201 201 I can think of few disciplines better suited for de- veloping a sense of humility than humanities and computing. As scholars, we possess an intimate fa- miliarity with a very old technology, namely text. And more to the point, we use it mindfully. We bring an explicit awareness of the rules – past and present – that govern its use. We are aware that we are part of an intellectual project that extends to ancient times. We respect its conventions. We cel- ebrate its innovations. And we teach others to do the same. At the same time, however, we are also proponents of a new technology: the computer. As with text, we proceed on the basis that the computer is a mind technology, or cognitive tool. Its purpose is to free us from lower-level cognitive skills such as memorization, and to support the development and exercise of higher-order skills such as analysis and interpretation. And since its properties as a medium are differ- ent from paper, we also proceed on the assumption that the computer is a qualitatively different cog- nitive tool. Its impact on user thought processes should be different. Its capacity to support user John Bonnett National Research Council MEDIATING THE PAST IN 3D, AND HOW HIEROGLYPHS GET IN THE WAY: The 3D Virtual Buildings Project