Welcome

TimeReach is a custom-built web application that generates interactive timelines on the fly.

You can assemble any type of data that represents events with a beginning and end point in time, add other related media and tags, and TimeReach can display your data in an interactive timeline.

Our Progress

Development is ongoing, but you can take a look at where we are with the tool…

Demo #1 – Environmental Design

(animation above)
Clcik to view the Architecture and Environmental Design demonstration

Our first demonstration began with project founder Prof. Bill Chan’s attempts to describe more of the dynamic History of Modern Architecture. His students at Morgan State University saw his massive collection of knowledge, but explaining the narratives that built the environment of today’s cities can benefit from some kind of visualization. Bill first built a graphic timeline by hand, but when his work spanned the entire width of the classroom, a physical timeline became impractical. This tool is the evolution of that work.

Demo #2 – Social Studies
Clcik to view the Social-Studies demonstration

Since creation of our tool, we have expanded the scope of its possibilities. There is no limit to the types of data entered, and the tool will be immensely valuable in any History classroom. We are working with a few educators in our network to deliver a tool and framework for Social Studies and other human history research.

 

With all the fascinating events that make up our cultural history, and all of the possible sources of information in our digital lives, the possibilities for uncovering compelling stories with this tool are as boundless as the total of life’s experiences.

We are excited to be offering our tool for greater collaboration with historians, educators, policy makers, and anyone who manages information about events down to a daily time scale.

 

Current Features

  • Timelines are generated on the fly based on user search criteria.
  • Multiple timelines may be compared side by side to reveal patterns and relationships between events.
  • Each data point on a timeline is an “event” entry in a database with a beginning and end point.
    • Image media, links, locations, and other metadata may be added to events.
    • Media may displayed in a slideshow.
  • Display any event from 20,000 BCE to the year 3500.
  • Events may be any length from one day to the full extent of the display limits.
  • We support and test for most current devices.
    • Desktop computers and laptops (Apple, Chromebook, and Windows tested)provide the best experience with larger screens to see more events in a timeline at once. You may use a keyboard and mouse or a touch screen.
    • Tablets (Apple, Android, Amazon, and Windows tested) are great for research in the classroom or on the go.
    • Smart phones (Apple, Android, and Windows tested) provide a viewing platform no matter where you take your device.

There are many more ideas we’ve compiled over the course of our project so far. Much more development is needed and our talented team of collaborators needs your support. Please consider making a donation through our Patreon page!

 

Leave Us a Comment

We are very interested to know how you might use a tool like this. Please leave us a comment and let us know about your experience of the demonstrations!