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Microsoft's "Immortal Computing" Project

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the beyond-the-grave dept.

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."

11 of 316 comments (clear)

  1. misread title by pimpimpim · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    --
    molmod.com - computing tips from a molecular modeling
    1. Re:misread title by blowdart · · Score: 5, Funny

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

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

  2. yeah, I went there by macadamia_harold · · Score: 5, Funny

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

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

    --
    Push Button, Receive Bacon
  3. A bit rich by turing_m · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is from the company whose business model is built around proprietary document formats - the sole purpose of which is to lock users into a never-ending upgrade cycle.

    --
    If I have seen further it is by stealing the Intellectual Property of giants.
    1. Re:A bit rich by MichaelSmith · · Score: 5, Funny

      They can sell upgrades to the dead.

      --
      http://michaelsmith.id.au
  4. Yuh huh... by Greyfox · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They can't even manage to preserve "digital artifacts" between two different versions of Word, much less forever. If you want to preserve a document forever post it in plain text on the Internet and hope that other people find value in it. You can still find 20-year old documents from the BBS era on the Internet because people found value in them and kept reposting them. And none of those documents are in a proprietary document format!

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

    1. Re:Yuh huh... by grand_it · · Score: 5, Funny
      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?

  5. Hubris? by kubrick · · Score: 5, Funny
    "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.)
    --
    deus does not exist but if he does
  6. Re:What do you wish YOUR ancestors recorded for yo by CmdrGravy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Good question and I think it depends on the number of generations they are removed from me, the information I'd like my parents to store is much different to the information I'd like a Great Great Great Great Granparent to store for me. This is assuming there is a limit to the amount of data they can preserve into the future.

    With the more ancient relatives I'd be more interested in the day to day trivia of their lives since their lives would quite likely be very different from the life I'm used to but the more recent relatives I'd like to know more about their relationships between other branches of my family. For everyone I'd like some insight into any large decisions they have made, e.g. going to war or whatever.

    I often wander to what extent my perception of the past is influenced by black and white photographs or grainy footage, it's strange that when I see some of the very rare pioneering colour film from the Edwardian period it seems a lot easier to relate to as the past being a real place than it does in black and white and I wonder what effect this will have on our ancestors as they view our lives today in full colour.

  7. I can see it now... by maadlucas · · Score: 5, Funny

    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?

    1. Re:I can see it now... by chord.wav · · Score: 5, Funny

      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!"