This semester we were tasked to use different analytical tools and present a story with them. There have been many interesting tools like storymap, Voyant, and Omeka. However, one of my favorites have been TimelineJS. “TimelineJS is an open-sourced tool that enables anyone to build visually rich, interactive timelines.” (Knightlab)
Initially, TimelineJS was a little confusing to use. The format of TimelineJS is all in a excel sheet. The visual timeline was made up from links from pictures and descriptions you would insert. The problem I had was the placement of the information in the correct cells in the excel sheet. When you first open the excel sheet there are 3 example entrees to help you give an idea. However, I thought the examples would not affect it so I kept it and put all my entrees after, not knowing that the examples would also show up on the visual timeline. Here is a link to my excel sheet for my timeline.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19f26DLdgfMQ_UKFdMiCAYpuC8Hhn0PQuXlUtKKB5nuI/edit#gid=0
My timeline was on the history of the NBA. It started from the start to the NBA to the modern-day latest year of the NBA. Along the way I explore important moments that helped basketball explode. Like the creation of the exciting 3pt line that so many people know today, the one of the most famous NBA players, icon Michael Jordan. TimelineJS allowed me to create a timeline that took people through a time machine of the NBA.
Once I figured it out the tool was very easy to use, you just insert links, dates, and then put in a short description. I was able to quickly insert in all the dates and images I wanted. It was fun to see all the images and descriptions I put come to life in the timeline. TimelineJS is a user-friendly tool that anyone can use. Here is a link to my timeline:
https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/embed/index.html?source=19f26DLdgfMQ_UKFdMiCAYpuC8Hhn0PQuXlUtKKB5nuI&font=Default&lang=en&initial_zoom=2&height=650
Once you enter in all your dates and images, you can see a preview of your timeline. It does a very good job at conveying historical information because it presents the timeline in a visually appealing way, that draws in viewers. It’s easy to use, with a simple click viewers can click through the timeline, as if their time traveling through history. It is also interactive. Viewers can click on images or links to see more if they choose.
In the future, I would use this tool again. TimelineJS is a great tool to present information. It’s an interactive timeline that could work with many topics. It is easy to use and you can quickly put it entries. Before TimelineJS, when I had to make timelines, I did not know any programs that made it as easy like knightlab does. I did all my timelines on google docs using the pictures program or paint. TimelineJS has made it easy to make visually appealing interactive timelines. I would recommend TimelineJS to anyone. The tool was one of the easiest tools I have used in my life.
