Sample 2: Disposal of Software and Data
What happens to software when it is deleted from a hard disk or floppy? Where does it go? It is just released into the atmosphere, invisible to the human eye.
Because the software has been on the magnetic surface of a disk, it is slightly magnetised and it tends to stick to ferrous metals, where it causes corrosion.
Some of the software deleted from one computer can find its way into another computer, for example through a leaking network cable. This then is the unlicensed and unregistered software, which the user doesn't know anything about and which can cause all kinds of trouble. If a software audit is done on a computer and if unlicensed software is found, it is very difficult to proof that this software has never been installed and that it just has crept in.
If software is exposed to sunshine and rain for some time, it gradually breaks up into smaller particles. And again, some of these software particles can find their way into other computer systems and do a lot of damage. These software particles are generally known as viruses.
What can be done to prevent these damages? Is there a better way than just deleting old and unused software?
Software consists of bytes and bits, like our environment consists of molecules and atoms. Rather than simply deleting old software, it should be decomposed. There are two ways of doing this: decomposing into bytes and decomposing into bits.
If software is decomposed into bytes, 256 boxes are required to collect the bytes, because there are 256 different types of bytes. If software is decomposed into bits, the process of dismantling is more labour-intensive, but only two boxes are required to collect the "0" bits and the "1" bits.
Once the boxes are full, they can be sold off to software-houses and developers for recycling into new software. There might be a problem in selling off bytes, because it is possible to end up with more bytes, for example bytes representing the letter "Q", than the market demands. On the other hand there might be a shortage of, for example, bytes representing the letter "e". It is easier to sell bits, because all types of bytes can be recreated from bits.
The software-house or developer has to decide, whether the second-hand bits and bytes can still be used. Slightly worn bits and bytes can still be used in new software, especially in functions and routines that are not used very often. Only totally worn out bits and bytes should be disposed off in a safe way, similar to atomic waste. (Sometimes these worn out bits and bytes can be found on boot fairs; be very careful and do not buy these!)
Newer versions of Windows provide a recycle bin, which makes it easier to collect old and unused software. But unfortunately the instructions for using the recycle bin are not very clear. Never put old data into the recycle bin, because that will make the sorting and recycling more difficult. And only empty the recycle bin, when an approved vacuum cleaner with a bit-tight bag is attached to the computer. Specialist companies offer services to collect these bags and then sort, dismantle and recycle the contents.
Old data should be moved to a free space on the hard disk, and then be used to build new data. It is difficult to say when data bits and bytes are too worn to be used for new data. Generally data bits and bytes should be disposed off when they start to produce errors.
The process of collecting and dismantling old data bits and bytes is similar to that for old software. But worn out data bits can still be used for recycling into toner for laser printers (the "0" bits for creating the white dots and the "1" bits for creating the black dots on the paper).
Software and data pollution is already becoming a problem in several parts of the world. Although research in this area only started a short time ago, there is some concern that bits and bytes might be toxic and could cause severe brain damage. Proper dismantling and recycling of old software and data rather than simply deleting it will help to reduce this problem and keep the environment clean.
Because the software has been on the magnetic surface of a disk, it is slightly magnetised and it tends to stick to ferrous metals, where it causes corrosion.
Some of the software deleted from one computer can find its way into another computer, for example through a leaking network cable. This then is the unlicensed and unregistered software, which the user doesn't know anything about and which can cause all kinds of trouble. If a software audit is done on a computer and if unlicensed software is found, it is very difficult to proof that this software has never been installed and that it just has crept in.
If software is exposed to sunshine and rain for some time, it gradually breaks up into smaller particles. And again, some of these software particles can find their way into other computer systems and do a lot of damage. These software particles are generally known as viruses.
What can be done to prevent these damages? Is there a better way than just deleting old and unused software?
Software consists of bytes and bits, like our environment consists of molecules and atoms. Rather than simply deleting old software, it should be decomposed. There are two ways of doing this: decomposing into bytes and decomposing into bits.
If software is decomposed into bytes, 256 boxes are required to collect the bytes, because there are 256 different types of bytes. If software is decomposed into bits, the process of dismantling is more labour-intensive, but only two boxes are required to collect the "0" bits and the "1" bits.
Once the boxes are full, they can be sold off to software-houses and developers for recycling into new software. There might be a problem in selling off bytes, because it is possible to end up with more bytes, for example bytes representing the letter "Q", than the market demands. On the other hand there might be a shortage of, for example, bytes representing the letter "e". It is easier to sell bits, because all types of bytes can be recreated from bits.
The software-house or developer has to decide, whether the second-hand bits and bytes can still be used. Slightly worn bits and bytes can still be used in new software, especially in functions and routines that are not used very often. Only totally worn out bits and bytes should be disposed off in a safe way, similar to atomic waste. (Sometimes these worn out bits and bytes can be found on boot fairs; be very careful and do not buy these!)
Newer versions of Windows provide a recycle bin, which makes it easier to collect old and unused software. But unfortunately the instructions for using the recycle bin are not very clear. Never put old data into the recycle bin, because that will make the sorting and recycling more difficult. And only empty the recycle bin, when an approved vacuum cleaner with a bit-tight bag is attached to the computer. Specialist companies offer services to collect these bags and then sort, dismantle and recycle the contents.
Old data should be moved to a free space on the hard disk, and then be used to build new data. It is difficult to say when data bits and bytes are too worn to be used for new data. Generally data bits and bytes should be disposed off when they start to produce errors.
The process of collecting and dismantling old data bits and bytes is similar to that for old software. But worn out data bits can still be used for recycling into toner for laser printers (the "0" bits for creating the white dots and the "1" bits for creating the black dots on the paper).
Software and data pollution is already becoming a problem in several parts of the world. Although research in this area only started a short time ago, there is some concern that bits and bytes might be toxic and could cause severe brain damage. Proper dismantling and recycling of old software and data rather than simply deleting it will help to reduce this problem and keep the environment clean.