Solutions- Emulation

This involves creating programmes for computers so that old software and old data can be read. The emulators enable up-to-date computers to mimic old ones. This is the ability to preserve the 'look and feel' of an object so that it can be read in the way that it was originally created.

Problems with this approach:

- Depth of emulation- one would have to emulate right down to PC specifics- graphics cards, exact processor, each version of the software, even the monitor.

- The emulators themselves might become defunct- eventually one would have to have emulators for the emulator's original programmes!

- It requires advanced technical skills.

- It might be a solution for 'one off' applications such as recreating computer games or old web browsers.

- It could produce copyright issues- how does one gain access to re-running software in the future that is patented?

READ MORE: Jeff Rothenburg's definitive study on emulation, 'Avoiding technical quicksand: finding a viable technical foundation for Digital Preservation', advocates emulation as the viable solution to Digital Preservation. http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/rothenberg/contents.html Stewart Granger's Emulation as a Digital Preservation strategy discusses the practical advantages and disadvantages of actually implementing emulation. http://www.dlib.org/dlib/october00/granger/10granger.html Lynch, Clifford (1999) Canonicalisation: a fundamental tool to facilitate preservation and management of digital material. http://www.dlib.org/dlib/september99/09lynch.html CAMiLEON Project was set up to research emulation as a viable Digital Preservation strategy http://www.si.umich.edu/CAMILEON/

 

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