Permanence in the Digital Era
We've all seen them at some point.
The cave paintings.
A relic from the past, famous for showcasing the instinct in human desire to be remembered.
Considered primal today, it makes me wonder: can we achieve something like this today?
Given how profit-driven and efficiency-motivated society is today, what will we contribute to the world, to our future generations?
Corporations? Skyscrapers? Shoddy infrastructure?
What will they point to, to be reminded of us today?
There's nothing more temporary than anything digital, with anything and everything needing constant maintenance, upkeep, improvement and upgrades. All to be replaced eventually.
If you'd have asked me 4 years ago, I'd have pointed you towards some kind of blockchain. An auditable record-book upheld by volunteers and contributors around the world.
As the Earth is consumed for minerals, valuables and other resources, future generations won't even be able to see the past how we did.
Anything we make today, we have to ensure will be compatible or legible by the technology of tomorrow. But how can we guarantee that at the pace we move at, even today?