The author highlights the misconception that digitized documents have an indefinite shelf life and unlimited retrieval opportunities, emphasizing that without constant maintenance and management, most digital information will be lost within a few decades. The article explores the obstacles to data preservation, including hardware longevity, format accessibility, and comprehensibility. It also touches on the concept of the “Digital Dark Age,” suggesting that we are at risk of losing valuable digital records. The author discusses various approaches to digital preservation, such as innovative archival storage methods and the importance of sustainability. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for a collective effort to address storage concerns and ensure the meaningful preservation of digital content for future generations.
https://longnow.org/ideas/shining-a-light-on-the-digital-dark-age/