I just today read about the Time & Bits event last week, and was sorry I
hadn't heard about it earlier.
I'm the executive director of AfterLife, a very small not-for-profit
volunteer-run organization dedicated to archiving people's web sites
after they die (www.afterlife.org). What's fascinating is that even
though our organization is still forming, the media has been extremely
interested in it, and I have been interviewed for BBC radio, Australian
radio, written up in New Scientist magazine, and so on. We haven't
publicized AfterLife at all... it's all word of mouth.
To be honest, I feel like we're a small group with a good idea but
without enough infrastructure. We clearly need to be working with
archivists and other experts in this field. We feel strongly that many
people are building personal web sites that include creative expression
that should not be lost simply because they die and their accounts get
turned off (see the web site for a little intro article I wrote some time
ago about this).
The Time & Bits site is a wonderful resource, and I hope that it will be
kept up to date.
I'd love to hear your comments about what we're doing, as well as
suggestions for other people to talk to.
Warm wishes,
David Blatner