B
Bill Yanaire
Can you imagine all of the posts generated here - Saved for hundreds of
years? Just think in 100 years, someone digging up all the rants, raves,
insults that we all throw around. Heaven help us now!
Here is the story in the Seattle paper from January of this year:
E-mail from the grave? Microsoft seeks patent on 'immortal computing'
By TODD BISHOP
P-I REPORTER
In this culture of instant information, some Microsoft Corp. researchers are
pursuing a radical notion -- the concept of saving messages for delivery in
decades, centuries or more.
The project, dubbed "immortal computing," would let people store digital
information in physical artifacts and other forms to be preserved and
revealed to future generations, and maybe even to future civilizations.
After all, when looking that far in the future, you never know who the end
users might be.
"It is definitely a long-term project," said Andy Wilson, the Microsoft
researcher whose musings on the ephemeral nature of digital information
inspired the research initiative.
One scenario the researchers envision: People could store messages to
descendants, information about their lives or interactive holograms of
themselves for access by visitors at their tombstones or urns.
And here's where the notion of immortality really kicks in: The researchers
say the artifacts could be symbolic representations of people, reflecting
elements of their personalities. The systems might be set up to take
action -- e-mailing birthday greetings to people identified as
grandchildren, for example.
The previously undisclosed project came to light through a newly surfaced
patent application in which the researchers explain some of the concepts
they're exploring. The project seeks to address the fact that large amounts
of valuable information are stored on media with limited life spans, in
formats that could be rendered obsolete. Consider how quickly floppy disks
disappeared.
But the researchers aren't just thinking about the informational legacies of
individuals.
"Maybe we should start thinking as a civilization about creating our Rosetta
stones now, along with lots of information, even going beyond personal
memories into civilization memories," said Eric Horvitz, a Microsoft
principal researcher who also is working on the project.
Where the project will end up isn't clear. In some cases, Microsoft Research
projects ultimately lead to products, or contribute to them, but in other
situations they don't. The researchers declined to say whether they have a
working prototype of an "immortal computing" artifact.
This is just one of multiple projects for each of the involved researchers.
But the patent application, filed in June 2005 and made public this month,
at least shows that they've given the concept of "immortal computing"
considerable thought.
Among other things, the filing describes the potential use of durable data
storage, such as advanced imaging techniques, to make sure the information
survives over time. One key will be to avoid storage devices that require
movable -- and potentially breakable -- internal parts.
The filing says the information could be retrieved through a separate
interface, independent of the individual artifact, in part to allow the
method of display to evolve with changing technology. People who store
information would be able to decide in advance when and to whom it would be
disclosed, using DNA or biometrics to confirm identity.
The application also cites the potential use of alternative energy, such as
thermal or inductive power, to run the interface.
The artifacts also would be designed to make the process of accessing the
information clear, in case those who discover them aren't sure just what to
do with these strange objects from the 21st century. Among other things, the
patent application cites the possibility of accompanying instructions, in
multiple languages or hieroglyphics.
In that way, the instructions would be "self-revealing," the researchers
say. The concept is similar to the symbolic instructions with the Golden
Record on board the Voyager spacecraft launched in the 1970s -- they gave
details on how to build a player for the record, which contained greetings
in various languages.
To be sure, the Microsoft researchers aren't the first to see the growing
need to preserve information in the digital age.
One existing online approach is called the Handle System. Launched more than
a decade ago, it assigns unique identifiers that, unlike traditional
Internet addresses, can be used to find online information and media even if
they're subsequently moved. The system grew out of the work of Bob Kahn, the
technology pioneer who was separately responsible for the system design of
the Arpanet, the forerunner to today's Internet.
"I'm delighted when anybody takes interest in this," Kahn said in an
interview last week, when asked about the Microsoft Research project. "More
and more information is being generated, and everybody, whether it's a
corporation or individual, from time to time wants to go back and find
something and they don't know where to look.
"I think there's a generic issue here that's really important for the
future," he added. However, he said, there's no reason that the Handle
System by itself can't be used to reference any type of informational
resource.
And the fact that Microsoft has applied for a patent could raise eyebrows in
the industry.
"I think it's great that they're pursuing it. If they feel like they have to
patent it in order to pursue it, I guess that's a business decision they
have to make," said Mark Anderson, publisher of the Strategic News Service
technology newsletter. "But I would hope they wouldn't try and do it in a
way which would preclude others doing the same thing."
The Microsoft researchers talked generally about their project, but the
company says it doesn't comment on pending patent applications, as a policy.
Anderson proposed a similar concept several years ago at one of his Future
in Review conferences, suggesting that someone offer an Internet storage and
communications service that people could use to pass along vital knowledge
to descendants, in a way that rarely happens today.
The Microsoft researchers say they also are interested in ways of preserving
information online, not just in artifacts. At the same time, researcher
Horvitz said, there's something to be said for keeping the information in
one place in some cases.
