[PRCo] Re: Generic Description and Scanning
Herb Brannon
hrbran at cavtel.net
Mon May 23 13:00:55 EDT 2011
I'm over it. I've been waiting for PTM to get in touch with me for something
which was supposed to happen in 2010. In case they haven't looked at the
calendar it's now 2011. I'm sure that having the photos available to
interested people will never come to pass either.
On Mon, May 23, 2011 at 12:15, Dwight Long <dwightlong at verizon.net> wrote:
> Herb
>
> There are really two issues here: 1) Protecting against damage to the
> Museum's computer files and system by hacking, intended or not; and 2)
> Control of the material in museum files.
>
> Protection against #1 is absolutely essential if on line access is granted
> to the public. I will defer to Ed and the Museum officers to set or quote
> policy on #2. I have already stated what my understanding of it is in its
> present, non-computerized state.
>
> Dwight
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Herb Brannon
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> Sent: Sunday, 22 May, 2011 21:42
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Generic Description and Scanning
>
>
> What would be an example of "unwanted manipulation of the data" ?
> What would make any photograph of a PCC running down a PRCo right of way
> such a "secret prize" in the 21st Century that it should be hidden away ?
>
> Also, the museum cannot claim copyright on items where they themselves
> did
> not take the original photograph.
>
> You're not protecting the secrets of the United States Government
> here......they're just photos of streetcars passing through time. Their
> main
> interest, and their main purpose, is that they offer a visual frozen
> moment
> of time. In this moment can be seen not just the vehicle, but the styles
> and
> other technologies of that moment. This, of course, happens only if they
> are
> allowed to be viewed by all interested parties. Like I said before, hiding
> them away certainly gives "boasting rights", but that's about all.
> Remember
> what Mr. Vane A. Jones used to put at the top of his magazine, Traction &
> Models, "..knowledge is of no value unless shared with others"
>
> On Sun, May 22, 2011 at 20:20, Dwight Long <dwightlong at verizon.net>
> wrote:
>
> >
> > Jim
> >
> > Read only files should offset the concern about any unwanted
> manipulation
> > of
> > the data.
> >
> > That, however, does not address the issues of copyright protection, use
> of
> > the data for malicious purposes, etc. As I understand it, Museum policy
> (Ed
> > can correct me if I am wrong) has always been to open the archives to
> > serious researchers, authors, etc. But the current arrangements do at
> > least
> > offer some protection against some yayhoo coming in and using the
> Museum's
> > data for purposes inimical to the Museum's interests. How could some
> > similar level of protection be achieved if the archives are digitally
> open?
> > I realize you stated that they would not have to be, but if they were?
> >
> > Dwight
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jim Keener" <jimktrains at gmail.com>
> > To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
> > Sent: Sunday, May 22, 2011 3:14 PM
> > Subject: [PRCo] Re: Generic Description and Scanning
> >
> >
> > > The records don't have to be editable by just anyone, if that's what
> you
> > > mean by losing control of the collection.
> > > We could supply nice sized images and the captions, metadata, and
> OCRed
> > > text to the public if that's what's desired. The collection doesn't
> > > even have to be public, but I've never been a fan of hiding
> information
> > > if there is no reason to. Public images can be watermarked quite
> easily
> > > and automatically.
> > >
> > > I don't have a car, but only live in Pgh, otherwise I'd be much more
> > > eager to offer my time. I know high school juniors and seniors are
> > > always always looking for community service hours or projects to work
> on
> > > (they are needed to graduate in most districts). Scanning slides,
> > > marking where they are (physically), and entering any text on the
> slide
> > > is defiantly doable by a high schooler (or even me:-p).
> > >
> > > Most slides I've seen have a year, company, route, and car number on
> > > them (some have a location!). The year, company, and route number can
> > > be cross-referenced to automatically get the full route name (save
> time
> > > on typing it in) and the year, company, and car number can
> automatically
> > > grab the type of car it is. Especially if we had a location for the
> > > slide, that's a wealth of usable knowledge right off the bat. If that
> > > information is in a database, it immediately becomes searchable and
> > > viewable.
