Using a file history graph to keep track of personal resources across devices and services

Personal digital resources now tend to be stored, managed and shared using a variety of devices and online services. As a result, different versions of resources are often stored in different places, and it has become increasingly difficult for users to keep track of them. We introduce the concept of a file history graph that can be used to provide users with a global view of resource provenance and enable them to track specific versions across devices and services. We describe how this has been used to realise a version-aware environment, called Memsy, and report on a lab study used to evaluate the proposed workflow. We also describe how reconciliation services can be used to fill in missing links in the file history graph and present a detailed study for the case of images as a proof of concept.