Suggested criteria for a digital-based video preservation program
Can digital video meet these criteria today?
- Capture image at highest possible quality (minimum / no compression).
- Yes, the uncompressed formats and MPEG-2 compressed video provide very
high image quality.
- Develop guidelines for digital conversion based on content of source
material.
- No, there are no guidelines in place but a good starting
point exists.
- Use format, medium & equipment that meet national & international
standards.
- No, but the trend toward platform independant standards is a cause
for optimism.
- Make the format accessible on standard equipment at various levels
of access.
- Yes, digital video is excellent at providing multiple levels of access.
- Insure a data migration path as a hedge against format and machine
obsolescence.
- No, many cultural institutions that collect video lack the technical
expertise and resources to provide migartion paths. Even if resources were
in place, future trends in technology are difficult to predict.