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Martin Roček

@martin.rocek.dev

Digital humanities scholar doing 🪄 in JavaScript and Python, focusing on UX and UI. Artist and traveller whenever time allows. 🇨🇿 living in 🇮🇸 Member of @digilab-imafo.bsky.social and @medieval-cuni.bsky.social

152 Posts149 Follower 160 Folgt

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · yesterday

Hot take: The newer parts of Transkribus are so hardly vibe-coded that some of the bugs would take human engineers more effort to make than to avoid them.

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · 5d ago

Wonderful talk of @vanlinduist.bsky.social in the last session at #DH2026. And concluding ceremony with traditional Korean dance - Talchum. Can’t wait to see all the people in Galway next year.

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · 6d ago

A little self-promo, if you’re working with #IIIF and historical documents, you might want to check out my annotation tool, MANU. I’m also happy to take any suggestions for improvement. New features are scheduled for this autumn. #DH2026 manu.is

Manu ・ Manuscript Annotation & Visualisation

A collaborative platform for annotating, transcribing, and visualising historical manuscripts. Built on IIIF and W3C Web Annotations.

manu.is

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · 6d ago

Scrolling down to the Friday programme takes a while, so I've decided to do a quick fix and add filter buttons for the day. Also, last update before sunsetting the website as the conference is heading towards the end. dh-daejeon.vercel.app #DH2026

DH2026 — Daejeon, July 27–31

Digital Humanities 2026: Engagement — all accepted sessions.

dh-daejeon.vercel.app

ANTIDOTE - Advanced Training in Digitization of Older Texts @antidote-network.bsky.social · 7d ago

Two members of the ANTIDOTE network, Paola Peratello, École nationale des chartes (PSL), and Katrín Lísa L. Mikaelsdóttir @vanlinduist.bsky.social, University of Iceland, have been accepted to present their current #DH projects at #DH2026 in Daejeon, Korea!

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · 7d ago

After seeing some of the web app presentations at #IMC2026 and #DH2026, I got a few thoughts on sustainability claims.

Your vibe-coded app is not sustainable

A few thoughts about sustainability statements and vibe-coded apps.

leaflet.rocek.dev

DARIAH-IS/CDHA | Centre for Digital Humanities and Arts @mshl-cdha.bsky.social · last wk.

We are at #DH2026 in Daejeon! This Friday, 31 July, @vanlinduist.bsky.social and @eirikursmari.bsky.social will present “Engaging the Fragmented Archive: A Unified Portal for Icelandic Cultural Heritage”. 🕘 14:00–15:30 KST 📍 Session S073 in Room 209–211 #DH #digitalhumanities

Katrín Lísa L. Mikaelsdóttir pointing at a massive wall-mounted schedule banner for the DH2026 Conference in Daejeon, Korea. The banner outlines sessions from Monday, July 27 to Friday, July 31, 2026, with ADHO and KADH logos at the top. Katrín is pointing specifically to the cell for Thursday at 14:00-15:30, labeled "PS3 Long and Short Paper Sessions."

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · last wk.

I’ve added direct links to Whova if you want to watch the session. If you have any suggestions for improvement, let me know. 😊 #DH2026

Martin Roček@martin.rocek.dev · last wk.

If you're like me, constantly jumping between the abstract book and the programme, you might find this tiny website that I tried to quickly stitch together useful: dh-daejeon.vercel.app. #DH2026

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · last wk.

If you're like me, constantly jumping between the abstract book and the programme, you might find this tiny website that I tried to quickly stitch together useful: dh-daejeon.vercel.app. #DH2026

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · last wk.

Finally got my registration package! If anyone would like to meet and discuss DH projects or Design/UX, I’m in Daejeon! #DH2026 Unfortunately no MANU or Translucens talk on schedule (hopefully next year!).

A folding fan and a wrapped gift box rest on a beige DH2026 conference tote bag, alongside a name badge reading 'Martin Roček, Austrian Academy of Sciences' and a DH2026 Engagement program booklet, with a blurred view of high-rise apartment buildings in the background.

A teal and red twin-arch pedestrian bridge crosses a calm river at dusk, reflecting in the water, with a tall glass skyscraper on the right and cloudy blue skies above, hills visible in the background.

