Digital storage

Since I started taking photo's digitally I've found that my collection of
images is growing very rapidly indeed. Whilst I print some of the pictures
off to hard copy, the vast (and increasing) majority remain as
electronically-viewable items only. Many (Most? All?) of the pictures are
unique in that it would be impossible to capture exactly that moment again -
pictures of people in particular - and in, say, 20 years time some of the
people in the pictures may no longer be here anyway.

So here's the question: What is the best method of storing the captured
images, other than printing off every single one and storing it at the
perfect temperature/humidity, whereby I can revisit and view these images in
20 or 30 years time? With film I have positives and negatives of my own
that are 30-odd years old and also some family photo's that go back to the
turn of the last century (1900). I can still look at these pictures and my
grandchildren will still be able to look at them in 50 years time. Will it
be the same with digital images? I store my digital files onto a separate
hard disk with copies burnt to CD and DVD. Although the makers claim that a
CD?DVD stored image (if stored carefully and correctly) should still be
viewable in 100 years time, will the equipment necessary to actually view
the CD's and DVD's of today still be available? What about external USB
hard disks? What about the formats of the stored data? Backwards
compatibility seems not to be something that can be guaranteed so I'm a
little concerned that in 10, 20 or maybe even just 5 years time my images
(unless printed) will be locked out of reach.

Any ideas?

Steve


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