​What is analogization?

​Analogization represents a counter-trend to the digitalization of our world. Through analogization, the digital becomes tangible and sustainable for humans. To understand the meaning behind analogization, we must first examine some key terms

​​Analogue is human-readable

​Since cavemen began painting images on rock walls, archaeologists and historians have been able to interpret this information without the need for tools, as it is human-readable. Similarly, stone tablets or ancient books, written in long-lost languages, are initially human-readable. Even if we cannot immediately understand the content, we at least have access to this data.

​Analog data

​​Humans perceive and process information in an analog manner. Consequently, data that is directly understandable by humans is referred to as analog data. By interpreting this data, we acquire information. Thus, data serves as a vehicle for information.

​Analog storage media

​The medium on which data is stored is called a data storage medium. Human-readable data storage media are a type of analog storage medium (magnetic tapes, VHS cassettes, and vinyl records are also analog, but here "analog" refers to the physical form of signal storage).

​Digital data

​Computers and machines capture and process information digitally. Machine-readable data is therefore called digital data.When we are able to interpret this data, we gain information. Digital data, in this simple sense, is merely a carrier of information.

​Digital storage media

​The medium on which data is stored is called a data storage medium. Computer-readable data storage media are referred to as digital data storage media. A comparison of the properties of different data storage media for long-term archiving can be found here.

​The challenge of managing digital documents

​The common approach in archives is to keep everything digital, scanning paper documents as necessary. This creates a heavy reliance on technology that can fail at any moment. Our video explores the challenges of preserving digital data in long-term storage.

​Short-term digital data storage

​Digitally stored data is typically immediately interpretable by software shortly after its creation (born digital). This allows data to be processed directly on a PC, sent, and displayed on a screen. The rapid access to information is convenient and possible worldwide. Large amounts of data can be stored very cheaply in a small space. Storage is reliable and the risk of data loss is very low. To access information, a compatible, functioning computer system is required (if the Windows computer is broken, a Mac may not be able to access the data without significant effort because Apple does not accept NTFS disk formatting, for example). The risk of data theft or unwanted hard drive encryption due to a cyberattack from the internet is high.

​Short-term analog data storage

​Analog data, once created, is typically human-readable for many decades. However, it cannot be directly processed, transmitted, or displayed on a computer screen. Accessing information is relatively slow compared to digital data and is typically limited to a physical location (compare searching an online library to a physical one). Analog storage media like books require significantly more space than a large computer with the capacity of an entire library. Therefore, analog storage is also comparatively expensive. Storage is reliable, and the risk of data loss is very low due to a gradual aging process. To access information from miniaturized media like microfilm, only a magnifying device and a light source are needed. The risk of data theft or unauthorized encryption due to cyberattacks is nonexistent.

​Long-term digital data storage

​To ensure that files and file formats remain interpretable by current programs in the future, they must be migrated regularly, i.e., adapted to the latest software standards. This process can be automated. However, even automated data migration requires manual oversight. A single corrupted bit can render an entire file and all its information unreadable. This process must be ongoing for all data and for the entire storage duration. If this process is interrupted, all information will eventually be lost. This makes the process both mandatory and unpredictable. Moreover, with each migration, the risk of complete data loss for any corrupted file increases. Additionally, the risk of data theft or accidental hard drive encryption due to a cyberattack remains high. Preserving information for 50, 100, 250, or 500 years is incredibly expensive, while the risk of total data loss is maximal. Who can decide today which data from our time will be of interest to future generations and which will not? And the digital data mountain is growing exponentially...

​Long-term analog data storage

​Data prepared for analog long-term archiving remains interpretable by humans for centuries after its creation. However, the data cannot be directly processed, transmitted, or displayed on a computer screen. Access to the information is relatively fast and only possible locally compared to digitally stored data (if it still exists). The space requirement of analog storage media for miniature formats such as microfilm is low for pure archiving purposes. With increasing storage duration, analog data storage is unbeatable cheap, as the archiving is energy-less. The storage is very reliable and the risk of information loss is extremely low, as there is a gradual aging process. To access information from miniaturized media such as microfilm, only a magnification apparatus and a light source are needed. The risk of information theft or unwanted data encryption by a cyber attack from the internet is non-existent.

​To ensure the long-term preservation of digitally stored information, it must be archived on an analog data carrier. The storage duration is thus solely dependent on the physical deterioration of the medium itself and not on complex decryption technologies to restore the readability of documents for human consumption. Additionally, analog data carriers are comparatively resistant to sudden, total loss of information. For optimal convenience, we recommend hybrid archiving!

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​Characteristics of analog media

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    ​High resist​ance to aging
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    Manageable handling requirements
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    Authenticity of reproduction
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    Machine-writable
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    Human-readable
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    Readable without power or during a blackout
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    Independent of technology for readability
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    Recognized for fulfilling evidentiary requirements
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    High forgery resistance
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    Gradual aging process
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    Possibility of interpretation in case of damage
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    Immune to digital encryption by Trojans
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    No risk of information theft during a hacker attack
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    No migration effort (time or money)
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    No risk of sudden, total loss of information
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    Calculable costs for long-term archiving
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    Climate-friendly due to energy-free storage
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    Proven for millennia in archives worldwide for the preservation of cultural heritage​​​​

​​Long-term data storage on paper

​Paper provides a durable solution for long-term storage of digital data. The archium magazine book "armaGETON" offers a storage capacity of up to 28,000 DIN A4 pages, including metadata and a table of contents, within a small archive box. Notably, this medium can preserve high-resolution digital photos for over 300 years.

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archium GmbH, Gera

​+49 365 855 038 25

kontakt@archium.org