Comment You have two options (Score 1) 633
First as many others have suggested, you can store the information on a regular data storage device and store any further requirements for reading the data along with it. As long as the stored components aren't damaged you can read back the information. This way a large amount of data can be stored, but it relies heavily on the build quality of the components. Examples are usb sticks, cdroms etc.
Second, you could store the data in a simple format; store the specification of the format along with some information on how to build a device that can retrieve the information. Sadly the simpler the format is (and the simpler it is to make the playback hardware) the less data can be stored. Examples are vinyl discs (can be played back with a needle and a paper horn), 8mm video (needs only a light source, and something to wind the film with).
Combining the two options would be the best choice, if somehow we could design a simple machine that when built, could make a more sophisticated one that could in turn read the rest of the data. That way only a simple machine would have had to be described in some human readable language, and then built.
Second, you could store the data in a simple format; store the specification of the format along with some information on how to build a device that can retrieve the information. Sadly the simpler the format is (and the simpler it is to make the playback hardware) the less data can be stored. Examples are vinyl discs (can be played back with a needle and a paper horn), 8mm video (needs only a light source, and something to wind the film with).
Combining the two options would be the best choice, if somehow we could design a simple machine that when built, could make a more sophisticated one that could in turn read the rest of the data. That way only a simple machine would have had to be described in some human readable language, and then built.
