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DavidA:
This is slightly off topic,  but not much.

All this changing and updating of operating systems,  and the constant changing of media is a really serious problem.
Data storage came via tape to 8" floppy,  5 1/4 floppy,  3 1/2 floppy,  CD,  DVD,  flash cards to to point where most people have things on systems they can no longer access.
We all probably enjoy reading the history of engineering and about the lives of our engineering and scientific heros.  But I feel that we have seen the last of this.
Where will all the info come from that is used by biographers ? No more letters. No more scratchins on the back of envelopes.  Emails ? No chance.

We are losing our heritage.

The good old book is the only way that we can reliably store our past.  Having just had to wipe an 80 gig hard drive (and lose ann the data and apps that were on it) because that was the only option to recover the drive, I have no faith in computers as the means to record our history.

How do you folks feel ?

Dave.

BillTodd:

--- Quote ---How do you folks feel ?
--- End quote ---
I think you're right.  It is far too easy to lose computer data or worst the means to read the media it is on .

andyf:
I'm with you on that, Dave. In fact, you have reminded me that it's months since I last backed up my files on to a DVD so I can reload it if the HD goes phut.

Like you, I fear for posterity. With paper, those interested in such things can look at the author's manuscript/typewritten drafts, or first folio editions of Shakespeare. But that won't happen with modern works. Still, the authoress's first thoughts on Fifty Shades of Grey* are perhaps best consigned to oblivion.

Andy

*I have read a chapter or two, but found there was too much beating about the bush  :) .

Rob.Wilson:
Very sobering thought Dave , the outcome dose look bleak already public library's are disappearing.



--- Quote ---*I have read a chapter or two, but found there was too much beating about the bush
--- End quote ---
  :lol: :lol:


Rob

AdeV:

--- Quote from: andyf on January 19, 2013, 08:28:28 PM ---*I have read a chapter or two, but found there was too much beating about the bush  :) .

--- End quote ---

Hm, I'm sure it was called something else when I were a lad...

Anyway...

Dave - you're spot on. I have a bit of an interest in old computers and, as it happens, was ploughing through a number of old compact cassette tapes just yesterday, trying to figure out what was on them. Most of these I've acquired, rather than created myself, so it's interesting to see other people's musings on tape. Or old floppy disk...

The other interesting thing is, how digital storage media have become less & less reliable; I have 30+ year old 5.1/4" floppy disks which I can still read/write to; most of my 3.1/2" disks were junk as long as 10 years ago. CD-R seem to have a shelf life of 5 years or less. Hard drives seem to be about the best bet, although modern ones don't like to be left lying around for long periods without working...

Seems to me, anything you want to leave around for your ancestors and/or archaeologists, you're better off printing.... Or carving into aluminium sheets  :proj:

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