As there have been a couple of messages about bar-coding recently, I thought
that the following note might be of interest. I don't know anything about
this company, and many others may offer the same kind of product, but it
seems to be worth investigating before starting a major bar-coding project.
Is any museum using this?
Reproduced from _Museums Computer Group newsletter_, Autumn 1994, page 8,
with the permission of the editor. The Museums Computer Group is a fairly
informal group of people in the UK interested in computer use in museums.
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Electronic Object Tagging
novel technology for integrated object management
A novelty technology for identifying and monitoring the
location of objects within museums and galleries has been
developed by id Systems of Knutsford in Cheshire. This new
system is based on tiny unpowered tags (or transponders) -
some no larger than a grain of rice - which may be fixed in a
variety of ways to an object (or object label, support or
carrier) whose identity or location is to be determined and
monitored. In the simplest case, each tag contains a single
code, which is guaranteed to be both unique and unalterable;
this code may be read by a remote scanner, allowing access to
a database that is capable of correlating the pre-stored tag
number with all information relevant to the object containing
that tag. Scanners are available in a number of formats,
ranging from hand-held 'guns' and 'wands', to doorframe and
corridor systems that allow the automatic identification and
logging of articles through portals. Wide-area scanners
capable of detecting tags over several meters thus have
important implications for collection management, "hands-free"
object identification, display, and security.
The major benefits of this new technology include: hands-free
operation; no requirement for line of sight (as is the case
with bar codes), allowing tags to be read when obscured by
dirt, dust, glass, wood, plastic, water, chemicals, etc.;
minimal maintenance, as there are no batteries required within
a tag, again with no line of sight restrictions. Tags with
this capacity provide a convenient and secure mechanism for
storing data specific to each object, including accession
numbers, storage locations, conditions for care, etc. A wide
range of packaging options are available for the tags, ranging
from small cylinders to cards and discs. It is anticipated
that tags may tied directly onto objects, or enclosed within a
secondary package to suit the requirements of a specific
application.
A number of evaluation systems for object management and
secure access are available from id Systems, who would be
pleased to provide demonstrations of this powerful new
technology. If you would like further information, please
contact Dr Simon Howell at id Systems, Marble Arch, King
Street, Knutsford, Cheshire WAl6 6HD: Telephone 0565 651314:
Facsimile 0565 651003
Editorial Note: your editor has seen a demonstration version
of this fascinating development at id Systems' offices in
Knutsford. The potential for use within museums seems vast as
the tags may provide not only identification for objects (and
staff), but also a means of security monitoring in store or
display, a simple movement logging process, hands-free
specimen identification, etc., etc. There are also possible
applications in displays for linking displayed objects (via
tags on object or display support or label) to on-line
information sources which may include sound and vision.
Nottingham Museums is hoping to host a demonstration in the
near future, and the Newsletter Editor would welcome hearing
from interested parties.
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Dr Leonard D Will Tel: +44 181 366 7386
Information Management Consultant Fax: +44 181 366 0916
27 Calshot Way, ENFIELD, Middlesex Email: [log in to unmask]
EN2 7BQ, United Kingdom
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