The objective of this project is to develop new or improved systems for electronic processing and management of text and images (film and video from electron and optical microscopes. Processing electronic images with film quality creates unique problems with both analog and digital formats. Tradeoffs in cost, convenience of use, speed, flexibility and quality must be made in order to integrate the requirements of image capture, transmission, compression, storage, retrieval, classification, and management into a useable system. Numerous software and hardware packages exist that can handle many of the individual requirements, but very few, if any, can handle all requirements in one package. This project will produce a system utilizing open architecture methodology that can be easily adapted to fit any Electronic/Optical Microscope user need. It will require minimum user software and hardware knowledge and incorporate leading edge technology to the fullest extent possible. It will benefit both government and private industry customers requiring an image and data management system for images captured from microscopes. Sample applications include: X-rays/Magnetic Resonance Imaging, bacterial studies, defects/cracks in electronic circuitry, manufacturing processes, and crime scene evidence analysis just to name a few.
