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This whitepaper is the result of a short research project by Bianca Wirth, during January-June 2008.
Abstract:
Computing technology in its current form is a relatively modern development; however in reality we have been slowly building up to this period from around 450 BC when the Greek people developed counting aids. This innovation continued to progress across many cultures over the next two and a half thousand years to the development of the first generation computer around 1947 (The History of Computing, 2008).
For modern computing heritage conservation there are a number of corporate museums, individual universities, non-profit museums and personal collections – however to date there is a broad deficiency in modern technology heritage co-ordination and preservation globally. This deficiency is represented within three key interdependent issues – firstly the variance in historical computing significance on a local, regional and global level; secondly a range of preservation considerations & limitations; and finally finding the answer to the almost ethereal question: how do we determine which computing artefacts are significant enough to safeguard, given these conservation challenges.
Contents
- Introduction
- The Importance of Preserving Technology Heritage - The History of Computing; The Situation Today
- Approach Brief - Technology Museums; The Personal Collection & The Computing Heritage Society
- Acquisition and Preservation: Decision Making Criteria
- Considerations, Limitations and Impacts
- Technology: When is the Right Time to Start Collecting it?
- Conclusion
- References
Attachments:
| File | Description | File size |
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 TheCulturalHeritageofTechnology.pdf | Whitepaper discussing the current state of technology preservation and issues surrounding preserving old technology | 830 Kb |
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