Vice on Jason Scott and Retro Computers

Concerns about the Digital Dark Age

My concerns about the living in the digital dark age and the loss of culture and heritage are certainly valid. As more and more of our lives become digitized, we run the risk of losing access to important historical and cultural artifacts if we don't take steps to preserve them.

One of the challenges we face is that digital formats are notoriously fragile, and many older formats and technologies are already becoming obsolete. This means that if we don't act quickly to preserve these artifacts, we could lose them forever.

As individuals, we can also do our part to help preserve our cultural heritage. One simple step is to back up important digital files and documents, and to store them in multiple locations. This can help ensure that if one copy is lost or damaged, there are still other copies that can be accessed.

Ultimately, it will take a concerted effort on the part of individuals, organizations, and governments to preserve our cultural heritage in the digital age. However, by working together, we can help ensure that future generations have access to the same rich cultural and historical artifacts that we have today.

Introduction to Personal Archiving

It's great to see that there are people like Jason Scott who are dedicated to preserving our digital history, particularly when it comes to retro computers and gaming systems. As the world becomes increasingly digital, there is a real danger that we could lose access to valuable pieces of our cultural heritage.

The idea of a digital dark age is a real concern, as many older technologies and formats become obsolete and are no longer supported by modern hardware and software. Without efforts to preserve and archive these systems, we risk losing access to important pieces of our history and culture.

One of the interesting aspects of the video extract is the nostalgia it evokes, particularly for those who grew up during the heyday of retro computing and gaming. It's always fun to spot old systems and games that you remember playing as a kid, and to reflect on how far technology has come since then.

Let's continue efforts to preserve our digital history, particularly when it comes to retro computing and gaming. These systems played an important role in the development of modern technology, and they continue to be an important part of our cultural heritage. By preserving and archiving these systems, we can ensure that they are accessible to future generations, and that they continue to inspire and inform our understanding of technology and culture.

Archiving our digital history

There are quick flashes across CDs. I wonder if any of those are from the 440+ versions of AOL CD-ROMs from the Internet Archive collection. A quick cut to a close up of a remote control sitting in a toy powerboat. Heaven only knows what toy powerboats have to do with digital or cultural archiving. Then there is the emotional drawcard. "These are where you find the stories that we've lost. Becuase they've been discarded by others without any idea of their value." Does this sound like the ideals of a digital horder? Digital Hoarding ... un, we prefer to call the endless saving of digital content as Personal Digital Archiving.

The loss of digital content is a serious thing. So much data and content is being created every year, that it drowns out all the content has been made from the year before. New content is great and Google prioritorises newer content over old content. Google places a greater emphasis on the importance of recentness of content, particularly with news. This leads to the unintended consequence of website authors creating more content to destroy and obfuscate old content. There was nothing wrong with the old content. Old content is just old news with old websites being blown away in the digital dust. Are we possibly living in the Digital Dark Ages.

Another cut and a close up of two boxes of software. Your Reading Power and Hooked on Phonics. Pow. I wonder if there was any level of irony when video media starts talking about the loss of printed media. Next stop, the long look at the 1990's collection of stereo equipment. No, it is probably from the 2000's. Is this the back of a lifeline store? Surely this isn't somebody's personal collection? Then there is another close up of Entrepreneurs' Guide to Labor & Property Law; Another box of goodies not available on the Archive.

One of the challenges we face is that digital formats are notoriously fragile, and many older formats and technologies are already becoming obsolete. This means that if we don't act quickly to preserve these artifacts, we could lose them forever.

What percentage of the internet has vanished? Now that is asking the witness. Oh, the vast majority. Maybe that is true by some measurement but so much digital junk is being created at this very moment that it's size is overloading the Internet from just ten years ago. Absolutely staggering. And herein lies the puncher, most websites don't get the rescue. I don't know what the rescue is but it sure sounds very important.

Analyzing the now, what are people years from now going to look back and think of the first decades of the Internet? Jason's flirty response, Um, they are going to think that we had no taste in color.

Another tantilizing show of audio equipment and book covers. Let me check, Unlock the secrets of your mind is not in the Internet Library either. So many lost treasures. But Jason's rule is, if it's on plastic then we'll save a copy of it.

Watch Jason talk about digital archiving