Computers I: Data Access with Changing Technologies

My main reason for doubting that paper will be completely replaced by computers is the fact that technology changes very rapidly. While we can easily read original handwritten medieval texts, it is hard to believe how much information from the 1970s is practically inaccessible to modern academics because it was stored on now-obsolete computer punch cards.

It is not merely a problem of language or hard-to-decipher letters. This is a problem of technology. If no computers that can read punch cards exist, then we have no means to know what information is stored on those cards.

Only about twelve years ago, many people were still using the large seven inch floppy disc, and marvelled at the number of files that could be stored on the new 4 1/2 inch floppy. Now the "new" floppies are being phased out, and there are many personal computers sold today that have no floppy disc drive, though they all have CD-Rom drives. Perhaps they also have Zip, Jaz, Syquest, or other large-capacity storage systems.

Current trends indicate that Zip discs will probably become obsolete sooner than CD-Roms, because laser technology is currently favoured over magnetic films used in floppies and Zip or Jaz discs. We can see the same trend with the video tape's losing battle with the DVD. We have already seen the demise of the vinyl record, and the near-loss of the audio tape, as the price of CDs came to match our incomes.

Looking back at data storage systems over the past two decades, it is reasonable to expect many more changes.

Paper takes space, but at least it can be read even with the evolution of new technologies. Government archives are clogged with mostly inaccessible data and statistics that were only stored on now-obsolete punch cards or floppy discs. Few libraries had the foresight to keep some old computers that could read the contents of their own archives.

The major exception to the loss of data through changing technology is the microfilm or microfiche. Most of use would rarely use these now, but they are in fact durable forms of information storage. They also greatly reduce the space need to physically store the files. The microfilm and microfiche should be relatively easy to view even as technology changes, as they only require a light source and some kind of projector to enlarge images.

Perhaps paper will one day be replaced by a more durable substance, such as a kind of plastic film, and perhaps images and text will be reduced in size to help solve space problems. That is, although microfilm technology is largely overlooked today, perhaps we will see a return when more people see how many archives are lost to them.

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