This document discusses the issue of digital preservation and how much of our digital history and culture is at risk of being lost. It notes that software and formats become obsolete quickly, meaning files can become unreadable. It also mentions specific examples like NASA losing footage of the moon landing. The document advocates for taking cultural works and campaigns created in digital formats and preserving them through printing or analog media to help ensure they last beyond the typical 100 day lifespan of websites and digital files. It encourages those in creative fields to consider their digital preservation responsibilities and campaign for extending the longevity of the work they create.

1. Are We Losing
Our Marbles !
To The Digital
Black Hole?@sidneyvollmer Interstellar, 2014

2. &reconnect! disconnect

4. “We do not have an archival
function.”
H. Van Hartevelt, quoting ministry, Tegenlicht
Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam

5. “Moon landing tapes got
erased, NASA admits”Reuters, july 20 2009
NASA

6. “Humanity’s first steps into
the digital world could be lost
to future historians.”
VINT CERF !
Internet Evangelist At Google
Murdo Macleod, Guardian

7. (This means all of your work, too)
Tom Brown

8. We’re losing the software needed to
read the bits of yesteryear. !
!
We’re losing much !
of our digital infrastructure.
Unknown, Reddit

9. A €5 iPad Dock.

10. “If there are photos you really
care about, print them out.”

11. “If there are banners you really
care about, print them out.”

12. Films!
Social Content!
360º Campaigns!
Pitch Decks!
Activations!
Prerolls!
Tv Ads!
“If there are banners you really
care about, print them out.”

13. Myspace

14. unknown, cfileonline.org

15. Autodesk, 1996

16. thedrum.com/stuff/2013/06/28/infograph-google-graveyard-great-ideas

17. thedrum.com/stuff/2013/06/28/infograph-google-graveyard-great-ideas

18. thedrum.com/stuff/2013/06/28/infograph-google-graveyard-great-ideas

19. The average lifespan of a
website is 100 days.

20. The average lifespan of a
website is 100 days.
Brewster Kahle, Internet Archive
Preservation & Access.

22. William Ulricchio, Mutation of
publishing, 2011
“There Is Still No
Preservation Technology
For Data That Guarantees
Integrity Even For As Little
As Fifty Years.”

23. Lianne Milton, NY Times

24. YES. BUT WHY?

25. Because our future deserves it

26. Because our culture deserves it

27. Because your work deserves it…

28. And so do you.

29. Your Tampax
banner or
Volkswagen preroll
could save the
human race. LucasFilm

30. We’re Arguably The
Most Creative
Bunch Of People In
The World.
Anil Saxema

31. So We Like To
Think: Our Best
Work Is Our Next
Work. Josan Gonzalez

32. Don’t Decide For
Future
Generations.

33. Let’s Disconnect From
“The Present”. Max Cavallari

34. Let’s Reconnect With
Why We Work.!
With Our Past And With
Our Far-Off Future.
Alexey Kondakov

35. Three Suggestions. Pick One.

36. Be more culturally responsible
with what you (or your company)
makes.!
1.!

37. Ask Your ECD:!
How Do We Archive
Our Stuff? Leo Vroman by Keke Keukelaar,
Querido

38. Ask Your Agency:!
What Makes Today Different
From Way, Way Back?
Laine Stranahan

39. Stop relying on big data!
Start diving into the big past.
2.!

40. Add “Diving Into
Historical Work”
As An Ideation
Strategy To Your
Operations.

46. Prolong the longevity of your work
by campaigning in non-digital
media. !
And be bold about it.!
!
3.!

47. Cover by Jarr Geerligs
http://dumbcuneiform.com/

48. Nudes 9, Erin M. Riley, 2013Undressing 4, Erin M. Riley, 2013

49. Kenneth Taylor, 1916

50. Cover by Jarr Geerligs

51. Migrate from one
medium to the next.

52. Future Library, Katie Peterson

53. Are We Losing Our
Marbles To The
Digital Black Hole?
@sidneyvollmer