Using Emulation for the Provision of Multimedia Objects

Continuous technological change is threatening the long term preservation of the content and functionality of digital objects for scientists and researchers. For complex interactive multimedia objects (e.g. multimedia objects, digital works of art, scientific simulations) and the related exacting user demands for authentic provision, the emulation process is much more suitable than migration as a preservation and provision strategy. A great deal of research has already been carried out on migration and it is included as a separate module by a number of preservation repositories, whereas only limited practical experience has been gained in using emulation to provide digital archival objects to users as part of the services of memory institutions. The main aim of the project, therefore, is to evaluate the proposals and components developed in previous emulation research projects, to assess their practicability and to optimise them with in-house developments for the purpose of creating a system which is perfectly adapted to the needs of the memory institutions and their users. Standardised interfaces to research and long-term preservation systems plus a high degree of user-friendliness should help to ensure that the resulting system can be re-used by interested institutions.
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