House of Images Newsletter – October 2006

HPAC DE provides multi level access which gives an administrator the tools to provide access at field level allowing data entry operators to be given permissions to enter metadata in selected fields within sub-sets of data.

HPAC DE conforms to all the requirements of the Dublin Core initiative and can also be set up to conform to the requirements of SPECTRUM museum standard.

The benefits of using HPAC DE include the following:

1. No additional internal IT resource is required as HPAC DE is hosted on managed secure servers and House of Images provide the neccessary skills to maintain the application. All data is encrypted to provide maximum security.
2. No dedicated hardware is needed to run the system
3. There is no software to install internally and administrators can control the system from any PC.
4. All software upgrades/changes are installed by House of Images, normally without disruption.
5. Data back ups can be provided by House of Images, the system allows the administrator to provide their own back ups in a variety of formats.
6. The House of Images system offers considerable performance benefits over an application installed on a WAN which can have slow delivery speeds compared to connecting to the internet.
7. HPAC DE uses the standard MySQL database platform.
8. Data can be exported from HPAC DE in a number of formats including XML and CSV.
9. All data is totally secure with access controlled by the system administrator.
10. Data can be imported into HPAC DE in a variety of formats.
11. No specialist skills are required by users and House of Images provide all necessary training.

Ordnance Survey
The Ordnance Survey have purchased HPAC DE to display their picture library collection across all the organisation’s sites. The image collection of around 20000 images is currently catalogued in a CALM database and the existing CALM metadata will be imported directly into HPAC DE.

Cornish Centre
The web site containing the Cornwall Library Service’s image collection from the Cornish Centre at Redruth has gone live and can be seen at www.cornwallphotoimagebank.co.uk. The site currently has over 2000 images and more will be added over the coming months.

Cumbria County Council
More images are being added to the Cumbria web site on a regular basis and the site now holds in excess of 5500 images. The site can be seen at www.cumbriaimagebank.co.uk

British Commercial Vehicle Museum
BCVM have a photographic archive holding many thousands of images. A start has been made on digitising this collection and HoI software is being used to display these images on line. The web site address is www.bcvm.co.uk.

Cornish Image Project
House of Images has begun a major project with a number of Cornish Heritage organisations to create a joint web site holding images of Cornwall. Initially the site will hold images from the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro, Penlee House Museum in Penzance and St Ives Archives. The Cornish Centre at Redruth, mentioned above, will also be a partner.

For further information on any of the items mentioned in this newsletter or to request a demonstration of any House of Images products please contact Ian Smith or Ken Potter.

18th October 2004 - Audio Digitisation

It's been some time since a newsletter was issued relating only to House of Images matters so this is intended to bring everyone up to date with the latest developments.

Internet

Walsall Local History Centre, Halton Borough Council and Cumbria County Council are the latest organisations to use HoI to set up their image databases on the internet and the results can be viewed at the following addresses:

Walsall – www.aclickintime.co.uk

Cumbria– www.cumbriaimagebank.co.uk

Halton – www.hpac.org.uk/newhalton

Audio Digitisation

HoI have been providing an audio digitisation service on a low key basis for a number of years. We have recently expanded our capability and now have the facilities for the digitisation of reel to reel, eight track, cassette and vinyl. We are able to offer a full conversion and restoration service along with a suite of programs for the storage, retrieval and playing of the audio files. As with image files we are able to provide public access systems for use either within the library/museum or over the internet. Run time cd's can be provided for distribution to schools or for sale to the general public.

Image Digitisation

HoI continue to provide an image digitisation service to a range of organisations across both the heritage and commercial sectors. We are able to handle the full range of formats and sizes and can provide relevant metadata as required.

If you would like further information on any of the above please contact House of Images by phone on 01254 664464 or by email at ken@hoimages.co.uk

9th April 2002 - Royale Digital Audio-Visual System

House of Images have added the Royale Digital Audio Visual system to their range of hardware products. The Royale is a portable digital projection system incorporating a digital projector, high spec PC and quality sound system in a single lightweight package. The standard model includes a Plus
U3-1080 Digital Projector coupled with a Pentium III 866MHz PC, 512 Mb

27th March 2002 - British Commercial Vehicle Museum

The British Commercial Vehicle Museum has purchased House of Images Management System Software for cataloguing their image collection of 100,000 photographs. The museum, currently housed in part of the old Leyland Vehicles Plant in Leyland, is awaiting a decision on a Lottery Grant, which would see them moving to new premises in Blackpool, which, in addition to providing new display facilities for the collection, also provides for a new up to date Archives Department RAM, 20 Gb Hard Drive, IR controlled keyboard and mouse and built in amplifier and speakers (480W PMPO).

1st March 2002 - House of Images Design Department

With the new appointment of Design Manages Craig Taylor HoI are now able to offer a comprehensive range of design services.

Craig brings 7 years of commercial experience to the House of Images having worked in publishing, with OK magazine, with TIME computers and telecom supplier F H Brown.

With Craig`s appointment HoI now have the in-house design and creative skills to complement their technical database skills, and can offer bespoke design, conceptualization and multimedia services to enhance the aesthetic and functional aspects of their on-line database systems.

18th January 2002 - Jack Straw Visit

Foreign Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw was a recent visitor to House of Images. During his visit Mr Straw met the members of staff and was given a conducted tour of the premises by Ken Potter and Ian Smith. Pictured from left to right are Office Manager Karl Cross, Software Engineer Garfield Southall, Business Development Manager Andy Smith, Jack Straw, HoI Partner Ian Smith, Sales and Marketing Manager Sofia Ali-Khan and HoI Partner Ken Potter.

7th January 2002 - Staff Appointments

Sofia Ali-Khan has joined House of Images as Sales & Marketing Manager. Sofia is responsible for the development and implementation of HoI’s sales and marketing strategy. Specifically, for accelerating sales of HoI’s products, including the company’s forthcoming flagship product – House of Images Xansys Digital Asset Management – and related professional services; and also for planning, co-ordinating and implementing a strategic marketing programme, designed to raise HoI’s profile and to support its’ growth in new geographical markets.

Sofia brings 8 years of experience in the IT industry to HoI’s customers, having most recently been Account Manager at a software house specialising in integration modules for accounting packages, to promote the ‘paperless office’ e.g. document image processing software to enable users to scan, view and further print all documents (incoming or outgoing) from their software package.

Partnership Chester College

HoI have formed a strategic partnership with the Computer Science Department at Chester College. This will give HOI access to the latest developments in software technology for incorporation into new products. The first product to benefit from this partnership is HoI's latest product, Xansys

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