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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."

8 of 167 comments (clear)

  1. 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
  2. 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.

    --
    ...
  3. 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.
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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.
  8. 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.