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · 2w ago

I think we should start something like “non-vibe-coded digital humanities”, because in recent days I see more and more unsustainable slop.

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · 3w ago

I’ve never been more disappointed by a choice of airline. We were supposed to fly to Osaka with @emiratesairways.bsky.social, zero communication, “slight delay,” and we are stranded in Dubai waiting for the next day’s flight. 🫠

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · 3w ago

We've got an idea... would you use it?

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · 4w ago

We were excited to hear that some people at @imc-leeds.bsky.social already used Translucens! 🤯 Here are some new things that we have been working on in the meantime. Working on a paper with @vanlinduist.bsky.social! #DigitalHumanities #DH #Translucens

Screenshot of the Translucens tool interface displaying a segment of a medieval manuscript. The image is visually split into four vertical strips using different blending modes, demonstrating how users can adjust settings to reveal hidden or faded text within the historical document.

Close-up of a computer keyboard focusing on the Command (⌘) and 'Z' keys, used to illustrate keyboard shortcuts for comparing image states: 'ctrl/cmd + z' to go backwards and 'ctrl/cmd + y' to go forwards.

Screenshot of the Translucens tool interface, showing a historical manuscript fragment split down the middle: the left side displays the original, dark-toned parchment, while the right side shows an inverted, bright blue-toned view to improve legibility. A floating toolbar with zoom and toggle buttons is visible over the image.

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · 4w ago

You know how @ryanairofficial.bsky.social is mocking passengers for choosing them due to low prices? Well, I have an idea for another ad - we won’t seat you with your partner, but we make sure your neighbors are strong enough to pull you back in the seat.

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · 4w ago

And that’s it, what a blast! So many wonderful papers at #IMC26!

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · 4w ago

I just found THE remote control! Call Axel.

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · 4w ago

Second day at #IMC2026. Finally saw some rabbits; so far, they seem quite peaceful compared to their medieval counterparts. 😮‍💨

Dr Katrín Lísa L. Mikaelsdóttir @vanlinduist.bsky.social · last mo.

Just in time for the IMC, our Transkribus model for 13th-century Icelandic - the platform's first public model for medieval Icelandic - has been published. More about it on Tuesday. Til hamingju, Alice! share.google/FENjXwRlnXE3...

Late 13th Century Old Icelandic AM 519 a 4to - Diplomatic | Icelandic, Norse Text Recognition Model | Transkribus

This diplomatic model is based on the late 13th century Old Icelandic manuscript AM 519 a 4to. The images used for this model were sourced from handrit.is. T...

share.google

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · last mo.

@imc-leeds.bsky.social, it seems setting up social links in the IMC app is broken. I’m trying to add my Bluesky there and without success.

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · last mo.

Nothing better than Booking cancelling your Leeds stay two days before! Luckily, I already got an alternative, and if someone wants to meet to discuss something related to DH, I’ll be at @imc-leeds.bsky.social the whole week! 😊

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · last mo.

Finally managed to show @vanlinduist.bsky.social some of the gems of my country. 😊

The interior of a Gothic church featuring a central, light-colored stone baptismal font. A vibrant stained-glass window on the right casts colorful blue, purple, and orange light reflections across the tiled stone floor in the foreground. In the background, a large stone gothic archway frames a dimly lit corridor leading to wooden doors.

A wide, slightly elevated view of the grand Gothic facade of St. Barbara's Church. The building's intricate stone architecture, towering arched windows, and sharp central spire dominate the frame. In front of the cathedral, a manicured green lawn features an ornamental flowerbed arrangement, surrounded by a gravel courtyard where a few people walk. Lush green trees frame the scene on both sides under a highly textured, cloudy sky.

A high-angle, scenic view of the historic town of Kutná Hora under a dramatic blue sky filled with thick, fluffy white clouds. On the left, the tall stone tower of St. James's Church stands prominently above surrounding red-roofed buildings. In the center-right, the long beige facade of the Jesuit College and other historic structures rest behind a stone wall. The foreground is filled with the dense green canopy of trees, with a few domestic rooftops peeking through at the bottom.

