Computers and software can become obsolete in mere months because the IT sector is highly innovative.
Conversation
Technologies are being updated constantly, and as newer versions of formats, operating systems, and hardware are created, preserving digital objects that rely on this changing infrastructure becomes more and more difficult.
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Regular checks need to be carried out on infrequently used digital content to make sure that it hasn’t changed, and can still be read by a computer.
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Simply backing up digital content isn’t going to cut it if the infrastructure to view it keeps changing. The goalposts are always moving.
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Digital content is machine-dependent. You cannot simply pick up a hard drive and see what is on it.
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For these reasons, digital content will not last forever. In fact, in some ways paper is more stable than digital content. If paper degrades, it is still possible to read some of it, but if a digital object degrades, it may not be possible to view it at all.
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But we can’t just replicate digital content in a physical format because digital content often links to other digital content. For example printing the pages of a website will change the way it can be interacted with.
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This linking and interdependence adds yet another layer of complexity to preserving digital content.
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Some steps we can take to keep digital content accessible include:
- save copies in file formats that are widely used and/or open source
- apply checksums (a digital fingerprint) to see if a file has degraded or changed)...
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... - scan files for viruses
- package files with the information necessary to open them
- back up
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Does this seem like a lot of work? It is. It requires specialist software and tools and ongoing efforts because the goalposts keep moving. Nothing HAS BEEN preserved; there are only objects BEING preserved.
Digital preservation requires collaboration and a wide variety of skills. Digital preservation requires funding. Digital preservation is important. Digital preservation is urgent.
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It is an insane amount of work, and often feels like chasing a light down a never ending tunnel
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