Re: [ATM] re Slide rule

[Daniel Fundo <fundo@bellsouth.net>]

<< What will be the archival properties of digital images?   >>

I'm not so sure anymore.  There have been recent articles about the
deterioration of CCDs and DVDs, specifically, the separation of the
layers of protection and data storage from the substrate. Cheap media
fall apart fast than expensive ones, but they all begin to fail sooner
or later. 

The real problem may be in the retrieval of the data.  There was an
article in SciAm several years ago about the loss of data due to the
demise of the storage devices used to create the tapes and disks.  IIRC,
they almost lost all of the 1960 census information because the tape
readers had been replaced and the newer ones could not be programmed (or
slowed down <G>) to read the old formats.  My son recently bought a new
computer (notebook size) with a huge hard drive and a DVD/CCD
burner.....no disk/ZIP drive in sight!!!  But then you can buy a package
of blank CCDs for just a few bucks.

*****-----
Dan F.
Secretary/MAS
Memphis, TN
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