Obsolete Hardware Issues
Obsolete Hardware Issues
Annotations by Christina Doane, Keeley Kerrins, Kathryn Marie Schroeder, and Stacey Trarop
This article covers preservation techniques and challenges in regards to the physical and digital environments. It discusses the fact of the constantly updating digital information storage mediums and what that means for the information stored therein. It goes into detail on methods including the mainstay of constant migration, moving from one storage media type to another, and its flaws. In this case that means the possible loss of data in the transference. As well as other options, like refreshing which is just copying a newer copy in the same format, and their methodologies.
This article describes hardware obsolescence in terms of a risk management approach and is clearly listed on Table 1 as a vulnerability and a risk that must be dealt with as it will happen on a regular basis. It discusses data migration in its various forms and the emulation digital preservation method. Its risk chart labeled as Table 2 goes into more detail and names refreshing, diversity, and auditing to best offset old hardware .That is to say: updating ones tech, keeping data in multiple locations etc, and constant equipment checks. Though migration or other action may be required these other steps may ensure one isn't caught by surprise due to the challenges of out of date technology.
In this article, Bédard cites her experience as school librarian to discuss the high cost and liability of quickly changing hardware and software. Bédard notes, “The technical and staff development support necessary to maintain the computer over its 3-5 year life cycle generally costs more than the computer itself.” (p. 53). Yet, Bédard cites another cost of the rising rate of obsolete hardware: the cost on the environment. Describing the growing landfills full of ‘techno-trash’ and ‘e-waste,’ Bédard warns of the toxic results of disposable hardware. She discusses the recycling of hazardous waste and encourages readers to look into recycling and refurbishment options. The article provides an interesting take not only on the difficulty of dealing with obsolete hardware but the very real environmental consequences of disposal.
This article by Brand discusses the idea of the missing ability to access 5.25” floppy disk information either through the means of disappearing drives, operating systems, programs, or machines that wrote the files. The author talks about how early digital information of today (as from the past) is doomed to be unrecoverable and there is no ‘acid-free’ paper for the digital realm. It is expensive to continue to have to follow the digital refreshing method mentioned in the article of once every 18 months or when software updates are available, whichever comes first. It is mentioned that we must consider that the media used may not even outlast our lifetime, but, as a side note, The Long Now Foundation (LNF) is mentioned along with the idea of a 10,000-year (near-permanent, millennial) storage device. Enriched metadata on all digital artifacts is being highly recommended as well as a best practice along with saving multiple copies.
This article touches digital preservation methods and challenges like hardware obsolescence, generally defined as methods that aid in long term access of a digital material, mentioned in other articles such as the migration of data. Its main use here though is its systematic review of professional literature as it pertains to the area of management information systems and computer science, with the focus being on the organizational aspects of digital preservation. These aspects included, but were not limited to, drivers, stakeholders, and applied research methods. This review has a solid scientific basis and backs up its conclusions with data to indicate gaps in this particular field, for example signs that seem to indicate a lack of digital preservation decision-making processes, that they cover in their findings and further research agenda.
This article gives a good overview of the techniques of digital preservation, for example for emulation he mentions old video games given a new lease with software allowing access and suggestions on how that may be used. He goes into the differences between digital access, something many public libraries have focused on, to digital preservation for long term storage. The latter being something not as well covered by many libraries, though his focus is college libraries. He discusses other challenges like formats, media and differing standards of preservation. At what level of quality is something considered a suitable digital copy? He offers suggestions on services and organizations who are spearheaded digital preservation efforts.
In the article by Chen, the problem of technological advances not guaranteeing continued preservation and accessibility is discussed. There is a plethora of information from the past 50 years of media that is no longer retrievable. This includes 50% of films from the 1940s, most TV interviews, and the first email sent in 1964. Costs for recovery of lost information is very expensive and shows the need for digital preservation of content, formats and styles, and context. Short media life and obsolete hardware and software as well as slow read times of new media also account for the need to migrate from one technological advancement to another every few years. The author states that preservation should be considered at every stage of the life cycle as a means to keep up with the changing digital preservation landscape.
