A question:
Are there any working examples of the following approach to
providing access to digital images?
1) Making lo-rez images available on the Internet as part of a working
collections database (in this case a natural history research
collection.)
2) Selling hi-rez images through :
a) fee for access on the internet (ie credit card or account
payment.)
b) selling CD-ROM's
So, a researcher would find the specimen that s/he is looking for by
searching the database. A low resolution image of this specimen would
be immediately available (good enough to confirm the general
appearance of the specimen.) Then, the researcher could either click
to pay for immediate access to a hi-rez image (a fee would be charged
to his/her institution, or if they hadn't an account, a credit card
would be requested.); or alternatively, buy the CD-ROM at a cost
comparable to the research CD-ROMS that are now available.
Thanks.
Eric Siegel
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