Changes between Version 2 and Version 3 of NYSRFPC122807

Timestamp:

Jan 8, 2008 10:36:42 PM (5 years ago)

Author:

dkg

Comment:

--

NYSRFPC122807

@@ -99 +99 @@
 > exchange, preservation and disposal)?
 
+Free formats, standards, and tools preserve the integrity of electronic records, and enable verifiable disposal.
+
+When the underlying technologies are unencumbered by any restrictive vendor-applied rules, it becomes much easier to keep data up-to-date, and to be certain that destroyed data is actually destroyed.
+
+If you want to ensure that records can be kept up-to-date, again choosing free formats, standards, and tools helps you to make changes and negotiate between vendors.
+
+Similarly with record disposal.  Only unfettered, transparent access to your systems can verify that no traces of the record remain.  While i don't expect complete destruction of records to be a high priority for most government tasks, it is extremely important in some cases.  For example, court-ordered destruction of data gathered by unconstitutional methods should be verifiable.
+
 = Data preservation =
 > 7. How should the State address the long term preservation of its
 > electronic records? What should the State consider regarding public
 > access to such archived content?
+
+Free formats, standards, and tools make it easier to transfer any electronic records to new media, and ensure that the government and the public of the future will be able to interpret the data.  Can you read a Lotus 123 spreadsheet on your computer today?  Can you read an old ASCII text file?  The free ASCII format is much more accessible in the future. Similarly, choosing UTF-8 and the Open Document Format today will give a better shot for the readers of tomorrow. 
+
+Preserving data for your own future consumption is very similar to sending data to a relatively-sophisticated party with whom you only have one-way communications.  Remember that you don't have any way of knowing if the particular operating system, interface, or libraries are available to your future self.  If you want that remote party to be able to understand your data, you are better off using well-documented, freely-available tools and formats.  
 
 = Specific statute changes =