This article explores the many challenges facing film and moving pictures archives as they cope with degrading formats and struggle with both analog and digital preservation concerns. Conrad argues that obsolete equipment and formats prevent practitioners from pursuing digital preservation strategies despite the fact that analog preservation is complex and cost-prohibitive. Conrad explains that digital copies are unusable if the format is unrecognizable or unplayable for future systems. This is relevant to the topic of hardware obsolescence as the author discusses the accessibility issues that come from outdated file formats. Further, the degradation of tape and the potential of vinegar syndrome prevent the data from being access. It is not enough to store the digital media but rather one most also store the digital tools that correspond to the archived data. This is critical to deal with hardware obsolescence, a problem endemic to film archives.
This article explores the very real physical and human costs associated with implementing, maintaining, and making decisions about library related software and hardware. In particular, the article notes that there is a cost in maintaining older technologies like VHS or CD-ROMs. These technologies run the risk of hardware obsolescence and the article suggests coping mechanisms to cope with this possibility. Continual checks on the accessibility of the hardware must be performed to protect the data. Further, Cunningham discusses the long-term consequences of adapting to accommodate needs and the importance of forecasting for future technologies. Cunningham argues that in order to survive, the library and its staff must endeavor to adapt to new technologies.
In this article, Doyle, et. al. discuss how obsolete hardware and software threaten long-term digital preservation and present a possible solution to this problem. Their framework focuses on preserving 3-D digital data that was created using hardware and/or software that is now obsolete. The authors state that many organizations, including digital libraries, are recognizing the need to preserve their digital information for future use, before the software and hardware required to access this information becomes obsolete. However, little tangible work has been done in addressing this issue. Instead, organizations focus more on ‘quick-fixes’ and largely ignore long-term needs. The authors iterate that it is essential to develop appropriate preservation techniques that will maintain digital object over time in spite of obsolescence. Furthermore, future users should be able to interact with the digital object in the same way that the original users did. A possible solution that authentically preserves the digital object and ensures continued access, emulation, is presented. Emulation mimics the digital document’s original hardware environment, including CPU, memory and peripherals and along with a saved bitstream of the software application required to display and interact with the document, and the saved document itself, an emulator can actually recreate the document’s original environment. Rothenberg’s Authenticity Principle, stating that for a digital object to be interpreted authentically in the future, it should exhibit as much as possible of its original behavior, structure, look, and feel is explored. A couple tools such as the Emulation Virtual Machine (EVM) and Universal Virtual Computer are discussed as well. The emulation research being conducted in the Netherlands is also mentioned. The framework Doyle et. al. propose involves a host computer platform along with a Virtual Machine (VM), which sits atop the platform. The VM recreates the hardware architecture of the original platform, which runs the original application software necessary for rendering the digital object. Furthermore, as part of their framework, the authors suggest the use of preservation metadata in conjunction with emulation. This includes information about the hardware in which it was originally created and allows future users to open, render and interact with the digital object. Still, continuing evaluation of a long-term preservation framework over several years is necessary to ensure that the framework remains viable.
The article discusses a case study of several performing arts institutions in Flanders, Belgium and their efforts in digitization and preservation. The case study revealed four main issues hampering these digitization and preservation efforts, digitization, metadata indexes, intellectual property rights management, and business models. Part of the reason digitization is an issue is obsolescence. The author points out that simply digitizing the material is not enough because hardware rapidly becomes obsolete. Two possible solutions, migration and emulation, are discussed. The case study revealed digitization and preservation efforts to be lacking and underdeveloped at the participating institutions. The author concludes by providing some suggestions to improve digitization and preservation efforts and calls for more institutions to launch their own projects.
Retrocomputing may be a way to offset data loss due to obsolete hardware. Galloway notes, “Members of this community range from retired professionals determined to document and preserve hardware systems on which they worked and in whose importance they believe (Burnet & Supnik, 1996), to young gaming experts so eager to experience video games created before they were born that they are willing to spend considerable time gathering and restoring the requisite hardware and software.” (p. 625). In essence, they have learned the meaning and kept the old skills alive, much like bow makers or blacksmiths. Now there exists these older skill experts who are skilled in the Commodore 64 or Atari, for example. This article primarily focuses on a collaboration between the Goodwill Computer Museum and the University of Texas. And well illustrates how joint projects like these can assist libraries in regaining items off of their laser disks or other out of date materials.
