Bibliofuture writes “There is an article at Wired.com about preserving software for future study. Problems include copyright and the fragility of the digital medium.”
The problem is, most software is stored on media that is rapidly degrading. Before long, the data on those original WordStar or Lotus 1-2-3 floppies will be about as useful as a piece of cardboard. Brewster Kahle and his nonprofit Internet Archive have petitioned the U.S. Copyright Office about the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, or DMCA, which governs the circumvention of anti-piracy measures. Kahle’s organization is seeking exemptions from DMCA provisions that prohibit the archiving of software titles. If the Copyright Office says no, Kahle fears millions of programs eventually will be lost forever.
Heck yeah …
As the British found out with the Digital Domesday book, provisions for software archiving and emulation must be made if we’re expected to actually use the digital objects we’re racing to preserve.
Time-tested and proven storage method
I’m a tech/gadget person who never deletes electronic content or email. CD backups galore. Zip/Jazz disks. Lots of hard drives. But I have to side with mother nature with the time-tested and proven method for long-term archival storage.
Stone tablets.
All we need are some fancy robots that can etch (using lasers) our entire knowledge onto the sides of mountains, underwater, even the moon and other planets (really tiny fonts).
Some of the advantages of a rock-based storage system:
1) EMI does not harm the fidelity of it’s storage.
2) Water/flood/hurricane resistant.
3) Tornado resistant.
4) UV resistant.
5) Fire resistant.
Plus, you can eat a picnic on one and learn something at the same time. Every time you take a walk, you can tell everyone that you actually learned something new that day.
Of course, just when we run out of rocks we will probably find a better storage medium. Then we will have to start all over again.
Re:Time-tested and proven storage method
Hee.
Not to start a flame war, but I think rock is vulnerable to water. And wind. Especially both in combination. Exhibit A: The Sphinx.
Also, vulnerable to human touch. Exhibit B: The Blarney Stone.
I like the idea of lasers, though. Maybe if we put them on sharks’ heads, they can write on coral …
Re:Time-tested and proven storage method
Oooh….sharks with lasers. Like in the Austin Powers’ movie.