Microsoft's "Immortal Computing" Project

SeenOnSlash writes "Microsoft is working on a project they call 'immortal computing' which would let people store digital information in durable physical artifacts and other forms to be preserved and revealed to future generations, and maybe even to future civilizations. The artifacts would be designed to make the process of accessing the information clear with instructions in multiple languages or hieroglyphics. In one possible use, messages for descendants or interactive holograms might be stored on tombstones. The project was revealed when their patent application recently became public."

Comments

misread title

[pimpimpim]

Did anyone else also read 'immoral computing'? :)

Re:misread title

[Weirdbro]

Microsoft's been work on that one for a long time.

Re:misread title

[blowdart]

I believe the internet has enough prior art to make immoral computing unpatentable.

(But dear it's "art". Honestly. Pass the tissues)

Re:misread title

[bitt3n]

'Immortal computing' must be a euphemism for the fact that eventually all Windows machines turn into zombies.

yeah, I went there

[macadamia_harold]

Microsoft is working on a project they call 'immortal computing'

As far as projects like this are concerned, there can be only one.

tombstone

[mbaudis]

in tombstones? i start to understand the vision behind the zune ...

Jurassic Sparc anyone?

[Half a dent]

Have your PC encased in a block of amber so your descendants can marvel at how primitive our coding was.

This is Microsoft we're talking about

[tehSpork]

"The artifacts would be designed to make the process of accessing the information clear with instructions in multiple languages or hieroglyphics"

This is Microsoft we're talking about, their idea of clear seems to be a bit muddy at best. Besides, doesn't Windows already come with unintelligible hieroglyphics, otherwise known as "error messages?"

Re:A bit rich

[MichaelSmith]

They can sell upgrades to the dead.

pun intended

[macadamia_harold]

They can sell upgrades to the dead.

When dealing with the dead, it's really more of a service.

Re:pun intended

[A_Non_Moose]

When dealing with the dead, it's really more of a service.

True, but with Dead Restriction Management in place, it hopefully stays one way.

(from behind the poster: BRRRAAAAAAAAaaaiiiinsss)

Whooops, missed one.

Hubris?

[kubrick]

"My name is Ray Ozziemandias, king of kings:
Look on my document formats, ye mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains: round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

(with abject apologies to P.B. Shelley.)

10,000 years in the future

[TrappedByMyself]

"How interesting. This ancient culture seemed to communicate solely by using images of nude females."

Hi There!

[IchBinEinPenguin]

It looks like you are tring to decypher this ancient artefact!

I can see it now...

[maadlucas]

2000 years later...

Archaeologist A: Wow! A graveyard from the early 21st century, and it's perfectly preserved!

Archaeologist B: An awesom find!

A: I can't begin to imagine how much we can learn from this...

B: Yeah... oh look! This one has a kind of primitive digital inscription!

A: Can you activate it?

B: Reconfiguring my power source now... ah yes...

A: What is it?

B: A strange message..

A: What?

B: "This gravestone has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down. Would you like to tell Microsoft about this problem?"

A: Who is Microsoft?

Re:I can see it now...

[chord.wav]

Or:
- "Hi there, I'm a Nigerian prince and I have something important to tell you: Buy V14GRA at the lowest rates and enlarge your pennis. 100% guaranteed!"

Re:Yuh huh...

[grand_it]

More importantly, what we find interesting today, might be totally worthless to people in the future, while stuff we consider useless and boring could be immensely valuable.

John?
John Titor?
Is it you?