"The whole reason to go to a cemetery could be transformed," he said. "The
idea of a locus in physical space where this information exists ... makes
that much more of a meaningful location to actually travel to."
years? Just think in 100 years, someone digging up all the rants, raves,
insults that we all throw around. Heaven help us now!
Here is the story in the Seattle paper from January of this year:
E-mail from the grave? Microsoft seeks patent on 'immortal computing'
By TODD BISHOP
P-I REPORTER
In this culture of instant information, some Microsoft Corp. researchers are
pursuing a radical notion -- the concept of saving messages for delivery in
decades, centuries or more.
The project, dubbed "immortal computing," would let people store digital
information in physical artifacts and other forms to be preserved and
revealed to future generations, and maybe even to future civilizations.
After all, when looking that far in the future, you never know who the end
users might be.
"It is definitely a long-term project," said Andy Wilson, the Microsoft
researcher whose musings on the ephemeral nature of digital information
inspired the research initiative.
One scenario the researchers envision: People could store messages to
descendants, information about their lives or interactive holograms of
themselves for access by visitors at their tombstones or urns.
And here's where the notion of immortality really kicks in: The researchers
say the artifacts could be symbolic representations of people, reflecting
elements of their personalities. The systems might be set up to take
action -- e-mailing birthday greetings to people identified as
grandchildren, for example.
The previously undisclosed project came to light through a newly surfaced
patent application in which the researchers explain some of the concepts
they're exploring. The project seeks to address the fact that large amounts
of valuable information are stored on media with limited life spans, in
formats that could be rendered obsolete. Consider how quickly floppy disks
disappeared.
But the researchers aren't just thinking about the informational legacies of
individuals.
"Maybe we should start thinking as a civilization about creating our Rosetta
stones now, along with lots of information, even going beyond personal
memories into civilization memories," said Eric Horvitz, a Microsoft
principal researcher who also is working on the project.
Where the project will end up isn't clear. In some cases, Microsoft Research
projects ultimately lead to products, or contribute to them, but in other
situations they don't. The researchers declined to say whether they have a
working prototype of an "immortal computing" artifact.
This is just one of multiple projects for each of the involved researchers.
But the patent application, filed in June 2005 and made public this month,
at least shows that they've given the concept of "immortal computing"
considerable thought.
Among other things, the filing describes the potential use of durable data
storage, such as advanced imaging techniques, to make sure the information
survives over time. One key will be to avoid storage devices that require
movable -- and potentially breakable -- internal parts.
The filing says the information could be retrieved through a separate
interface, independent of the individual artifact, in part to allow the
method of display to evolve with changing technology. People who store
information would be able to decide in advance when and to whom it would be
disclosed, using DNA or biometrics to confirm identity.
The application also cites the potential use of alternative energy, such as
thermal or inductive power, to run the interface.
The artifacts also would be designed to make the process of accessing the
information clear, in case those who discover them aren't sure just what to
do with these strange objects from the 21st century. Among other things, the
patent application cites the possibility of accompanying instructions, in
multiple languages or hieroglyphics.
In that way, the instructions would be "self-revealing," the researchers
say. The concept is similar to the symbolic instructions with the Golden
Record on board the Voyager spacecraft launched in the 1970s -- they gave
details on how to build a player for the record, which contained greetings
in various languages.
To be sure, the Microsoft researchers aren't the first to see the growing
need to preserve information in the digital age.
One existing online approach is called the Handle System. Launched more than
a decade ago, it assigns unique identifiers that, unlike traditional
Internet addresses, can be used to find online information and media even if
they're subsequently moved. The system grew out of the work of Bob Kahn, the
technology pioneer who was separately responsible for the system design of
the Arpanet, the forerunner to today's Internet.
"I'm delighted when anybody takes interest in this," Kahn said in an
interview last week, when asked about the Microsoft Research project. "More
and more information is being generated, and everybody, whether it's a
corporation or individual, from time to time wants to go back and find
something and they don't know where to look.
"I think there's a generic issue here that's really important for the
future," he added. However, he said, there's no reason that the Handle
System by itself can't be used to reference any type of informational
resource.
And the fact that Microsoft has applied for a patent could raise eyebrows in
the industry.
"I think it's great that they're pursuing it. If they feel like they have to
patent it in order to pursue it, I guess that's a business decision they
have to make," said Mark Anderson, publisher of the Strategic News Service
technology newsletter. "But I would hope they wouldn't try and do it in a
way which would preclude others doing the same thing."
The Microsoft researchers talked generally about their project, but the
company says it doesn't comment on pending patent applications, as a policy.
Anderson proposed a similar concept several years ago at one of his Future
in Review conferences, suggesting that someone offer an Internet storage and
communications service that people could use to pass along vital knowledge
to descendants, in a way that rarely happens today.
The Microsoft researchers say they also are interested in ways of preserving
information online, not just in artifacts. At the same time, researcher
Horvitz said, there's something to be said for keeping the information in
one place in some cases.
"The whole reason to go to a cemetery could be transformed," he said. "The
idea of a locus in physical space where this information exists ... makes
that much more of a meaningful location to actually travel to."