Written from the point of view of how to make sure something digital is secure and understood in the long term future. It does identify digital preservation techniques to offset hardware obsolescence that have been covered in other articles, referring to them as transformative migration and preservation emulation. It further compares and contrasts the two even going so far as to give quotes that seem to encapsulate the migration verses emulation debates. It is heavily focused on technology however, and discusses durable encoding to be used in conjunction with digital preservation methods, including standards. Durable encoding is a method of computer programming that is adaptable to whatever level ones hardware is and stable. “A well-defined UVC [Universal Virtual Computer that uses Durable Encoding] can accomplish any computable transformation from one file to another file.” Just one example of how advanced computer programming concepts are working to overcome the problems of hardware obsolescence.
The authors of this article suggest that the digital content creators of the past did not have the forethought to keep the equipment or software required to read their material. The longevity of new technology must be taken into consideration when using CD-ROMs as storage for example. The point is made that we can read a 1000-year-old manuscript, but we cannot access some materials that are only 20 years old. Libraries and the like must keep old machines, but must understand that spare parts and people who know how to use them are hard to find. Backwards compatibility is also discussed as being hardly something to fall back on because it only covers about 18 months back. Microfilm is still relied on for crumbling paper collections, but does not resolve the problem with born-digital materials. Archivists and national libraries can either be selective when archiving or try to save the entire collection of materials. Partnerships may help preserve larger amounts of digital materials. Refreshing digital documents is costly and every 5-10 years electronic collections need to be migrated to new formats, but it may change the materials. Migration is sometimes a standby for emulation, which is the combination of software and hardware that mimic the behavior of obsolete platforms and operating systems.
The authors of this article discuss the evaluating emulators for digital preservation and how preservation planning "is used to evaluate what strategy and what tool is suited in a specific preservation scenario" (Guttenbrunner and Rauber, 2012, p. 2). It is said that the environment must be completely reproduced to completely render an object. Guttenbrunner and Rauber (2012) state that the emulation of hardware is the most common usage (p. 4). An example of this form of emulation is when classic video games are recreated for play on current hardware. Even though the feel-aspect may be different in the new means of playing, the ability to allow new users to experience old games shows that hardware emulation is successful to revisit older material.
This article serves as a summary for Professor Tom Wilson’s plenary address at 2011 ASIS&T Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Author Steve Hardin outlines Wilson’s concerns over hardware, software, formatting, and standards as they relate to the future of preserved records. Most significantly, in his address, Wilson uses the example of the BBC Domesday Project as a warning for the repercussions of hardware obsolescence. The Domesday Project, pioneered by the BBC in 1986, involved the massive collection of tax records and photographs stored on videodiscs. When videodiscs became obsolete, the data became unreadable and was considered lost until a program was able to retrieve it in 2011. This article provides critical historical context about the dangers of over-reliance on one particular brand of technology to act as a panacea against obsolescence. Future preservation will depend on various forms of migration and emulation methodologies.
This article discusses how the floppy disc drive is becoming obsolete and that library professional journals have largely left this issue unaddressed. The authors iterate that it is important for libraries keep up with always changing technologies. A study of current and future storage options is included. Storage options examined include, Zip drives, CDs, DVDs, removable hard drives, and Web-based storage. The purpose of this Web-based survey was to ascertain how aware libraries are of these changes and learn about their storage plans. While all types of libraries were invited to participate, most of the respondents were academic libraries. The authors hypothesize that libraries are ill equipped to keep up with technological changes and obsolescence. The survey revealed that the predominantly favored desktop storage method was hard drive. When asked about other storage methods, floppy discs were the most favored. When asked what they would use if the floppy disc was discontinued the majority of respondents said, network storage (LAN). The survey results showed that as the authors hypothesized, libraries had no plan to handle the coming obsolescence of the floppy disk.
Hess (2008) explores the historical context of the magnetic tape medium as one of the premiere modes of preservation. The article outlines the various types of tape types, formulations, and modes of degradation. Hess cites common preservation issues such as shrinkage and vinegar syndrome. While offering strategies for care, Hess describes challenges in predicting the lifespan of tape and the lack of certainty when considering access to machine and reel parts. Further, he noted that loss of technical expertise and institutional knowledge can lead to further problems. Hess argues that data migration and copies should be a priority when considering the preservation of this medium.
