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Just Because It's Digital Doesn't Mean Its Forever

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Oct 22, 2009 1:31 pm US/Eastern

Just Because It's Digital Doesn't Mean Its Forever

Reporting
Paula Ebben

BOSTON (WBZ) ―

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Natalie Norman loves looking at old photos and other special memories from her childhood. "I even have some grades from elementary school and high school," she said.

She doesn't worry about torn photographs or yellowed newspaper clippings because she stores them on memory cards, CDs or thumb drives.

Digital storage is certainly better than a dusty box in the attic, but experts warn just because it's digital doesn't mean it's forever. "You can't assume just because I'm using it today, it's going to be useable five years from now, let alone 10 or 50 years from now," explained technology expert Adam Jensen.

Tips On Digital Picture Storage

A perfect example is floppy discs. It would be tough to find a computer these days that can read a floppy disc. Many new laptop computers don't even have a space to put a CD. "Every two to five years, technology changes in a revolutionary way, something new, faster, something bolder comes out," Jensen said.

If you are storing digitally, you need to keep in mind how long the actual disc or drive will last. CD's can be damaged by heat and they can corrode over time. Then your pictures are gone forever.

There isn't really one simple solution, but you can protect your memories. "The first step is making sure that you have multiple copies and that they are stored in different locations," Jensen explained. You also want to copy them on different kinds of media. Put pictures on a CD and a memory stick and make sure you stay on top of changes in technology. "See what's out there every once in a while and keep track of that and upgrade your technology along the way," he said.

For Natalie, it's a whole new way of thinking. "It's something I'm trying to get used to," she said.

There are online storage services that will keep your photos and documents for a fee, but there's no guarantee those will be around in 50 years either.