How to store digital files for posterity? (hundreds of years) (programming.dev)

submitted 2 years ago by anzo@programming.dev to c/piracy@lemmy.dbzer0.com

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.eco.br/post/4492477

How to store digital files for posterity? (hundreds of years)

How to store digital files for posterity? (hundreds of years)

I have some family videos and audios and I want to physically save them for posterity so that it lasts for periods like 200 years and more. This allows great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren to have access.

From the research I did, I found that the longest-lasting way to physically store digital content is through CD-R gold discs, but it may only last 100 years. From what I researched, the average lifespan of HDs and SSDs is no more than 10 years.

I came to the conclusion that the only way to ensure that the files really pass from generation to generation is to record them on CDs and distribute them to the family, asking them to make copies from time to time.

It's crazy to think that if there were suddenly a mass extinction of the human species, intelligent beings arriving on Earth in 1000 years would probably not be able to access our digital content. While cave paintings would probably remain in the same place.

What is your opinion?

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[-] pelletbucket@lemm.ee 4 points 2 years ago

yeah but the CD keeps being backwards compatible with DVD players, then Blu-ray, then UHD Blu-ray... these new 125tb discs are the same form factor again. i think we'll have CD players way longer than tape decks

[-] B0rax@feddit.de 6 points 2 years ago

I think CD is more or less at the end of its livecycle, most PCs sold today don’t even have a cd drive anymore.

[-] TheGalacticVoid@lemm.ee 4 points 2 years ago

They haven't had any kind of drive for a while now. You know what does though? Game consoles.

[-] B0rax@feddit.de 2 points 2 years ago

Sure, but getting the data from the disks through a game console sounds pretty not fun.

[-] TheGalacticVoid@lemm.ee 1 points 2 years ago

The point is that even if CD or DVD drives aren't produced nearly as much, there is still a market for newer drives that still support CDs and DVDs.

this post was submitted on 12 Apr 2024

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