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The only problem with archival that would make physical books superior is after civilization collapse that destroys the supply chain for computing devices. Not
by zzalpha 12y ago
The only problem with archival that would make physical books superior is after civilization collapse that destroys the supply chain for computing devices.
Not at all. Technology is fundamentally opaque, non-durable, and transitory. Hell, just try finding something to read a 5 1/4" floppy disk, assuming the magnetic tracks are still intact. And that's only, what, 25-30 years ago? Imagine what it'll be like in a hundred.
Archivists have struggled with this exact problem. Digital data is so ephemeral... how do you persist it? There's been research into more durable forms of storage that might still be accessible, but in the end it's tough to beat physically etching something into stone or writing it on paper or vellum.