What is emulation
To ensure that digital objects stored in the e-Depot remain accessible in the long term, the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB) is developing strategies for permanent access. One of these is based on emulation, which makes it possible to view objects such as text documents, images or multimedia applications in their original form, without modifying them. But what precisely is emulation?
Further reading: what is emulation?
Project KEEP
KEEP (Keeping Emulation Environments Portable) will develop an Emulation Access Platform to enable accurate rendering of both static and dynamic digital objects: text, sound, and image files; multimedia documents, websites, databases, videogames etc.
Visit for more information the KEEP website.
Project Dioscuri
In cooperation with the Nationaal Archief of the Netherlands, the KB carries out a two-year emulation project which started in 2005. Goal is to apply emulation as a preservation strategy and to develop an operational emulator. In July 2007 this resulted in the delivery of Dioscuri, the first modular emulator designed for digital preservation. .
Further reading: project emulation
Further reading: Dioscuri website - modular emulator for digital preservation
Emulation Expert Meeting (EEM)
Emulation as technique was developed quite some time ago. However, in the field of digital preservation applicability and feasibility are still subjects of discussion. Emulation is said to be complex and expensive to apply as a preservation strategy. Advocates of this technique are convinced that for some digital objects it is the only solution to retain access, like multimedia applications or websites. To enforce the discussion, the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (KB) and Nationaal Archief of the Netherlands organised an “Emulation Expert Meeting (EEM)” on 20 October 2006. A group of experts in the field of emulation, IT and digital preservation were invited to discuss their findings. This resulted in an official statement on emulation and a list of required next steps to successfully apply emulation for digital preservation purposes.
Further reading: Emulation Expert Meeting (EEM) 2006