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Mementos as Document Retrieval Keys

Posted by michael on from the johnny-mnemonic dept.

Dekaner writes "The BBC is running a story that BT has demonstrated a scanner that can be used to retrieve digital documents by associating them with a physical object. When the digital files are stored on the server, they are associated with a scanned image of the object, for example a seashell. Later, when the user wants to retrieve the files, the memento is again placed on the scanner. The resulting image is used as the retrieval key."

14 of 167 comments (clear)

  1. The bane of the photocopier... by Winterblink · · Score: 3, Funny

    I can see a lot of people using their asses as the "memento"...

    --
    "I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar."
    -Hoban Washburn
    1. Re:The bane of the photocopier... by quantaman · · Score: 4, Funny

      Just make sure it isn't somethnig you'll have to call up in the middle of a presentation, could take a lot of explaining...

      --
      I stole this Sig
  2. Ah, modern tech! by orangesquid · · Score: 5, Funny

    Turning the paperless office into a huge junk bin!

    "Mike, do you have the financial data for 2002?"

    "Somewhere. Help me look for the squeaky red clown nose."

    --
    --TheOrangeSquid Is it any wonder things seem so awry? We swim in a sea of confusion and don't have to think to survive
  3. Mmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...Mentos. The Freshmaker.

  4. I am thinking by einhverfr · · Score: 3, Funny

    Was the Marketing Plan associated with one of these seashells or one of these pebbles? Or maybe it was my coffee cup?

    --

    LedgerSMB: Open source Accounting/ERP
  5. Patents... by silentbozo · · Score: 3, Funny

    If they try to patent this idea, I'm citing Johnny Mnemonic as prior art!!!

    1. Re:Patents... by quantaman · · Score: 4, Funny

      If they try to patent this idea, I'm citing Johnny Mnemonic as prior art!!!

      Hmmm, not sure if I'd call that art.

      --
      I stole this Sig
  6. Keys by cybermace5 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Guess you could have actual keys for database access. Then you can put all the keys on a keyring...

    This is more stupid than anything else I've heard this week.

    --
    ...
  7. This is just too easy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Please put penis on scanner to locate pr0n

  8. well by kingofnopants · · Score: 5, Funny

    If ten years ago someone told me that in the year 2003 i would be using a seashell to retrieve data i would tell that person that he is fscking stupid.

    --
    Disco Stu was talkin' to you.
  9. Doh.. by NanoGator · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... Uh dear.. well.. uh I need you to sit on the scanner... Please, don't ask.

    --
    "Derp de derp."
  10. Dear Leonard by Letter · · Score: 5, Funny
    Dear Leonard,

    Use the Memento pattern when

    • a snapshot of an object's state must be saved so that it can be restored to that state later.
    • a direct interface to obtaining the state would expose implementation details and break the object's encapsulation.

    Sincerely,
    Letter
  11. Let's see now by AndroidCat · · Score: 5, Funny

    When I lose an important memento, I don't have to worry because I kept all the serial number and insurance info in a file which... DAMN!

    --
    One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  12. For my documents, I will use a printed sheet... by Blaede · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...of the file as my memento. To make the association more secure, each page will have it's own memento, consisting of the page printed out. That way when I need to retrieve the file on the computer to print out, all I have to do is scan each page, open the file, and print.

    This technology has promise.