Data Preservation and How Ancient Egypt Got It Right 313
storagedude writes to tell us that a storage geek has an interesting article on why ancient Egyptians were better than us at data preservation — and what we need to do to get caught up. "After rocks, the human race moved on to writing on animal skins and papyrus, which were faster at recording but didn't last nearly as long. Paper and printing presses were even faster, but also deteriorated more quickly. Starting to see a pattern? And now we have digital records, which might last a decade before becoming obsolete. Recording and handing down history thus becomes an increasingly daunting task, as each generation of media must be migrated to the next at a faster and faster rate, or we risk losing vital records."
Thank Goodness for ASCII Art (Score:5, Funny)
I don't know of any other way to preserve our pr0n on rocks.
Re:Preserving gibberish (Score:3, Funny)
No, this is 2009 (Score:5, Funny)
Etch barcodes into rocks.
We Lenny them into rocks.
DRM (Score:2, Funny)
Re:"Got it right"? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Legal Requirements (Score:3, Funny)
A lot of data retention is because of legal requirements. At the bank I work at, we're required to keep *everything* for at least seven years - all our emails are archived, instant messenger communications, etc.
As society gets larger and dehumanized, soon that'll be all we have.
It doesn't matter, whether you lived in a house for 30 years and all the neighbors know you. If you don't have a piece of paper with a stamp on it, it doesn't matter. One Thursday, you'll see Yellow in the bathroom mirror.
What future alien archeologists will find . . . (Score:5, Funny)
on our hard drives. Porn. That will keep them scratching their heads for years.
"This primitive race seemed to be preoccupied with sex. So how did they fail to reproduce and let their race die out?"
Way back in the ancient times, only important stuff was carved into stone. Now everyone on our planet is squirreling away all kinds of useless crap on digital media.
Future alien archeologists will have a hell of a job sorting out the crap from the, well, stuff that is just a little less than crap.
Chiseling Reddit (Score:2, Funny)
This is why I've been chiseling reddit headlines into the concrete in my driveway. And the neighbors call me crazy!!!
Re:Stupid article (Score:3, Funny)
Gibberish partially decoded (Score:2, Funny)
no one can read the damn Hieroglyphs any more, so what does it matter that it lasted 4000 years?
Actually, I can read some Hieroglyphics. For example, the ones in the article's picture refer to something about "DVMCAIIXV takethdown notyce for CovpyriGt Infrryngemynt" or something like that.
At the bottom it is signed by the "RIVV".
Units question -- Libraries of Congress (Score:5, Funny)
Re:DRM (Score:2, Funny)
You can't put DRM on a rock.
This tablet is the property of King Tut
You are authorized to read this tablet at any time you want, but only between sunrise and noon
except Thursdays
If you make any unauthorized readings of this tablet or transcribe this tablet
you will be cursed by Ra Almighty and Isis will be waiting to take all belongings you bring with you to your afterlife
PS I now own your soul
Re:Importance of information? (Score:5, Funny)
From my point of view, the entire universe will simply cease to exist when I die. Still, I'm not going to waste time "documenting my life" on Facebook or Twitter.
Re:Legal Requirements (Score:2, Funny)
a problem easily solved by soylent green.
Re:Thank Goodness for ASCII Art (Score:3, Funny)
Brings a whole new meaning to "get your rocks off".
Re:Importance of information? (Score:3, Funny)
Such as encryption keys!
Re:What a load of rubbish (Score:3, Funny)