How do we pass on information in a technological age? What will future generations remember us by? It is part of human nature to share stories, history, skills and ideas, and how we transfer that information is constantly changing. In the same way that rock music was loathed by so many parents and Elvis’ dance moves were considered risqué for the time, taking notes on a phone or reading books on a screen can be an ever-changing platform for judgement and criticism. There is a lot of accessible information, and one of the crucial roles of a librarian is to reserve personal judgement, get educated, and dive into uncharted waters, and learn to instruct others on how to best utilize and store this information.
It is important to know history to recognize common trends and understand what is valuable valued. In addition, it helps in understanding how to take care of resources and evaluate what data is worth storing at all. With so much data available, and storage space consistently growing, how do we understand what is worth holding onto and how to hold onto it?
The New York Times article focuses on the vulnerability of data. It also mentioned a Ted Talk http://www.ted.com/talks/amber_case_we_are_all_cyborgs_now.html, where anthropologist Amber Case discusses peoples’ identities are being redefined by their technological “second self”: the technological side of oneself defined by avatars, Facebook pages, and comment postings. It is no wonder that data storage is such an important aspect to consider when studying information science. With technology expanding daily, and people’s connection to technology ever increasing, perhaps the key to holding on to our past and understanding our cultures depends on having a solid and reliable back-up drive.
References
Cochano, Carina. “The Dilemma of Being a Cyborg.” The New York Times, 27 Jan. 2012,http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/magazine/what-happen...(accessed Jan. 1, 2012).
Amber Case: We are all cyborgs now. TED: Ideas Worth Spreading.http://www.ted.com/talks/amber_case_we_are_all_cyborgs...(accessed Jan. 1, 2012).
It is important to know history to recognize common trends and understand what is valuable valued. In addition, it helps in understanding how to take care of resources and evaluate what data is worth storing at all. With so much data available, and storage space consistently growing, how do we understand what is worth holding onto and how to hold onto it?
The New York Times article focuses on the vulnerability of data. It also mentioned a Ted Talk http://www.ted.com/talks/amber_case_we_are_all_cyborgs_now.html, where anthropologist Amber Case discusses peoples’ identities are being redefined by their technological “second self”: the technological side of oneself defined by avatars, Facebook pages, and comment postings. It is no wonder that data storage is such an important aspect to consider when studying information science. With technology expanding daily, and people’s connection to technology ever increasing, perhaps the key to holding on to our past and understanding our cultures depends on having a solid and reliable back-up drive.
References
Cochano, Carina. “The Dilemma of Being a Cyborg.” The New York Times, 27 Jan. 2012,http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/magazine/what-happen...(accessed Jan. 1, 2012).
Amber Case: We are all cyborgs now. TED: Ideas Worth Spreading.http://www.ted.com/talks/amber_case_we_are_all_cyborgs...(accessed Jan. 1, 2012).