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AMS Adviser *
Volume 4 Issue 5 - September/October 1999
Welcome to a new issue of the AMS Adviser.
Changes to AMS Services
Article - Why Microfilm in the 1990's.
Article: Microfilm is here to stay
Plus we have all the usual bits AMS
Services, Funny bit???
AMS
AMS
expands its' Imaging Centre
 AMS has
made more changes to it’s Imaging Centre.
We have added more high volume scanners, computer equipment and
completely updated our IT section with new Servers and a high speed network.
AMS would like to welcome a new staff member, Mr. David Western
from Adelaide. David has joined the team in our Melbourne Office and will be managing our
digital imaging area. David brings with him the latest imaging equipment, many years of
experience, and extensive expertise to our IT Department.
David can handle any of your questions on storage and retrieval of
electronic images.
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Why
Microfilm in the 1990's?
By Michael Kenyon, European Microfilm Product Marketing Manager,
Eastman Kodak.
Since its re-introduction in the late 1920’s, microfilm has
consistently provided safe, long term storage at a reasonable cost, even in an age caught
up with technology advances. It saves space and simplifies the retrieval of information.
While business processes have changes dramatically since the inception
of microfilm, the need for safe, accurate storage has not. Archival storage still
represents the longest segment of the document lifecycle.
Storage Options: Paper, Microfilm and Electronic.
Paper, Microfilm and electronic storage are the basic record storage
options available to the industry. Microfilm is created by capturing a paper record on
film. Computer output Microfilm (COM) eliminates the need for paper by capturing a
computer generated image on film. Electronic storage includes both optical and magnetic
storage.
Each has its own inherent weaknesses. For example, paper is less
economical and occupies greater storage space. Computers can save space, but the
reliability of electronic data is susceptible to manipulation by programmers or even
sophisticated end users.
While microfilm, aperture cards and microfiche are among the oldest
storage options, they have acquired an electronic character that places them on the
leading edge of technology. A micrographic image can be scanned, converted to electronic
format and become part of an electronic image management system.
Growth of Microfilm accelerated by Hybrid Systems
Until 1988, film and electronic images never co-existed. But, today
hybrid systems accelerate the growth of microfilm, enhancing its viability as a storage
medium in a rapidly growing digital world. Hybrid imaging systems are necessary when users
require quick retrieval and distribution of documents stored for long periods at a low
cost. Microfilm information is moved and shared in real time through hybrid systems.
Hybrid scanners provide users with a digital image and an identical
microfilm record of a document in an easy, one step capture process. The process also
offers identical sequential document order for each medium. The microfilm roll and frame
number can be attached to the digital image to ensure a permanent cross-index and reliable
archival backup for both the digital and microfilm images. Users can derive the advantages
of both digital imaging and microfilm, with a hybrid scanner, reducing document storage
costs whilst retaining dependability.
In essence, hybrid systems allow users to store information
electronically during the initial period when retrieval and usage is frequent,
simultaneously capturing the image on microfilm for more economical long term archiving.
Next Issue: The Future of Microfilm
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to Top.
Microfilm
is here to stay.
By Jacqui White – marketing specialist, Kodak Limited
Despite the tumult experience in the document management marketplace
over the past five years, one often-overlooked area that has been ticking along nicely is
that of micrographics. Document management and especially COLD (Computer Output to Laser
Disk) has often been touted as sounding the death knell for the micrographics industry.
However, just as image processing will never replace paper, it is unlikely that document
management will negate the need for its older sibling. This article explores the
differences between electronic document management or imaging and micrographic
technologies and highlights areas where microfilm may still be the most effective
solution.
Microfilm is a unique back-up medium because it can be read by the eye
without the need for hardware or software. Like paper, microfilm is an analogue-medium
that can be viewed by anyone, anywhere. Microfilm is also much less costly for back-up
purposes than digital media; it is consistent in that it does not need continual
hardware/software upgrades and it does not crash. Furthermore, the longevity and stability
of microfilm is proven. Although document management vendors make claims to the longevity
of their media, it should be noted that these are claims and do not include the fact that
accessibility may be reduced due to technology changes.
There are five broad benefits to the use of microfilm:
Security: Microfilmed records may be duplicated and stored in
off-site storage allowing recovery and retrieval in case of loss, theft or damage.
File integrity: Documents remain in fixed locations on the
film, eliminating the possibility of misfiling or alteration.
Storage savings: Microfilm requires about 2% of the space
required to store the equivalent documents in paper format. One roll of film could contain
as many as 9,000 A4 Documents.
Duplication and distribution: Microfilm is cheaper to
duplicate and distribute than the equivalent paper records
Retrieval: Automated or manually indexed microfilmed records
can be quickly and accurately retrieved.
In fact, far from sounding the death knell for microfilm, the advent of
electronic document management has help develop new opportunities for document retention
on film. This has highlighted the need for a totally permanent method of long term storage
of images, which has still yet to be proved within the remit of document management/image
processing.
In the next few issues:
The document lifecycle
Microfilm v electronic doc. management
Microfilm v COLD
Avoiding the pitfalls
If you require any article in full please feel free to contact us.
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Top.
AMS Services.
For the complete run down on what AMS can do for you, click on
the following link.
AMS Services
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Funny bit???
Three builders were working on a Grollo Brothers skyscraper. There was
an Australian, an Englishman and an Irishman.
They sat down to lunch and the Australian opened his sandwich. "Vegemite,
again!" he said "If I get Vegemite sandwiches tomorrow, I swear I’ll jump
off this building."
The Englishman opened his lunch. "Not cheese again! If I get cheese sandwiches
again, I’ll jump with you."
The Irishman opened his lunch. "Not Jam again! If I get Jam again tomorrow,
I’ll jump too."
The next day the Aussie took a look at his lunch. "Vegemite!" he said and
threw himself from the building.
The Englishman opened his lunch. "For Christ’s sake - cheese!"
He jumped too.
Very, very tentatively the Irishman opened his lunch. "Bugger," he said
"Jam again." and he jumped as well.
At the triple funeral the widows sobbed in each others’ arms. "If only
I’d known that he hated Vegemite," said the Australians wife.
"I didn't know he hated cheese so much," lamented the Englishman’s wife.
The Irishman's wife was deeply shaken. "I can’t figure it out. He always made
his own lunch."
Go to
Top.
Next Month
In the next few issues we will have some new articles which will include the following:
Alchemy Version 6.
Articles and other topics of interest.
Plus all the usual bits & pieces.
Should you want a topic covered or need an article in full, please
feel free to contact AMS.
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Go to AMS HomePage.
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