retroweb:about
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retroweb:about [2020-10-16 16:26] omolini |
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| There is a growing interest in computing history, computer networking and how it all came to be. In early 2000's we began observing an increase in old web sites going extinct. We did not want an important part of our culture disappear, so around 2011 a long term project was started with the goal of preserving these web sites. At first we focused purely on archiving web sites, but later began building a comprehensive service that allowed access to this this newly found content. | There is a growing interest in computing history, computer networking and how it all came to be. In early 2000's we began observing an increase in old web sites going extinct. We did not want an important part of our culture disappear, so around 2011 a long term project was started with the goal of preserving these web sites. At first we focused purely on archiving web sites, but later began building a comprehensive service that allowed access to this this newly found content. | ||
| - | We had to keep a realistic scope for the project. For this reason, we chose to preserve web sites mostly from around mid-to-late 1990's. There are several reasons this timeline was chosen: | + | For the scope of the project, we chose to preserve web sites mostly from around mid-to-late 1990's. There are several reasons this timeline was chosen: |
| - Internet experienced a strong global expansion around this time, with half the population in the US accessing the Internet on a regular basis. | - Internet experienced a strong global expansion around this time, with half the population in the US accessing the Internet on a regular basis. | ||
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| - There are more resources available for purposes of restoration and archival. | - There are more resources available for purposes of restoration and archival. | ||
| - | We prioritize the accessibility of our service. The goal is to be able to browse these historic sites as easily as if they were still online. Over the years we've placed a special emphasis on emulating the look and feel of the early Internet experience as close as possible. | + | Our service differs from other web archival projects such as Internet Archive's Wayback Machine at [[http://www.archive.org/|archive.org]] in some key aspects. |
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| - | Our service differs from other web archival projects such as Internet Archive's Wayback Machine at [[http://www.archive.org/|archive.org]] by some key aspects. | + | |
| - The web sites are restored to be completely functional. Broken links and images are fixed, and manual work is put using several sources to restore full functionality. For this reason, the service can be used as reference material in studies of the history of Internet, and in interactive computing museum exhibits etc. | - The web sites are restored to be completely functional. Broken links and images are fixed, and manual work is put using several sources to restore full functionality. For this reason, the service can be used as reference material in studies of the history of Internet, and in interactive computing museum exhibits etc. | ||
| - The web sites are browseable with original period correct hardware. | - The web sites are browseable with original period correct hardware. | ||
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| - File downloads are restored. | - File downloads are restored. | ||
| - | The project's aim is to preserve the user experience of visiting web sites historically accurate, and provide a guide for future generations. It is a service that can be freely used by computing history organizations for purposes of demonstrating the early Internet, and by vintage computer enthusiasts. It allows users and interested parties to browse the Internet with classic web browsers, and experience the early Internet as it was in it's early iteration. That is the essence of Retroweb, and the service is developing, as more web sites are brought online thanks to the Internet history enthusiasts who are working hard to contribute content and fix broken links. | + | The project's aim is to emulate the look and feel of the early Internet and keep preserved content historically accurate to provide a guide for future generations. We prioritize the accessibility of our service, and put a lot of effort in making the website appear as if they were still online, including work put into restoring dynamic content (website counters, search engines, web rings, guest books...) |
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| + | It is a service that can be freely used by computing history organizations for purposes of demonstrating the early Internet, and by vintage computer enthusiasts. It allows users and interested parties to browse the Internet with classic web browsers. That is the essence of Retroweb, and the service is developing, as more web sites are brought online thanks to the Internet history enthusiasts who are working hard to contribute content and fix broken links. | ||
| {{ :guides:pics:netscape-navigator-4-0-header-2.png?nolink |}} | {{ :guides:pics:netscape-navigator-4-0-header-2.png?nolink |}} | ||
retroweb/about.txt · Last modified: 2021-03-05 05:01 by omolini
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