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. ===================== Start of article =============================== 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. ===================== End of article ============================ -- 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