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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."

6 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. 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.
  3. My question is why? by MyNameIsFred · · Score: 5, Insightful
    To me this sounds like many of the other poorly concieved ideas for indexing files. Much like meta-data fields that require me to fill out extra fields that can be searched later. The vast majority of people don't fill the fields in. And where required, they typically use bogus data.

    This situation seems much the same. Most of the files I save on a computer are NOT associated with some object I have lying around the house. For example, everytime I write a letter to Mom, I'm suppose to scan her picture? Why not just save it in a folder called, "Letters to Mom." Its easier, quicker, and I don't have to find Mom's picture. Similarly at work, most of my files are associated with some email telling me to do work on some project. Do I scan the email? Seems kind of pointless.

    In my view, like metadata, this suggestion adds steps that the vast majority of users won't do.

  4. 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
  5. 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.
  6. 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.