This document discusses how digital preservation organizations can respond to technological change. It outlines that monitoring technology is a key requirement to avoid obsolescence. Common responses involve technology watch programs, but they often lack community input and accumulated data. The document defines the scope of technologies of interest and prioritizes those that directly interact with digital content or help manage risks. It concludes that responding to technology requires identifying, monitoring, assessing, acting on, and avoiding obsolescence of existing technologies over time. The goal is for the community to accumulate knowledge, develop tools, and ensure a sustainable response.
Repurposing LNG terminals for Hydrogen Ammonia: Feasibility and Cost Saving
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1. Canary in a Coal Mine:
A Digital Preservation
Response to
Technological Change
Nancy Y. McGovern
Digital Preservation Officer, ICPSR
IASSIST 2007
2. Outline
1. Technology response requirements
2. Common response: Technology Watch
3. Scope of interest for DP
4. Priorities for digital preservation
5. Timing response to technology
3. 1. Technology Response
Requirements
The call for responding to technology
• e.g., Preserving Digital Information, 1996
The specification of technology
response requirements
• Most explicit: Monitor Technology, OAIS
4. OAIS: Monitor Technology
Objective: track emerging technologies,
information standards, computing platforms
Purpose: avoid obsolescence that could
prevent access
Scope: may include prototyping
Activities: provides reports, external data
standards, prototype results, alerts
5. 2. Common Response:
Technology Watch
Examples
• DPC, DCC, DigiCult, LITA, PRONOM
Characteristics
• Range in services reflects absence of definition
• Providers tend to select topics not community
• Typically lack access to accumulated data
• Availability of levels of service is rare
6. Community Formalization
Digital Preservation for Museums:
Recommendations - CHIN, 2004
• Service requirements
LIFE Project - UCL/BL, 2006
• Cost of technology watch for organizations
Strategic Priorities, 2006-2007 – SAA
• Call for leadership and training
8. 3. Scope of interest for DP:
Micro taxonomy
35 technology types enable OAIS
Examples
• Communication: the ability to convey a message or a
specific piece of information
• Logs computer: files, often using a standard format,
that document activities performed
• Policy enforcement: the ability to perform a function
or activity using rules to allow or prohibit activities
9. 4. Priorities for
digital preservation
Contact: requires direct contact with digital content
Interaction: must respond to, not just be made
aware of, changes in digital content
Exploitation: potential to contribute to digital
preservation strategies by exploiting opportunities
Risk management: participates in the avoidance of
risks to integrity, longevity, or authenticity
Automation: potential to perform more effectively
for digital preservation if automated
11. 5. Timing response to technology
Identify potential new technology
Monitor new technology
Assess new technology
Respond to new technology
Act to avoid obsolescence of existing
technologies
12.
13. Technology Responsiveness
Community objectives
• accumulate current and historical information
• develop competencies and tools
• incorporate organisational developments
• build a network of contributors and users
• ensure sustainability
14. “…the best way to forecast
the future is to create it.”
Michael J. Gelb
“The most reliable way to
forecast the future is to try to
understand the present.”
John Naisbitt