A low-angle shot of the iconic St. Barbara's Church in Kutná Hora, showcasing its unique three-peaked, tent-like Gothic spires rising against a bright blue sky filled with dramatic white clouds. To the right, the grand white facade of the Jesuit College is visible, topped with a red-tiled roof and an elegant baroque tower. The lower portion of the image shows a grassy hillside and green trees.

Eurosky Social @eurosky.social · 2mo ago

Muve to the beat. Muve the conversation. Muve mountains. Today @eurosky.social announces mu.social, a new microblogging app to experiment with the future of social! 🪩💖

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · 2mo ago

So proud of @vanlinduist.bsky.social! ❤️

Dr Katrín Lísa L. Mikaelsdóttir@vanlinduist.bsky.social · 2mo ago

✨️ Cover reveal ✨️ Our book, Communication in Crisis, is coming soon! We are totally in love with the illustration (would you just look at the little seals!) If you’re lucky, you might spot us at Trivent's booth at the #IMC2026 this year. Come say hi if you do!

Book cover mockup of "Communication in Crisis: Contextualising, Conveying and Coping with Crises in the Medieval Period," edited by Katrin Lisa L. Mikaelsdóttir and Lea D. Pokorny. The cover features a parchment-style background with a medieval illustration of individuals gathered outside a castle.

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · 2mo ago

A little addition to my Lord of the Rings collection.

DigiLab, Institute for Medieval Research, ÖAW @digilab-imafo.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Interested in exploring different applications of ATR/HTR? Join us for the hybrid workshop "Automated Text Recognition of Historical Sources: From convolutional neural networks to vision language models", 12 June, in Vienna or via Zoom. Programme and registration: indico.global/e/automated-...

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · 2mo ago

If you’re in Prague, definitely visit the exhibition on medieval colophons in National library! I did a few apps for it, and you can see MANU in action too!

A visitor — a young woman with long brown hair, seen from behind — interacts with a touchscreen kiosk in a dimly lit museum gallery. The screen displays a digitised manuscript page titled “Vše dohromady” on a cyan background. To her left, a large yellow exhibition panel numbered “2” is titled “Kolofony / Colophons”, with Czech and English explanatory text and reproductions of historical manuscript colophons. A glass display case containing open historical books is visible in the lower left.

A blue vertical banner mounted on the wall of a building passageway, advertising the exhibition “Tired, Thirsty, Thoughtful”, running 26 May – 5 July 2026, Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–18:00, free entry. The banner features a comic-style illustration of a medieval scribe reading from a manuscript at a lectern, with a left-pointing arrow at the bottom directing visitors. In the background, a sunlit courtyard or street is visible through an arched gate with ornate ironwork, with people walking outside.

Interior of a museum exhibition room with vaulted ceilings. On the left, an interactive touchscreen kiosk on a dark pedestal displays a bilingual Czech interface with blue illustrated icons. On the right, a large yellow exhibition panel numbered “8” is titled “Střídání jazyků / Code-switching”, featuring text and facsimiles of historical manuscript excerpts. A glass display case with open historical books is visible in the foreground on the right.

ANTIDOTE - Advanced Training in Digitization of Older Texts @antidote-network.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Day 4 of the #antidote joint training week in Bratislava: After a busy morning of coding, we traded our screens for beautiful scenery. Participants, teachers, and organizers headed out to Devín Castle by boat!

A large group of people posing together outdoors on a bright, sunny day. The group is arranged in rows, some standing, others kneeling or sitting on a grassy hill mixed with stone paving. In the background, the Danube flows through a scenic landscape of green fields, trees, and rolling hills under a clear blue sky.

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · 2mo ago

I’m helping participants of @antidote-network.bsky.social in Bratislava, and we reached a very specific problem - there is no easy way to connect eXistDB to vscode so they can use more advanced features than Exide provides. So I made a little extension for Web DAV. It’s open source.

Martin Roček @martin.rocek.dev · 3mo ago

I think some developers should really stop and think if a vibe-coded animation is the right thing to do. 🙄 This animation in Transkribus in idle state eats about 14% of the M3 Pro CPU in Vivaldi... almost all of the CPU on slower machines (basic Intel 2019 MacBook Pro), rerendering on every frame.