This article discusses the benefits and drawbacks of different digital preservation techniques meant to offset data loss due to hardware obsolescence. Each preservation method such as migration or emulation is discussed in detail and this article contains real world examples of different preservation techniques in action. Help in determining which combination should be used for one’s own needs. In addition, it does decently explain the logistics of each preservation method and what would be needed for it to operate effectively. The following quote from the article is a real world example of this in one project as it relates to emulation: “The fundamental idea of the...[project] is to test whether emulating obsolete computer hardware on future systems could be used to ensure long-term access to digital publications....The experimental results indicate that emulation should work in principle, assuming that suitable emulators for obsolete computing platforms can be hosted on future platforms.”
This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of a digital archive in terms of space and reliability. Further, Legget (2012) describes the factors that necessitate digital preservation. The article discusses how the rate with which various forms of hardware are becoming obsolete is unprecedented. Legget describes punch cards, 5.25” floppy disks, 3.5 floppy disks, and CD-ROMs as progressively obsolete methods of storage. She notes the particular case of punch cards. These cards have taken on a new life as part of DIY craft projects since the computers required to read them have become obsolete. Moreover, the article notes how magnetic tape, zip drives, flash drives, and external hard drives should be used with caution as they risk obsolescence. Leggett asserts that as a safety precaution, archival copies of digital content must be kept in several formats.
Charles Levi writes about a second legacy electronic media pilot project at the University of Ontario issues with 5.25-inch floppy disks and the borrowed drive that eventually broke. The focus of this project from 2008 was on information preservation and not on media preservation. The importance of having more than one machine with which to read the media is stressed, especially when dealing with hundreds of floppy disks that need to be read. The government records being accessioned had 5.25-inch floppy disks within thousands of boxes and there is no way to know just how many would be found during the entire project. Computers no longer have the drives needed to read the floppy disks from the boxes obtained. The use of one-off computer, sometimes borrowed when available, was the only way to gain access to the information. As of 2008, there are at least nine known types of media that are unreadable including floppy disks.
This article discusses problems of digital preservation of electronic records due to hardware and software obsolescence. Digital information is at risk of becoming inaccessible because of obsolescence. New hardware and software are replacing products and methods in cycles of every 2-5 years. With all this change, obsolescence of access will overtake any durable assortment of hardware and software. The authors iterate that data is only as permanent as the hardware or software that gives it life. More and more archives are receiving information that is born digital but the software and/or hardware used to create is now obsolete. As a result, the information is no longer readable and is lost which is referred to as a grave problem. This makes planning for obsolescence all the more urgent but there is still a lack of standards and policies among archives and libraries. The authors implore such institutions to create plans and policies to address obsolete hardware and software in order to save their digital content. Repositories with no formal policies regarding long-term digital preservation will experience problems of reading and processing older, obsolete digital media. CDs and DVDs are used as an example. These devices work for file back-up and short-term storage but are at risk of becoming obsolete as new hardware, software, and other technology becomes available. The authors go on to present possible solutions including, migration and emulation. Advantages and disadvantages of each are also discussed. Other suggested solutions include preservation or structural metadata, mitigation, refreshing, partnerships, and technology preservation. Though, these are not discussed in as much detail. The conclusion is drawn that greater attention must be given to digital preservation. There is information that just cannot afford to be lost because of obsolescence and must be accessible indefinitely by whatever future technology there may be.
This article discusses the challenges faced by libraries in regard to digital resources. Maintaining permanent access to electronic materials is a complex problem. Digital material is unstable due to the short lifespan of the hardware and software that store the material and make it accessible. Issues when it comes to libraries and digital preservation are discussed. One of these, technical issues, exists because digital materials are machine dependent and require hardware and software to be accessed. Because of this obsolescence must be taken into account. The quickly changing technological landscape means that preservation strategies and practices need to be constantly evaluated and adjusted to keep up with the times. Collections managers have been quoted in the Research Libraries Group (RLG) survey as citing obsolescence as the greatest threat to successful long-term digital preservation. The increasing amount of digital materials and rapidly changing technology demands action to overcome this challenge. Solutions suggested in the article include emulation, migration, refreshing, technology preservation, planning and implementing standards, and preservation metadata. The article also discusses creating and implementing a digital preservation strategy. It concludes by stating that digital libraries need to work hard and collaborate with each other in order to keep their resources preserved and up-to-date and frequent technology watches are crucial
This brief article takes an unconventional approach to media format obsolescence. Moyer (2012) argues that despite convention, ‘older’ file formats can experience a resurgence of users. Indeed, the interest in vinyl records has boomed in recent years despite other forms of audio formats. However, Moyer describes the renaissance of the cassette tape. He notes that certain indie music labels deal with cassettes only. However, Moyer presents the issue for librarians: how does this potential for hardware obsolescence affect collection development? Should librarians continue to collect these formats that no longer experience mainstream use? Moyer argues, “….actual content creation is fracturing in a million different directions, and not all embrace the promise of a completely digital future.” (p. 54). The article encourages librarians to reconsider their preconceptions of the value and necessity of wide-sweeping digitization efforts. Further, it challenges beliefs that demand for a certain hardware is ever truly obsolete. If the demand is there, opportunities should be made available to access or emulate that hardware technology.
