What is overbrowsing?

The term browsing originates from herbivores feeding and similarly, overbrowsing in nature occurs when consumption exceeds the capacity of environmental resources. This shared origin parallels the unsustainable excesses of the web, aligning with the group's mission.

About the initiative

Overbrowsing is an applied research initiative established through doctoral research at The University of Edinburgh's Institute for Design Informatics.

Our research investigates how web archives can be used as infrastructure for understanding the evolution, impact and sustainability of the web. Alongside developing methods for measuring the environmental impact of digital systems across time, we work to improve the accessibility, interoperability and reuse of archived web data, enabling new forms of retrospective analysis across digital humanities, informatics and sustainability research.

We see web archives not only as records of the past, but as research infrastructure for understanding the present and informing the future.

Team

• David Mahoney, PhD Candidate, Institute for Design Informatics
• Professor Melissa Terras MBE, Professor of Digital Cultural Heritage, Institute for Design Informatics, The University of Edinburgh
• Professor John Lee, Professor of Digital Media, Institute for Design Informatics, The University of Edinburgh
• Professor Frauke Zeller, Chair of Design Informatics, Institute for Design Informatics, The University of Edinburgh

Enquiries

If you have any enquiries, feedback, contributions to the library, or would like to get in touch, please contact us.