Xref: utzoo comp.misc:12409 comp.periphs:3714 rec.music.cd:15821 rec.music.misc:69149 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!news.cs.indiana.edu!ariel.unm.edu!nmsu!opus!afoiani From: afoiani@nmsu.edu (Anthony "Tkil" Foiani) Newsgroups: comp.misc,comp.periphs,rec.music.cd,rec.music.misc Subject: Re: What medium will be readable in 25 years? Message-ID: Date: 6 May 91 15:27:53 GMT References: <8144@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU> <1991May1.174841.3321@investor.pgh.pa.us> <7DF+PQ+@cs.widener.edu> <1991May06.003407.25573@mthvax.cs.miami.edu> Sender: news@NMSU.Edu Followup-To: comp.misc Distribution: na Organization: New Mexico State U, Las Cruces, NM USA Lines: 50 In-reply-to: wb8foz@mthvax.cs.miami.edu's message of 6 May 91 00:34:07 GMT Hmm... When I read the original post, I interpreted it to mean "For what media will facilities be commonly available to read it 25 years from now" instead of "What media will keep data non-corrupted over the time span of 25 years?" The second has been hashed over already, and I thought I'd comment on the first. Many types of media commonly available 25 [or fewer] years ago can't be read by a typical setup. Audio 78rpms and 8-track, computer 8" floppies, punch cards, punch tape, etc. As for what current media will be in use in 25 years: CD [12cm, 9cm(3in?), Laserdisc] I think these will still be around, despite the arrival of digital tapes. Regardless of the encoding of a magnetic tape, there is [currently] an amount of wear on the media. CD technology is non- contact, and the current production techniques result in stable discs that should last 50-100 years DAT, Phillips' Digital Cassettes This technology, or some derivative, will survive. The ability to record either parts of CDs or real events is necessary and desireable. Although they wear out, they still have excellent sound quality for a relatively long time. Write-once, Read/write [Magneto-Optical] CDs Only if the technology advances; it won't be in common usage for at least another 5-10 years for audio information. May be around for a while, though. Vinyl There will probably be some die-hard audiophiles who have turn- tables, but not many. Vinyl holds up well with age, but so do CDs pressed since the mid-80s, and the sound quality... Well, that's about it for now... please comment. I'm no type of engineer, btw. heh. Tony -- Tony Foiani a.k.a. Tkil (afoiani@nmsu.edu) or (mcsajf@nmsuvm1.bitnet) Supporting: Unix / DOS / VMS / Macintosh / "What's this?" "As the water flows over the bridge, | As we walk on the Floodland | "Rain From Heaven" As we walk on the water, we forget | _Gift_ We forget. Rain from Heaven." | The Sisterhood