Can it be counterfeited? To minimize the possibility of dissemination of a corrupted or falsified VTC, the VTC package will include a digest (a digital summary) signed by my private key. I will post my public key and the digest with the VTC package so that you can all check the integrity of the package. For more details on this technology read about public key cryptography.
What you can do? Contribute files to the VTC smaller than 1 megabyte in size.
Before the party: Send me your files by email. If you wish to have attribution, include a text file describing how you want to be attributed (e.g. name, pseudonym, address etc).
During the party: Drop off diskettes or Zip disks with your files.
Goal: To carry snippets of our lives a thousand years forward.
Why virtual? Only pieces of text, pictures, video in digital format will be accepted. That's all I have space for. RealSpace™ is too expensive. The resulting package of submissions from all guests to the party will be bundled and stored on a website in a single package. In addition, a time-lapse video of the party as recorded by the y2kcam will be appended to the package.
How will it last? Digital media are very short lived. Especially compared to analog media such as acid-free paper. However, everyone will be welcome to make copies of the time capsule by downloading it from this page (where it will appear a month after the party). By creating successive copies using different storage formats, the guests and their descendants will be able to keep this capsule readable and available. Enough of my friends are packrats that I am confident that copies will endure way beyond their meaning.
Accepted file types:
ASCII (plain text ** Preferred format)
