Re: [AV Media Matters] DVD as Storage Medium

[<rburkel@juno.com>]

Dear John
Your comments prompt me to elaborate on my comments concerning the
Census.

The USA, UK, Australian Census records are backed up on microfilm to
eliminate the seemingly unsolvable problem of  endless changing
technology and the expense and risk of ongoing migration over
decades and centuries. Our Roman alphabet and Arabic numerals are
the ONLY bulletproof methodology for preserving the written word.
Microfilm happens to be the most cost effective human readable
preservation media available today. It also has a 500 years life
expectancy rating from ANSI and ISO. Microfilm is the best choice
today to preserve writings, as parchment was the best choice 1000
years ago.

The final decision to continue using microfilm for Census records
was made by the Reform Committee of the US House of Representatives.
Congressman Henry Waxman of CA lead the effort.

Government has a responsibility to insure the preservation of the
legacy of our Nation.

In my view the ultimate solution for long term written document
preservation is using OCR  to convert computer output microfilm back
to processable code using the technology of the day. This approach
eliminates migration, guarantees access to content for the life of
the media, and allows future processing.

Russ Burkel

On Wed, 11 Dec 2002 22:21:43 -0600 johnsp@comcast.net writes:
> How ironic this statement is, as the 2000 US Census electronic
> records are currently being migrated from electronic records to film......
>
> Manufacturers are part of the problem, but not all of it.  We use the term
> "supplemental migration" in our daily dialog with our record label clients,
> to try and make them understand there is no all-encompassing solution to
> predict what the future will deliver.
>
> It's my opinion that the "digital age" will simply make that process easier
> and perhaps more automated.......but you're not going to get the government
> to legislate Intel and others to stop making technological advances, nor
> should the government subsidize buggy-whip manufacturers.
>
> Those evil profits that many manufacturers make actually have made our lives
> better in many respects.
>
> -John Spencer
> Bridge Media Solutions, Inc.
>
>> From: rburkel@juno.com
>> Reply-To: AV-Media-Matters@topica.com
>> Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2002 15:41:20 -0600
>> To: AV Media Matters <AV-Media-Matters@topica.com>
>> Subject: Re: [AV Media Matters] DVD as Storage Medium
>>
>> Mitsui Gold CD/DVD will survive for many decades but the retrieval system
>> will be obsolete in a few years.
>>
>> Most people would agree with Jim.
>>
>> What a sad situation. The endless obsolescence problem is well known,
>> unfortunately the solution seems to be unknown.
>>
>> It's obvious that manufacturers will not provide a solution. They are
>> "for profit" entities and are driven by the profit motive to sell new
>> products, not providing access to AV on obsolete media.
>>
>> I think at some point, Governments will have to get involved, as many
>> have to preserve and provide long term access to their Countries Census
>> records.
>>
>> Russ Burkel
>>
>>
>> On Wed, 11 Dec 2002 12:03:04 EST Jim Wheeler <Jimwheeler@aol.com>
>> writes:
>>> Lisa
>>>
>>> The Mitsui Gold is the best CD/DVD for long-term storage.  If you store
>>> Mitsui Golds at normal room environment, I believe they will survive
>>> for many decades.  They will probably outlast the equipment which will be
>>> obsolete in a few years.  I have ten year old 5 inch floppies but no way to
> play them.
>>>
>>> A cool/dry environment is always preferred for archival material. But for
>>> Mitsui Golds, I believe any reasonable room environment will be okay.
>>>
>>> A potential problem is that of Interchange.  Make sure that your
>>> CD-Rs and DVD-Rs will play on machine made by other manufacturers.
>>>
>>> Jim Wheeler