Universal Virtual Computer (UVC)
The concept of the Universal Virtual Computer (UVC) was developed by Raymond Lorie. It uses elements of both migration and emulation which allows digital objects to be reconstituted in their original form.
The UVC concept consists of the UVC itself, a logical data scheme with type description, the UVC program (format decoder) and the logical data viewer.
Articles
| Books
| Events
| Organisations and Websites
| Online tutorial
| Policies, Strategies & Guidelines
| Projects and Case Studies
| Bibliographies
| Glossaries
| Journals & Newsletters
| Discussion Lists
| Surveys
| Tools
| Evaluations
-

Digital Preservation and Permanent Access : the UVC for Images
Oltmans, Erik; van Wijngaarden, Hilde
(Date Created: 2004)
(Netherlands)
- This paper describes the extension of the e-Depot at the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, the National Library of the Netherlands. Two components of the preservation subsystem, the Preservation Manager and the Universal Virtual Computer (UVC) for images are covered in detail. The Preservation Manager monitors the technical environment required to render stored digital objects. The UVC offers a method for permanent access to images, with the future aim being to support PDF for the long term.
- http://www.kb.nl/hrd/dd/dd_links_en_publicaties/publicaties/uvc-ist.pd
f
-

Digital Preservation Testbed White Paper : Emulation : Context and Current Status
Digital Preservation Testbed
(Date Created: Jun 2003)
- This paper provides a detailed analysis of emulation as a means of digital preservation. It includes information about the background, context and use of emulation in digital preservation as well as a summary of current knowledge and research. The analysis concludes that "emulation is the only solution to digital preservation proposed so far that offers a way of preserving a digital record in its original form". While recognising the need to resolve some significant issues, the analysis identifies the potential low cost of emulation, its universality and ability to preserve the inherent aspects of digital originals as factors recommending the pursuit of emulation as a preservation strategy.
- http://www.digitaleduurzaamheid.nl/bibliotheek/docs/White_paper_emulat
ion_UK.pdf
-

Long-Term Archiving of Digital Information
Lorie, Raymond A.
(Date Created: 2000)
Reviewed by: Project on Preservation of Digital Data
- In the full IBM Research Report, available as a PDF file, Raymond A. Laurie, of the IBM Research Division, proposes strategies for maintaining accessibility to both archived data files and archived program behaviours, based on the use of a Universal Virtual Computer.
- http://domino.watson.ibm.com/library/CyberDig.nsf/7d11afdf5c7cda948525
66de006b4127/be2a2b188544df2c8525690d00517082
-

Project on Preservation of Digital Data
Lorie, Raymond A.
In: RLG DigiNews
(Date Created: Jun 2001)
- This paper, by an IBM researcher, reviews the challenges of preserving access to digital information, and after discussing conversion and emulation approaches, proposes a new approach to archiving data and program behaviour. The approach relies on development of a Universal Virtual Computer (UVC), allowing either the writing of methods to interpret an archived data stream, or specification of the way a program's original operating computer functioned. The IBM Almaden Research Center is involved in a joint project with the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, the National Library of the Netherlands, to evaluate the feasibility of a UVC solution for some specific data formats.
- http://digitalarchive.oclc.org/da/ViewObjectMain.jsp?fileid=0000070519
:000006287672&reqid=15674#feature2
- Trustworthy 100-Year Digital Objects : Durable Encoding for When It's Too Late to Ask
Gladney, Henry
(Last Updated: 20 Oct 2004)
- This document, the second in the "Trustworthy 100-Year Digital Objects" series, discusses the technical challenges of digital preservation and then presents a potential solution for issues of technology obsolescence. The author proposes that a method of durable encoding will provide a solution superior to transformative migration and preservation emulation. A technical discussion on the encoding and packaging of Trustworthy Digital Objects (TDOs) and the use of Universal Virtual Computer (UVC) coding and emulators ensues.
- http://eprints.erpanet.org/archive/00000007/
-

UVC : a Method for Preserving Digital Documents - Proof of Concept
Lorie, Raymond
(Date Created: 2002)
(Netherlands)
- In 2002 Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB) commissioned Raymond Lorie to produce the following report, a proof-of-concept for the Universal Virtual Computer – a combined emulation/migration approach to preserving a certain class of digital objects. PDF format was selected because it is the primary format for electronic publications stored in KB’s Digital Information Archiving System (DIAS). The report is the fourth in the IBM/KB Long-Term Study series.
- http://www.kb.nl/hrd/dd/dd_onderzoek/reports/4-uvc.pdf
-

UVC for Images
Koninklijke Bibliotheek
(Date Created: 2004)
(Netherlands)
- The UVC for JPEG is a follow-up for the 'proof of concept' of the UVC for PDF carried out in 2002. This operational tool enables permanent, platform independent access for JPEG images, regardless of future technological changes. The tool may be used to store other file types, such as PDF, but with reduced functionality, with only an image of the material being preserved. It is planned that this approach will be extended to TIFF and eventually to native PDF.
- http://www.kb.nl/hrd/dd/dd_onderzoek/uvc_voor_images-en.html
- Dutch version available at: http://www.kb.nl/hrd/dd/dd_onderzoek/uvc_voor_images.html
Top
Organisations and Websites
|
-

KB/IBM Long Term Preservation Study
Koninklijke Bibliotheek
(Regularly Updated)
(Netherlands)
- This website documents the Koninklijke Bibliotheek's Long Term Preservation Study, which was undertaken as part of the Project Depot van Nederlandse Elektronische Publicaties (DNEP) in association with IBM. The Study, which ran from November 2000 to December 2001, examined issues relating to the long term preservation of digital objects, particularly as they impact upon the DNEP (the KB's deposit system for electronic materials which is currently under construction). In December 2002 six reports describing the results of the study were published - The Long-Term Preservation Study of the DNEP Project - an Overview of the Results ; Authenticity in a Digital Environment ; Preservation Requirements in a Deposit System ; The UVC: a Method for Preserving Digital Documents – Proof of Concept ; Managing Media Migration in a Deposit System ; Archiving Web Publications. All are available from the website.
- http://www.kb.nl/hrd/dd/dd_onderzoek/dnep_ltp_study-en.html
- Reports also available from the IBM website - http://www-5.ibm.com/nl/dias/preservation.html
Top
Policies, Strategies & Guidelines
|
- Technical Description of the Universal Virtual Computer (UVC) : Data Preservation Process for Spreadsheets
Testbed Digitale Bewaring
(Date Created: Jan 2005)
- This article discusses the technical specifications for a UVC for spreadsheets. Also discussed are the preconditions that should be met if a LDD (Logical Data Description) for spreadsheets is to be interpreted correctly.
- http://www.digitaleduurzaamheid.nl/bibliotheek/docs/TDUVCv1.pdf
- Version 1
Top
Projects and Case Studies
|
- Digital Asset Preservation Tool
IBM
(Date Created: Nov 2004)
- This IBM Alphaworks website which features emerging technologies also has a section on a proof-of-concept demonstration of the Universal Virtual Computer (UVC) solution that provides long-term access to JPEG and GIF87a files. The UVC demonstration tool is available for download at the Alphaworks web site.
- http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/uvc
Top
Related Topics: Emulation | Encapsulation
| Migration
Broader Topic:
Digital preservation strategies
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA, Canberra, ACT 2600, AUSTRALIA
Telephone + 61 2 6262 1111; Facsimile +61 2 6257 1703; Telephone Typewriter
Number: 1800 026 372
|