5 ms·

I guess this would be useful in the case of an apocalypse scenario involving mass EM pulses (assuming anyone is still around to build new computers with OCR to

I guess this would be useful in the case of an apocalypse scenario involving mass EM pulses (assuming anyone is still around to build new computers with OCR to reload the code). Better use good acid-fee paper stored at near-vacuum though.

happywolf 14y ago
If I can find a computer survived the EM pulses to scan the paper, then most likely I don't need this paper back up anyway. On the other hand if all my data is dead upon the EM pulses attack, I won't put too much faith on the chance of getting hold of any surviving computer.
- politician 14y ago
  Well, you could house your precious scanner in a Faraday cage along with a RepRap and other "reboot the world" tech.
  - thebigshane 14y ago
    Please elaborate; I'm intrigued... A Faraday cage will protect against an EM pulse? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage RepRap is a self-reproducible 3D printer? http://reprap.org/wiki/RepRap http://reprap.org/wiki/RepRap And so with the RepRap (and some power source/converter) inside a faraday cage (with other physical protections as well), you're saying that this is the ultimate backup system for worst case scenarios? Do you have any links to provide more information about such a setup?
    - vacri 14y ago
      You seem to have answered your own questions. Yes, the Faraday cage protects against EM interference. But so does turning your computer off. Your main computer is fried? Pull out your old laptop and dust it off...
      - iacvlvs 14y ago
        Would turning your computer off, help? I can see it helping for normal EM interference, but in an apocalyptic EM pulses scenario I thought the induced current would be enough to damage components.
Jaecen 14y ago
EM would not erase optical media like CD's either.
- thebigshane 14y ago
  No, instead those degrade naturally on their own. "CD-Rs are expected to have an average life expectancy of 10 years" -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD-R#Expected_lifespan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD-R#Expected_lifespan CD/DVD experiential life expectancy is 2 to 5 years even though published life expectancies are often cited as 10 years, 25 years, or longer -- http://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/initiatives/temp-opmedia-faq.html http://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/initiatives/temp-opmedi...
  - nathan_long 14y ago
    That's why I write all my crucial data onto stone tablets. The write speed and data density are terrible, the drive, media and storage space cost a fortune, but dang if the data won't last a couple thousand years.
    - thebigshane 14y ago
      Discussions like these always bring me back to the "10,000 year clock" ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clock_of_the_Long_Now http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clock_of_the_Long_Now
  - nathan_long 14y ago
    Regarding degradation: CD-Rs degrade because you write them by using a laser to effect chemical changes, and the chemicals can break down. Commercially-produced CDs, on the other hand, are pressed; they are physically molded by being pressed against a "glass master", and the physical pits are much more durable. Making the glass master is expensive, but the incremental cost of pressing is tiny compared to burning CDs. So, if you could figure out a way to etch CDs instead of burning them, or make the pressing process cheap enough, you could make very durable CDs. Or if you want to make lots of durable copies of one CD, you can do that now with a glass master.

happywolf 14y ago

If I can find a computer survived the EM pulses to scan the paper, then most likely I don't need this paper back up anyway. On the other hand if all my data is dead upon the EM pulses attack, I won't put too much faith on the chance of getting hold of any surviving computer.

politician 14y ago
Well, you could house your precious scanner in a Faraday cage along with a RepRap and other "reboot the world" tech.
- thebigshane 14y ago
  Please elaborate; I'm intrigued... A Faraday cage will protect against an EM pulse? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage RepRap is a self-reproducible 3D printer? http://reprap.org/wiki/RepRap http://reprap.org/wiki/RepRap And so with the RepRap (and some power source/converter) inside a faraday cage (with other physical protections as well), you're saying that this is the ultimate backup system for worst case scenarios? Do you have any links to provide more information about such a setup?
  - vacri 14y ago
    You seem to have answered your own questions. Yes, the Faraday cage protects against EM interference. But so does turning your computer off. Your main computer is fried? Pull out your old laptop and dust it off...
    - iacvlvs 14y ago
      Would turning your computer off, help? I can see it helping for normal EM interference, but in an apocalyptic EM pulses scenario I thought the induced current would be enough to damage components.

Jaecen 14y ago

EM would not erase optical media like CD's either.

thebigshane 14y ago
No, instead those degrade naturally on their own. "CD-Rs are expected to have an average life expectancy of 10 years" -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD-R#Expected_lifespan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD-R#Expected_lifespan CD/DVD experiential life expectancy is 2 to 5 years even though published life expectancies are often cited as 10 years, 25 years, or longer -- http://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/initiatives/temp-opmedia-faq.html http://www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/initiatives/temp-opmedi...
- nathan_long 14y ago
  That's why I write all my crucial data onto stone tablets. The write speed and data density are terrible, the drive, media and storage space cost a fortune, but dang if the data won't last a couple thousand years.
  - thebigshane 14y ago
    Discussions like these always bring me back to the "10,000 year clock" ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clock_of_the_Long_Now http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clock_of_the_Long_Now
- nathan_long 14y ago
  Regarding degradation: CD-Rs degrade because you write them by using a laser to effect chemical changes, and the chemicals can break down. Commercially-produced CDs, on the other hand, are pressed; they are physically molded by being pressed against a "glass master", and the physical pits are much more durable. Making the glass master is expensive, but the incremental cost of pressing is tiny compared to burning CDs. So, if you could figure out a way to etch CDs instead of burning them, or make the pressing process cheap enough, you could make very durable CDs. Or if you want to make lots of durable copies of one CD, you can do that now with a glass master.