This article by Jeff Rothenberg discusses how computer-based artwork, The Erl King, would have been lost without the use of hardware emulation techniques. In this case, the original laserdisc players and the laserdiscs themselves are now obsolete. Rothenberg notes that the content needed to be converted into a modern form, even though this would create an extra copy generation (p. 39). Loss of some material was a major concern and technical issues transferring The Erl King into yet another format as the current hardware became obsolete was covered thoroughly.
Two ways that enable running original software in the future include saving obsolete computers in museums where they can be used, emulating obsolete computers on future computers. Emulation is when a new computer is used to impersonate an old computer and makes the new behave like the old in order to run any old program. This process is used to avoid the cost of adding special-purpose hardware. Bitstreams of all applications and system software that created the artifact would have to be saved on the original computing platform. Conversion of the artifact contents and converting into some future vernacular form is called vernacular extraction. Emulate hardware not software to preserve artifacts in original form, save any format requiring no new software, no conversion, avoids huge costs, and reduces preservation problem to one saving bitstreams. It is important to create emulation not only for current newer computers, but also future new computers. The testing of emulation must be done before the old computer is unusable. Two alternatives are chained (running each bi-generational emulator under the next one) and rehosted emulation (create same new bi-generational emulator, but not under each one). These approaches are not compatible. The rehosted emulator is much more work, but chained emulation can be performed if other becomes too difficult or expensive. A suggestion was to write all emulators to run on a virtual machine. Computer hardware vendors may be the answer in who to create these emulators.
This article analyzes the issues presented with quickly changing technologies. The date of the article provides great historical context and proves that the issue of hardware and software obsolescence continues to evolve, with new challenges and new solutions. Rothenberg describes the issue of digital longevity and the uncertainties of tackling the technological aspects that present themselves with digital preservation. Rothenberg outlines the vulnerability of digital documents due to hardware and software obsolescence. The article then goes on to suggest that continuous and labor-intensive software and hardware updates are ineffective. New hardware or software paradigms are not required. Rather, emulation strategy is the more advantageous approach to digital preservation as it does not make particular assumptions about the functions of future computers.
In this article by Russo, Lamanna, and Baldoni, discusses Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the reuse of discarded computers in relation to methods such as Trashware and clustering systems. Software development relies on hardware development. Hardware needs to have more and more performance is because software is so performance consuming and not accessible. The consumer is obliged to buy new hardware when usually they merely need new software. Trashware cuts down on illegal discarding of computer hardware by allowing them to be recycled for use. Clustering allows two or more computers to work together for increased computational power and reliability. Cluster dimensions can grow by adding machines, using the available hardware. There are three kinds of clusters, fail-over, load balancing, and High Performance Computing. Open source software is discussed in the form of research regarding cluster efficiency and various systems.
This article is primarily concerned with preserving digital research journals. As more are being published online the concern of hardware obsolescence is of top concern as valuable data can be lost as that occurs. The article summarizes their entire main concern as follows: “the technology used to store the publication is likely to become obsolete. Another threat is the loss of the functionality needed to interpret, display, and use the information contained in the digital object. Without this functionality, provided by specific hardware and software, the information will not be available even if the bitstream of the digital object has been preserved. When we are able to address all the threats to a digital publication, we can successfully keep it for future use. If we cannot, sooner or later we will lose the digital publication itself or the access to the information it contains” As technology updates keepers of archives must also update or risk losing irreplaceable data is a main theme of this article. It also mentions archiving and financial concerns as threats to digital preservation but constantly updating hardware remains a main concern. As seems to be standard in this area of research the two main digital preservation methods of data migration and emulation are explained as well.
