UGC NET JUNE 2012 PAPER II (46-50)
READ THE PASSAGE AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BELOW
LIS QUIZ SERIES
The primary concern with the longevity of digital documents is the “viewing problem” (Besser, 2000). Unlike analog or physical information, which tends to exist
independent of human involvement, digital information needs constant intervention to survive. History has shown that digital documents are problematic by default. Whereas we can actually look at the Sistine
Chapel ceiling, painted 500 years ago, it is difficult if not impossible to simply view documents on 8-in. Floppy disks created in the last 20 years, even if there has been an immediate, proactive role in preserving them. Without concerted effort on the part of
archivists and preservationists, digital objects quickly become obsolete or inaccessible due to unforeseen, although anticipated, advances in information technology.The variable media art community currently utilizes four digital preservation strategies, all focused on the end product. The first three methods have technical
origins and are based on general digital preservation practices. Related to “the viewing problem”, they are : refreshing, the upgrade of storage mechanisms; migration,
the premeditated upgrade of file formats; and emulation, which focuses on development of operating systems able to run obsolete media. The fourth option, developed by and
for the new media art community, is reinterpretation(Depocas et al., 2003), where the curators attempt to recreate a work given comprehensive documentation of the original artefact.
Migration and emulationare the two primary methods in managing the problem of obsolete file formats (Waters & Garrett, 1996). Migration focuses on the files themselves, periodically updating files in new software formats. The second method of preservation is emulation, which can be either at the system or the software level. System emulation focuses on developing systems that mimic the hardware used to create or run the original artefact.
Migration and emulationare the two primary methods in managing the problem of obsolete file formats (Waters & Garrett, 1996). Migration focuses on the files themselves, periodically updating files in new software formats. The second method of preservation is emulation, which can be either at the system or the software level. System emulation focuses on developing systems that mimic the hardware used to create or run the original artefact.
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UGC NET June 2012