1.
Canary in a Coal Mine:
A Digital Preservation
Response to
Technological Change
Nancy Y. McGovern
Digital Preservation Officer, ICPSR
IASSIST 2007

2.
Outline
1. Technology response requirements
2. Common response: Technology Watch
3. Scope of interest for DP
4. Priorities for digital preservation
5. Timing response to technology

3.
1. Technology Response
Requirements
 The call for responding to technology
• e.g., Preserving Digital Information, 1996
 The specification of technology
response requirements
• Most explicit: Monitor Technology, OAIS

4.
OAIS: Monitor Technology
 Objective: track emerging technologies,
information standards, computing platforms
 Purpose: avoid obsolescence that could
prevent access
 Scope: may include prototyping
 Activities: provides reports, external data
standards, prototype results, alerts

5.
2. Common Response:
Technology Watch
 Examples
• DPC, DCC, DigiCult, LITA, PRONOM
 Characteristics
• Range in services reflects absence of definition
• Providers tend to select topics not community
• Typically lack access to accumulated data
• Availability of levels of service is rare

6.
Community Formalization
 Digital Preservation for Museums:
Recommendations - CHIN, 2004
• Service requirements
 LIFE Project - UCL/BL, 2006
• Cost of technology watch for organizations
 Strategic Priorities, 2006-2007 – SAA
• Call for leadership and training

7.
3. Scope of interest for DP:
Macro taxonomy
 Object: file formats, media metadata
 Collection: relationships, metadata
 Repository: software, tools, modules
 Platform: protocols, security, software, hardware
 Organization: policies, procedures, protocols
 Standards: IT, Internet, archival, description
 External Dependencies: legislation, governance
 Competencies: knowledge, skills, experience

8.
3. Scope of interest for DP:
Micro taxonomy
 35 technology types enable OAIS
 Examples
• Communication: the ability to convey a message or a
specific piece of information
• Logs computer: files, often using a standard format,
that document activities performed
• Policy enforcement: the ability to perform a function
or activity using rules to allow or prohibit activities

9.
4. Priorities for
digital preservation
 Contact: requires direct contact with digital content
 Interaction: must respond to, not just be made
aware of, changes in digital content
 Exploitation: potential to contribute to digital
preservation strategies by exploiting opportunities
 Risk management: participates in the avoidance of
risks to integrity, longevity, or authenticity
 Automation: potential to perform more effectively
for digital preservation if automated

10.
Sample Priority Scores

11.
5. Timing response to technology
 Identify potential new technology
 Monitor new technology
 Assess new technology
 Respond to new technology
 Act to avoid obsolescence of existing
technologies

12.
Technology Responsiveness
 Community objectives
• accumulate current and historical information
• develop competencies and tools
• incorporate organisational developments
• build a network of contributors and users
• ensure sustainability

13.
“…the best way to forecast
the future is to create it.”
Michael J. Gelb
“The most reliable way to
forecast the future is to try to
understand the present.”
John Naisbitt