Fragile data
In the same way that stubbing your little toe seems to interrupt the whole nervous system, a fingerprint on a CD will disrupt your day.
When we first started experimenting with optical data, the disk seemed miraculous. I can remember my supervisor throwing them around the classroom; a proof of concept. Here we had portable data storage that would change our lives for the better. No more boxes of diskettes to install a program (while we waited for the inevitable failure to read on #37 out of 50). The data CD, with its aluminum substrate was invincible.
Not so much, now that we have DVD burners and cheap piles of media. If I can “burn” a disk and then read it again on another machine, I have to use handling methods more appropriate for corneal tissue. Forget stuffing the disk in a backpack pocket; the data will be beyond recall.
I suppose we can’t blame the “industry”. We wanted cheap, disposible media and they delivered on the demand. Look at how many other segments of the economy are following the model. Check out your new car. Don’t touch the bumper, or expect the fancy little wheel caps to remain. Not part of the deal.
Never open your iPod. Despite the kits that are available for the do-it-yourselfer, the resultant obligation to close up the shell using duct tape will not amaze your friends. Don’t wash that colourfast red t-shirt with anything else. As for the “best before” date on yogurt, consider it as one of life’s little mysteries.
