Re: More digital resolution / Media life expectation

Chris Orr (mailto:ChrisO@BC.AW.COM)
Thu, 22 Sep 1994 20:49:12 GMT

Message-Id: <mailto:199409230646.BAA11254@library.wustl.edu>
Date:         Thu, 22 Sep 1994 20:49:12 GMT
From: Chris Orr <mailto:ChrisO@BC.AW.COM>
Subject:      Re: More digital resolution / Media life expectation
To: Multiple recipients of list IMAGELIB <mailto:IMAGELIB@ARIZVM1.BITNET>

Sure, you can think about media life expectancy in terms of physical
attributes and conditions, but don't forget that with digital technology
there's also the software issue of longevity. I can have relative faith
(maybe) in optical media, store that media safely, and provide archive
systems based on copies, but if the operating systems and/or the formats
change, then if I haven't built in an upgrade method, I'm sunk.

Scary thoughts! --Chris Orr Benjamin/Cummings Publishing