Comments on: First Hurdle: Data Archiving http://bill.journee.org/2009/06/09/first-hurdle-data-archiving/ Fri, 28 Aug 2009 02:37:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Bill Journee http://bill.journee.org/2009/06/09/first-hurdle-data-archiving/comment-page-1/#comment-1091 Bill Journee Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:58:11 +0000 http://bill.journee.org/?p=69#comment-1091 @adam: plenty of plastic will last the distance though. If people disappeared tomorrow, then some archaeologists returned in a few thousand years, the most obvious thing would probably be digging up is ridiculous amounts of plastic crap. Fun thought, eh? @george: You raise a very valid point. The first edition dictionary of Yanyuwa, which is unpublished but online (http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:11306) is a good example of obsolescence in the digital age. The original files are in an obscure format for the original Mac from back in '84, and nobody seems to know what to do with them. Lukily, the dictionary needs to be rewritten, which is underway now. It does raise interesting questions about the permenance of digital data even if it IS archived properly though. Another example is the fact that some of the field dictionary and notes taken by Jean Kirton in the early 80s are stored on 5.25" floppy disks once again stored in the AIATSIS database. How useful said disks would be nowadays is good question, before we even approach what to do with the data that's stored on them. At the same time, migrating and converting large scale archives of any digital information is a huge undertaking, and usually archives like the ones run by AIATSIS are run by very dedicated people, but they only have a finite amount of funding to put towards those kinds of activities. Most data now is created to conform to the standards of certain archives which then keep the data in formats that are guaranteed to be accessible. Old data doesn't have this luxury, and there's a question whether it should be kept in the format it's in, or converted to a more accessible and permanent format, and if option two is the right one then who's going to pay? @adam: plenty of plastic will last the distance though. If people disappeared tomorrow, then some archaeologists returned in a few thousand years, the most obvious thing would probably be digging up is ridiculous amounts of plastic crap. Fun thought, eh?

@george: You raise a very valid point. The first edition dictionary of Yanyuwa, which is unpublished but online (http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:11306) is a good example of obsolescence in the digital age. The original files are in an obscure format for the original Mac from back in ’84, and nobody seems to know what to do with them. Lukily, the dictionary needs to be rewritten, which is underway now.

It does raise interesting questions about the permenance of digital data even if it IS archived properly though. Another example is the fact that some of the field dictionary and notes taken by Jean Kirton in the early 80s are stored on 5.25″ floppy disks once again stored in the AIATSIS database. How useful said disks would be nowadays is good question, before we even approach what to do with the data that’s stored on them.

At the same time, migrating and converting large scale archives of any digital information is a huge undertaking, and usually archives like the ones run by AIATSIS are run by very dedicated people, but they only have a finite amount of funding to put towards those kinds of activities. Most data now is created to conform to the standards of certain archives which then keep the data in formats that are guaranteed to be accessible. Old data doesn’t have this luxury, and there’s a question whether it should be kept in the format it’s in, or converted to a more accessible and permanent format, and if option two is the right one then who’s going to pay?

]]> By: George Hall http://bill.journee.org/2009/06/09/first-hurdle-data-archiving/comment-page-1/#comment-1090 George Hall Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:10:09 +0000 http://bill.journee.org/?p=69#comment-1090 It's kind of interesting that how data and records are recorded and what on makes a huge difference, too. We have access still to a lot of ancient things because the method of recording was on non-perishable or long-wearing materials. Yet, here we are in the modern era recording things so dependent on electricity and particularly types of technologies that change within a few short years. How long will it be before things recorded on 5 and a half inch floppies are practically irretrievable? Or when CD technology is long since replaced? Worst part is, for the information age, it's recorded on stuff that's not as tangible as clay tablets. Just imagine what happens if we ever have a technological disaster that wipes out the world's computers and/or electricity. There would go every bit of knowledge recorded on such media. Tweeting on clay tablets actually does make some sense. It’s kind of interesting that how data and records are recorded and what on makes a huge difference, too. We have access still to a lot of ancient things because the method of recording was on non-perishable or long-wearing materials.

Yet, here we are in the modern era recording things so dependent on electricity and particularly types of technologies that change within a few short years. How long will it be before things recorded on 5 and a half inch floppies are practically irretrievable? Or when CD technology is long since replaced?

Worst part is, for the information age, it’s recorded on stuff that’s not as tangible as clay tablets. Just imagine what happens if we ever have a technological disaster that wipes out the world’s computers and/or electricity. There would go every bit of knowledge recorded on such media.

Tweeting on clay tablets actually does make some sense.

]]> By: adam hills http://bill.journee.org/2009/06/09/first-hurdle-data-archiving/comment-page-1/#comment-1089 adam hills Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:58:09 +0000 http://bill.journee.org/?p=69#comment-1089 Completely agree with you there (as usual). My partner also made a good point the other day being that we are so concerned about being green and eco friendly and sustainable in all ways that, when were long gone, all the buildings we put up now won't last as long as the roman empire therefore leaving no trace of us having been here at all Completely agree with you there (as usual).

My partner also made a good point the other day being that we are so concerned about being green and eco friendly and sustainable in all ways that, when were long gone, all the buildings we put up now won’t last as long as the roman empire therefore leaving no trace of us having been here at all

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