The text discusses the challenges and concerns surrounding data preservation in the digital age. While physical artifacts like the Dead Sea scrolls can still be read after centuries, digital files have a limited shelf life and can become inaccessible due to obsolete formats and hardware. The text highlights the three main obstacles to data preservation: hardware longevity, format accessibility, and comprehensibility. It also explores the concept of a “Digital Dark Age,” where valuable information is lost due to lack of preservation. Various organizations and technologies are mentioned as potential solutions to mitigate the risks of digital obsolescence. The importance of sustainability and equity in data preservation is emphasized, along with the need for collective efforts from different sectors to address the issue.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital obsolescence and data decay | From infinite shelf life to limited lifespan | Improved preservation methods and formats | Lack of maintenance and evolving technologies |
| Obstacles to data preservation | From accessibility to comprehensibility | Improved hardware longevity and format accessibility | Encryption and abundance of stored data |
| The threat of the “Digital Dark Age” | From a golden age of preservation to potential loss | Increased efforts to combat data loss | Growth of data and changing technology |
| Challenge of appraisal and abundance | From what to preserve to how to preserve | Improved categorization and storage methods | Rapid accumulation of digital information |
| Efforts in long-term archiving | From short-term preservation to centuries-long storage | Innovative storage methods and technologies | Preservation organizations and institutions |
| Alternative storage methods | From traditional magnetic media to more durable options | Increased use of WORM media and remote storage | Need for data security and longevity |
| Individual data preservation | From reliance on corporate entities to personal responsibility | Enhanced methods for encoding and preserving data | Desire for long-term accessibility and non-proprietary formats |
| Collective effort in storage | From individual preservation to collaborative solutions | Increased coordination between organizations and institutions | Sustainability and equity in storage practices |
| Challenge of understanding preserved data | From binary codes to meaningful interpretation | Development of translation systems and content monitoring | Disinformation and the need for representative archives |