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Copyright
© 2008 1700 Alma Drive |
Executive BriefingIntegrated Image Management for UNIX SystemsWith the advent of the Information Age, all forms of media are reaching a new level of sophistication. Images are now all but required in any publication, from professional and technical documentation to personal mail to online Web sites. These images allow us to visualize, analyze, annotate, transmit, archive and locate ideas and information. Coupled with the growing demand for images is the ever-increasing need for scanning both color and black-and-white images. As the computer shy become more computer comfortable and the computer literate increase their productivity, the world is converging on a scanner for every desktop. At the same time, networking is getting easier, making it feasible to install specialized scanning devices on every network and transmit images inside and outside a corporation's networks. Powerful scanners are plentiful for UNIX systems, but software to manage and manipulate images is less prevalent. And with the multitude of images most corporations create, a complete package to manage those images becomes essential to daily operations. Scanning is a simple concept, but many people do not recognize the myriad of options available. Scanner manufacturers offer solutions for the specialized needs in the marketplace -- black-and-white for document imaging and color for graphic arts and publishing. To maximize their investment in scanners, corporations need software with multiple scanning controls and features for scanning and manipulating images. Once the user scans in an image, how will the image be stored? For Web page authoring, a software package must support all the HTML image types, including GIF, interlaced GIF, JPEG and progressive JPEG. Also, a variety of additional formats and completing product functionality are key to satisfying the ever-increasing application interoperability requirements. Besides the obvious requirement to be able to scan images into a UNIX system and then edit them, corporations must also keep their long-term needs in mind when searching for a software solution. For example, if users will need to reuse images they scan in, how will they store those images? By storing images in an image database that has storage and retrieval capabilities, users can easily manage hundreds or even thousands of images, thereby streamlining the process of image management. If a company intends to move towards a paper-less office, the ability to store images of paper becomes critical. Accurate OCR capabilities can further reduce the need for paper by converting a paper form to an online document ready for editing and storage. To automate the process of capturing and storing images in technical documents, the package should have an integrated link into such industry standards as FrameMaker and Interleaf. In addition, to clarify communications between departments or business partners, image annotation becomes important. For example, an engineer may need to convey geographic constraints on an image. By scanning in the image of the plot, marking it up electronically and transmitting it across the Internet to his colleague across the country, he reduces the time needed to convey the information while increasing the accuracy of the communication. Images enhance our work environment, adding color and interest to otherwise dull communications. Images can also save us time and money while improving communications and streamlining work processes. Sophisticated images represent more than just pretty packaging -- they are now a standard requirement for anyone who wants to convey professionalism and compete successfully in today's business arena. And with the power of UNIX behind an image management package, there are virtually no bounds to what we can accomplish. Brian Gross is President and CEO of Mentalix, Inc. |