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Time Capsules in Cyberspace

It's almost 2000. Have you started your new millennium time capsule yet?

By James A. Martin, PCWorld   

You're pretty much on your own with the first three to-dos. As for the time capsule, you're in luck: The Orange County Register maintains an online time capsule for Southern Californians with more than 5700 entries. The organization has some suggestions for how to use technology to create your own cyber-capsule.

According to the Orange County Register, you should begin by deciding on the best media--Web, CD-ROM, video or audio cassette--to create your time capsule. Whichever format you choose, make sure you back up your capsule. Like everything else, CD-ROMs and cassettes deteriorate over time, and who knows where the Web will be 25 years from now?

Next, decide who will participate in your time capsule. Will you limit it to yourself or include immediate family, friends, co-workers, or others?

As for content, here are some suggestions to get you started. Make predictions for the future. Describe your values and religious or spiritual beliefs. Write a letter to your child or grandchild, or record your family history. Talk about those who have influenced you. Scan photos or add video to your digital time capsule, if possible.

And when in doubt, buy a ready-made time capsule kit. Though not mentioned in the Orange County Register's list of suggestions, PC World discovered a prepared time capsule kit. The Millennium Time Capsule kit is priced at $24.95 and contains, among other things, a time capsule tin; detailed instructions on how to create a capsule; and materials for inspiration. For example, there's an eight-page "Personal Profile" book for recording what your life was like at century's end, and a blank Letter to Future Generations, which can be included in a time capsule to be buried in Times Square on New Year's Eve. How's that for posterity?