X-Message-Number: 5541
Date: Fri, 5 Jan 1996 11:13:16 -0800 (PST)
From: Joseph Strout <>
Subject: Data Archive supplemental service?

In this message, I propose that cryonics organizations or some separate 

company offer perpetual archiving of data -- that is, storage of data 
indefinately.

Cryonics patients may suffer extensive loss of information in their 
brains.  It may be possible to repair or replace some of that loss/damage 
if supplemental information is available.  This could be writings, 
letters, projects, etc. of the patient, or writings of others to or about 
the patient.  Unfortunately, this information tends to become quickly 
lost after death, especially when kept in electronic form.

We would do well to establish a data archive for each patient, where we 
would store as much information as possible until such time as the 
patient can be revived.  Others (non-cryonicists) may also have needs for 
long-term data storage as well.

For these reasons, I suggest that either a cryonics organization add 
long-term data archiving as a supplementary service (if available to 
non-cryonicists, this might form a nice extra source of income, as well 
as spread awareness of cryonics), or perhaps a small independent 
organization should be founded.  Data should be stored in a way that is 
relatively safe from loss due to physical destruction or technological 
obsolescence.  I would suggest CD-ROMs stored in a vault, along with a 
simple computer reader and printed, laminated instructions on how the CD 
and reader work.  In addition to this precaution, of course, the data 
should be updated to new media whenever the current medium is no longer 
supported.  Data would be mostly text, images, and sound, which could be 
stored in well-defined file formats.

The overhead for such an enterprise would be very small; a profit could be
easily made on a minor monthly fee (a few dollars per disk), or from
interest on a larger initial payment. 

If an independent company is formed (or already exists), the cryonics 
organizations should prepare "deals" by which they act as intermediary 
for their patients, and reserve the right to retrieve the data as needed 
for a patient's well-being.

Comments?

,------------------------------------------------------------------.
|    Joseph J. Strout           Department of Neuroscience, UCSD   |
|               http://www-acs.ucsd.edu/~jstrout/  |
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