Preservation and security…

I think that there are a few ways to preserve your data for the future.  One principle that I follow in many areas that require thorough record keeping – or attention to detail – is the principle of redundancy.  Redundancy is not a bad thing in those contexts, because keeping many copies of the same document can help ensure preservation is successful.  To have many saved copies of documents, and to use any cloud-based services will help keep your documents safe in case of machine failure (or other catastrophe).

In order to ensure the opposite effect – destroying sensitive material when necessary – I would use the reverse of the same principle: keep as few copies as possible.  And to add to the security and safety of the document, I would also say that it should be encrypted.  So, even if you lose track of the document or have it stolen, the information is still (relatively) safe.

Actually, both my points about document preservation have basis in the subject of security.  I mentioned before that redundancy is a principle that I follow in many areas, and security is one of those areas.  It is generally understood that there is no foolproof system for ensuring absolute security.  However, if you use multiple redundant systems then if one system is broken the next will continue to uphold security.  And the encryption of (sensitive) documents is generally good practice for anyone, even those without confidential research materials.

Another idea to keep in mind with preservation of research methods is what I mentioned in class in regards to references.  Using too many contemporary references can make your paper more difficult to understand for a future audience.  You should be tailor your references and ideas to be understood by people in any context, not just those who you would assume have the same level of cultural understanding as you.  I remember in high school when we were studying Hamlet, and I encountered this quote:

Such dear concernings hide? Who would do so?

No, in despite of sense and secrecy,

Unpeg the basket on the house’s top.

Let the birds fly, and like the famous ape,

To try conclusions, in the basket creep 

(Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 4, Line 195-199)

I went to the footnotes of my text, and I found that this reference to the "famous ape" is completely lost to a modern audience.  No one has any idea what Shakespeare is referring to in this quote, because this parable has not survived.  This means that we cannot form any real conclusions about what Shakespeare is actually saying in this quote.  There might be some great sub-textual meaning, but without the original reference, we will never know.  (My theory is that, since Shakespeare also liked to create new words, he created this reference "out of thin air" just to confuse us).