Whoops, there goes another

CD-ROM

by Laura Tangley

This article discusses the durability and longevity of some of todays modern forms

of data storage. There is a big problem with the way data is being stored. The new forms

of data storage, such as the CD-ROM and Magnetic tapes are not withstanding the test of

time. The Magnetic tape has been around for some thirty some years and there have

already been many problems with the preservation of these tapes. NASA and many other

government organizations have had problems with these tapes. The magnetic coating that

the 1s and 0s of digital code are stored on, are separating from their backing, making it

impossible to decipher the data stored on them. The same problem is arising with

CD-ROM's. Some CD's don't even last five years. Another problem people are facing is

that the software and hardware needed to encode the data on these old forms of data

recording are becoming obsolete. If there is no means to retrieve this information, the

tapes are useless. These are just some of the problems we are facing as we continue our

journey through the information age. It's becoming more and more apparent that the only

reliable way of saving data is the good ol' fashion paper. Data technicians are trying to

find a form of data storage that will last well into the 21st century, but so far they aren't

having much luck.