CAREER: Self-Preserving Digital Objects

数字保存的主流模式是，档案应该类似于堡垒：一个大型的保护性基础设施，以保护相对较小的数据集合免受外部力量的攻击。如果数据对象没有绑定到存储库，我们是否可以创建比存储库或web基础设施更有效地保存自己的对象？该项目将在以下几个领域推进数字保存的科学和工程：复杂的数字对象元数据格式、web对象设计、P2P算法、自动格式迁移和对象存储库交互。一些领域，如格式迁移服务和迁移首选语言将是新的贡献。其他领域将是新的适应、整合和部署问题。该提案的技术亮点包括：i)对数字图书馆（dl）中的数据对象采用群集规则，从而允许从少量简单，易于实现的规则中生成归档数据对象的复杂紧急行为。ii)根据创建时指定的首选项，使数据对象负责转换和翻译自己的数据。数据对象将依赖于暂态的、网络可访问的服务，这些服务不附加到存储库。iii)在自我保存的数字对象、存储库和一般网络中创建具有真实内容的保存测试平台。更广泛的影响在许多方面，创造和整合自我保护所需的技术将是直截了当的；将人们的期望从被动的数字对象提高到自我保护的数字对象将是最大的挑战。出于这个原因，一系列关于一般保存和自我保存数字对象的纵向实验将被整合到旧道明大学的四年本科计算机科学课程中。将强调保存和软件工程之间的互补关系。内容会引起学生的兴趣，从而避免无精打采、敷衍了事的参与。其中一个例子包括保留学生们非常愿意保留的旧测试、作业和项目内容的副本。这种保存（数字或非数字）已经在某种程度上由兄弟会和其他记忆组织执行。这一进程将以适当的信息技术工具编纂和民主化。学生们报告的经验将被纳入保存软件的未来版本。

The prevailing model for digital preservation is that archives should be similar to a fortress: a large, protective infrastructure to protect a relatively small collection of data from attack by external forces. If data objects were not tethered to repositories, can we create objects that preserve themselves more effectively than repositories or web infrastructure can?Intellectual MeritThis project will advance the science and engineering of digital preservation in several areas: complex digital object metadata formats, web object design, P2P algorithms, automatic format migration and object repository interaction. Some areas, such as the format migration services and migration preference language will be new contributions. Other areas will be a matter of novel adaptation, integration and deployment. Technical highlights of this proposal include:i) Adopting flocking rules for data objects in digital libraries (DLs), thus allowing complex emergent behavior of the archived data objects from a small number of simple, easily implemented rules. ii) Making data objects responsible for the conversion and translation of their own holdings according to preferences that were specifed at creation time. The data objects will rely on transient, network-accessible services that are not attached to repositories. iii) Creating a preservation testbed with real content in self-preserving digital objects, repositories, and in the general web.Broader ImpactsIn many ways, creating and integrating the technology necessary for self-preservation will be straight-forward; raising peoples' expectations from passive digital objects to self-preserving digital objects will be the biggest challenge. For this reason, a series of longitudinal experiments about preservation in general as well as self-preserving digital objects will be integrated across the four-year undergraduate computer science curriculum at Old Dominion University. The complimentary relationship between preservation and software engineering will be stressed. The content will be of interest to students, thereby avoiding listless, perfunctory participation. One example will include preserving copies of old tests, assignments and projects content the students will be highly motivated to preserve. This kind of preservation (digital or nondigital) is already performed to some extent by fraternities and other memory organizations. This process will be codified and democratized with the appropriate information technology tools. The experiences reported by the students will be incorporated into future versions of the preservation software.