This article discusses the largely non-professional practice of retrocomputing, which involves modern use of old computer systems. Activities involved in retrocomputing include restoring old obsolete hardware, developing emulators, and building substantial digital collections. Providing a few examples, the author expounds on the different kinds of retrocomputing. Furthermore, the author discusses retrocomputing activities, purposes, goals, and focuses and how they aid in digital preservation and tackling the challenge of obsolescence. Advantages, disadvantages, and criticisms are also discussed and a few potential solutions are proposed. The author believes that retrocomputing can be beneficial to memory institutions and concludes that the preservation community can work with the retrocomputing community to bridge gaps and adopt common practices.
This article presents a case study in which a small Serbian library partners with local television and radio partners to digitize items of rich cultural importance that had been kept on obsolete media formats. This included the digitization of audiotapes, vinyl records, VHS tapes, Betamax, and more. The private-public partnership between the library and the media outlets allowed the library to provide metadata and add value to an archive important to the cultural heritage of the community. The partnerships were mutually beneficial and the digitization program helped to inform the library’s long-term digital preservation goals. The article provides real-life solutions to issues many libraries and communities are facing, the loss of important social and historical data due to hardware obsolescence. The article encourages librarians to get out in front of these format obsolescence issues and potential data loss by focusing on digitization efforts that ensure community access. It provides a historical and social context to the real-world implications of the issue of obsolescence.
This article expounds on an emulation project undertaken by the National Library of the Netherlands and the National Archief of the Netherlands. Emulation focuses on the hardware and/or software environment in which the digital object was created and seeks to re-create this original hardware environment in order to access the digital object. Providing a few examples the authors discuss emulators and how none have been designed specifically for digital preservation. Despite its shortcomings, the authors recognize its potential and decide that an emulator for digital preservation needs to be designed, built, and tested. This began a two-year project to build such a device. During the design phase the strategy of modular emulation was chosen. Modular emulation allows for the emulation of original hardware meaning the original operating system, applications, drivers, and configuration settings are all retained. After the emulator, named Dioscuri, was built the time came to test it. Dioscuri emulated several different hardware components and the test results were largely positive. Several operating systems, platforms, and applications were successfully run. A few examples include, MS-DOS, Norton Commander 3.0 WordPerfect 5.1, 16-bit Linus operating system, and FreeDOS 0.9. The authors conclude that while there is still much work to be done Dioscuri is still valuable. It was hoped that making Dioscuri open source would lead to future joint development that would further improve the emulator.
The article examines the question of how can digital objects be accessed in the future when the hardware, software, and other technologies needed to access and view them is becoming obsolete? The authors believe this to be a serious challenge and briefly mention a few projects addressing this issue. The projects lead to the conclusion that lasting access to digital objects requires flexible and robust standards, emulation, and migration. Emulation is discussed along with some examples. Migration is also briefly discussed and is compared to emulation. The authors address the question of how emulators will run correctly on future computers by discussing the Universal Virtual Computer (UVC) at the National Library of the Netherlands. The UVC allows digital objects to be reconstructed in their original appearance using a combination of emulation and migration. The article discusses the conception and realization of the UVC, its design, and current state. It is the authors’ hope that the UVC will become another option in digital preservation strategies.
This article delves into the issue of preserving digital content. It provides historical context in that it presents the case of the www.whitehouse.gov digital archive being wiped out during the Bush administration and the link rot and data loss that ensued. But most significantly, Wiggins presents the risk of media format obsolescence and content format obsolescence to preserving digital items. He specifically discusses the storage capacities and potential life expectancies of hardware dependent CDs, DVDs, DVD-RAM, DVD-ROM, DAT and CD-R. He suggests that, due to the many unknown variables of the future, the only way to prevent hardware obsolescence is to employ refreshing or migration methods. Wiggins also discusses the capturing of websites and born digital content. Wiggins explores the legal copyright barriers to digital preservation and offers solutions to these issues. She suggests migration, emulation tools, and metadata initiatives.
