🚀 go-pugleaf

This posting summarizes a discussion on the suitability of CD-ROM for
archiving data (numeric and text).  Bottom line: there are many unanswered
questions.  Something to think about, given the amount of data being
released on CD these days.

Jim

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Jim Cassell                                    JCASSELL.IRSS@MHS.UNC.EDU
Cross-National & Economic Data Services        CASSELL@UNCVM1.BITNET
Institute for Research in Social Science       Phone:  919-962-0782
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill       FAX:    919-962-4777

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Here's an attempt to summarise the discussion about the possible use of
CDs and CD-ROM for archival purposes:

1. It is not clear at this point how long should one expect a regular
CD to last. Estimation vary from pessimistic 10 years to optimistic
"longer than filrm as good as paper" comparison. But this question
seems now to be of lesser importance.

2. If the archiver cannot asume that our civilization will only move
forward, than CDs and all other digitally stored media can not be used.
A relatively primitive civilization cannot be expected to have digital
information retreiveal capabilities, therefor if this aspect of
archival is important, conventional archival methods and materials
should be used.

3. On the other hand, it seems that digitally stored information offers
a shift in typical archivists' attitide: archive the contents of
material in digitized form, rather than the peice of matter it is
stored on - The unique ability of digitally stored information to be
cloned or copied without any loss in information nor damage to the
original offers an innovative archival capability which must be
considered.

At this point it does not matter anymore how long will a CD last or for
how long will CD and CD-ROM players (as we know them) will be
available.  Every 10-20 years all material should be copied to the
digital media widely used at that time.

It seems like there will be a great business oportunity for service
bureaus that specialize in copying old-fasioned digital media to
state-of-the-art media. They will be able to serve public libraries as
well as private music collecters, helping them to preserve their
material.

4. There is still no accurate information based on experimentation
about the expected life-span of normal CDs. Meanwhile some
manufacturers offer custom made CDs that use ever-lasting materials.
Additionally, the masters used for CD production are made of
long-lasting material - glass, and can be preserved for possible future
reproduction. All in all, the lifespan of the CDs is a less important
issue because digital copying techniques can be applied to preserve the
information stored on these CDs (the information is what really
counts).

5. It seems that there might be a business opportunity for service
bureaus that help preserve  private LP record colletion by providing
digitation and digital enhancement services for music collectors, who
can afford it.  Such a business seems to be not very expensive to
start, all you need is a professional quality turntable (like the ones
found in all radio stations), a simple 2 or 4 channel digital
recording/editing equipment (I hear that there is such a thing that can
be added onto a MacII, with 4 tracks and fancy GUI console and
sequencer), and of course a recordable CD drive (aka CD-R).  Once you
are at it, you may consider 1/4 inch audio tapes and computer media
like 8 inch floppies, 9-track tapes.  Anyone who would like to pick up
this idea and make a real business out of it, is welcome to do so, and
is also welcome to consult me for further details.


I would like to thank everybody who have contributed their thoughts and
experience to this discussion. Sorry for not including the names, the
list is very long.


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