Digital Data Preservation

ReadWriteWeb reports on some of the challenges of ever-expanding digital data. One of the problems is simply the magnitude of digital data generation:

According to a 2008 IDC white paper, 2007 marked the "crossover" year, when there was more digital data created than data storage to host it. The IDC report also projected that by 2011 the amount of digital data created will be more than twice the amount of available storage.

We accumulate more and more digital documents, photos, music, and video. Higher-resolution cameras and video equipment increase demand for more and more hard drive space. Over time, the risk of data loss and format obsolescence increases.

Here are three things you can do right now:

Make a plan: Determine who is going to be in charge of your digital data once you are no longer capable of looking after it.

Make multiple copies: When it comes to valuable data, store it in different formats at different locations

Migrate to new technologies: Don't wait for storage media to become obsolete, migrate to new technologies and formats as they become available.

I'd go further, encouraging the use of folder organization and some paper and digital READ.ME-type files to delineate the purposes and intended longevity of your files. Make it obvious which files are the masters and which are just backup copies.

Think about which files should survive you and make it easy for your heirs to handle your data.

Preserving Our Memories (Part 1)

I have heard many strategies for preserving genealogical research over the years, and as this is an important topic in genealogy, I intend to write a series of posts on various aspects of preservation. But for now, here are a couple of in-depth papers on digital data preservation from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) web site.

The reality for all of us is that media will change over time and file formats will change over time. If you REALLY want your research to last:

- Store your data in simple, open, industry-standard file formats (nothing beats Plain Text)
- Avoid proprietary formats tied to a particular company (e.g., Microsoft Word) or tied to a particular computer platform
- Store your data on multiple media: acid-free paper, CDs and/or DVDs, hard disk(s), flash drive(s)
- Upload your data to a central server (like Rootsweb.com)
- Regularly verify your stored archives and refresh your data onto new media

And last but not least, the single most important way to get your research to last: SHARE IT !!