--------------------------------------------------------------- | Domesday Preservation Group | ---------------------------------------------------------------
A selection of frequently asked questions are answered below.
General
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Who are the Domesday Preservation Group ?
The Domesday Preservation Group is made up of volunteers who have an interest in preserving our digital heritage.
Why the Domesday Project ?
The Domesday Project represents one of the most significant technical achievements in the 20th century. The Domesday project was the first large scale user generated content project, the first multi-media project and one of the largest collections of data for its time. Not only did the Domesday project achieve a number of technical firsts it also has significant historical and cultural value recording life in the 1980's.
I was one of the people who contributed can I see my work somewhere ?
Unfortunately the domesday project has not been available for many years and now the only place you will be able to see your contribution will be in specialist archives and museums that maintain a working example of the original system.
Isn't there are a modern PC or on-line version of Domesday ?
No, sadly the Domesday project has only ever been supplied in the original LaserDisc format and despite a couple of projects that aimed to make at least some of the data available on a modern computer or on-line neither are available to see by the public.
Why has the Domesday Project disappeared into obscurity ?
The reason that the Domesday project has disappeared into obscurity is in part due to speed of technology change has made the original system obsolete. However technology advances were not the only reason, the BBC lost interest in multimedia shortly after the release of the Domesday Project and the unit was disbanded.
Why don't the BBC make the Domesday system available on-line ?
There are a number of reasons that the BBC has not made the Domesday system available on-line. The project was produced long before there were any standards in computer technology making it difficult to convert for use on newer systems. Much of the original source material that could have been used to produce new versions of the project have been lost. Clearly the BBC did not consider how important the project would be at the time otherwise they would have saved the Source Code, 35mm slides and data tapes.
But I contributed the the project why can't I see it ?
As well as the technical issues that have made it difficult to convert the system to work on modern equipment copyright issues have prevented the system from being made available to the public.
Why bother when there much better resources on-line now ?
While much of the information contained on the National Disc can be found on the internet the Domesday Community Disc contains a unique insight into life in the 1980's that will provide an invaluable history of Britain for the future.