lot of people doing this at the moment. A lot of libraries, museums, and galleries have people interested in this topic, and as a result they are starting to get into the field of digital arts. I am one of the only people stupid enough to want to show not only the software but the hardware to give a real experience of what it was like at the time.
Where do you see technology going at the moment?
I am a guy that looks back more than I look forward but I think we are moving more towards closed networks like Facebook. I am hoping in a few years time we revert from solo pockets of content to a more open Internet.
Jim Boulton is the creator behind 100 Ideas that Changed the Web. You may download Jim’s full report on ‘Digital Memorabilia’ here.
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