> > >
> > > The same goes for newspapers and other documents. Scanning them in is
> > > labour intensive but doesn't require a lot of skill beyond being
> careful
> > > (which, admittedly can be an unattainable skill for some people:-\).
> > > Once it's all scanned in it can be OCRed and searchable. As people
> read
> > > the documents, they could tag it as containing information about a
> > > specific car or another topic.
> > >
> > > (Yes, I know OCR isn't perfect, but it can be quite good for a good
> scan
> > > and as people read the documents, they can fill in the occasional
> wrong
> > > word.)
> > >
> > > I'm more than happy to do what I can from afar. If I got a car, that
> > > would change, but right now I wouldn't be able to scan slides or
> > > documents at the museum.
> > >
> > > I've also never scanned slides before, so I could be completely wrong
> as
> > > to how much human intervention is required.
> > >
> > > Jim
> > >
> > > PS: This is what I was talking about before on trying to get some CMU
> > > kids for a project to do location finding:
> > >
> >
> http://server.cs.ucf.edu/~vision/projects/WhereAmI/ProjectPage-WhereAmI.htm
> > > Pgh is used because it was one of the first cities to get Street View
> > > and is very heavily mapped. (Just go to maps.google.com, search for
> > > Pittsburgh, Pa, zoom out a bit an pull the little pegman (yellow dude
> > > above the zoom slider) out and watch how much of the map turns blue.
> > > Obviouly there are a bunch of small roads not done, but the all of the
> > > semi-major roads are done.
> > >
> > > On 5/22/11 1:22 PM, Edward H. Lybarger wrote:
> > >> Clearly, Ray, the answer is yes, provided staff and funding become
> > >> available
> > >> and don't require oodles of management supervision. I'm obviously
> not
> > >> eager
> > >> to lose control of the collection, either. I'm comfortable with the
> > >> longevity of today's technology because I believe in migrating data
> > >> periodically to keep it up to date.
> > >>
> > >> But I am not going to devote the rest of my own life to scanning this
> > >> collection beyond museum needs -- both for restoration purposes and
> for
> > >> exhibits and publications -- because there is so very much else to do
> > and
> > >> I
> > >> will be 66 years old come August. Trolleys are not, and never will
> be,
> > my
> > >> whole life. If someone is willing to come in on a regular -- and I
> mean
> > >> regular -- basis to do the work, and if proper scanning equipment and
> > >> storage, not to mention an adequate computer, is available, the
> project
> > >> will
> > >> be supported and accommodated with some vigor.
> > >>
> > >> Ed
> > >>
> > >> -----Original Message-----
> > >> From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
> > >> [mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org] On Behalf Of
> Ray
> > >> Sent: Sunday, May 22, 2011 12:56 PM
> > >> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> > >> Subject: [PRCo] Generic Description and Scanning
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Ok, f= irst my new and improved verizon email account has some
> quarks.
> > >>
> > >> I hav= e the 1979 Steeler Superbowl on VHS tape. Still plays and
> looks
> > >>
> > >> good = for that technology. Lets see that's about 32 years old now.
> > >> However,
> > >> I=
> > >>
> > >> understand the concern with storage media and longevity.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> It appears to me that every reason under the sun is being used to in=
> > >> validate
> > >>
> > >> such a project. I am tired of going round and round on= this
> subject.
> > So
> > >> point blank question,
> > >>
> > >> Ed, in your life time do = you think scanning and Internet posting
> will
> > >> ever
> > >> occur?
> > >>
> > >> If you choos= e to answer this please a simple yes or no will do.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Also= , I really hate to use the term "some people say" but some =
> > >> people
> > >> say it is all about control.
> > >>
> > >> The museum does not want to= lose control of the archives. Once on
> the
> > >> internet control is lost.
> > >>
> > >> Ray
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > > -- Attached file removed by Ecartis and put at URL below --
> > > -- Type: application/pgp-signature
> > > -- Desc: OpenPGP digital signature
> > > -- Size: 906 bytes
> > > -- URL :
> > > http://lists.dementia.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/06-signature.asc
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Herb Brannon
> In Cuyahoga Valley National Park
>
>
>
>
>
>
--
Herb Brannon
In Cuyahoga Valley National Park
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