Number 2: Authenticity in a Digital Environment
Written by: R.J. van Diessen, T. van der Werf-Davelaar
Authenticity acquires a new meaning in a digital context. Normally objects are physical and their physical characteristics are the main source for defining authenticity. Moreover, authenticity is not a single concept, but involves different aspects that can be associated with an object:
- A traceable path from the objects origin to its current ownership.
- Measures and techniques for safeguarding against and/or recognizing modifications.
- Techniques for establishing the use of original materials.
The problem of digital objects is that in fact they are just conceptual objects. A digital object is a conceptual object to be interpreted (rendered) by executing the digital object in a specific IT intrastructure (hardware & software). This report focuses on defining a framework in which we can define what is acturally meant when one speaks of an authentic digital object.