Preserving interactivity: towards next generation digital preservation philosophy and systems

Abstract

New emulation technologies have emerged in the form of Emulation as a Service, and are currently in the late stages of development. These projects have the potential to have positive implications for digital preservation and access. The nature and scope of these projects however, requires examination. A look at what these technologies can do, as well as how they fit into current archival systems, is a necessity. As these technologies allow for the presentation and maintenance of previously neglected properties of the record, there emerges a need to understand why these interactive aspects are important. Archivists will need to begin to think about how these technologies function and can fit into current and prospective archival methods, in order to most effectively make use of them.