The History Of Vernon System Limited

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

INTRODUCTION

VERNON CMS

System Background

Vernon CMS is worldwide, conducting all types of objects within the single system. The clients range from single user sites with a few hundred objects to major institutions with networked systems, multiple users, multiple sites and collections running into millions of objects. The structure is modular so user can modify the system to match their collection needs and budget. All Vernon modules are compatible with international standards: Collection Trust's Spectrum Standard (formerly Museum Documentation Association SPECTRUM), CHIN, AASLH Common Agenda, CIDOC and Dublin Core. The Vernon modules include:

Vernon Cataloging

Vernon activities

Online access modules

Thesauri

Vernon CMS runs on PCs as a stand-alone terminal or connected to a network.  In a multi-user networked system, Revelation server software is used to execute some of the processing on the server, which decrease network traffic, enhance speed and ensures data reliability. 

On wide area networks (WANs), Vernon CMS runs with Windows Terminal Services or Citrix. Vernon has been built using OpenInsight for Workgroups (OI), which is Revelation Software's Windows successor to Advanced Revelation (ARev). Revelation Technologies Inc. is a New Jersey (USA)-based company. There are more than a million users of Revelation products worldwide, running millions of applications. The Vernon client can be run under Windows7, Windows XP, or Vista. Other clients are supported using Citrix.

In term of storage necessity, hard disk space required by the application is approximately 200MB plus whatever storage is needed for data. For indicative disk sizing were suggested allowing between 2500 and 4000 bytes per object. This depends on the level of detail to be recorded but is inclusive of indexing and authority file overheads. This does not include storage requirements for multimedia files.

Besides, The imaging system supports a great variety of graphic file formats (BMP, EPS, GIF, JPEG, PNG, TGA, TIFF). Vernon includes integrated multimedia facilities for sound and full motion video (AVI, MID, WAV, MOV and MPEG).

Vendor or Company Background

2.2.1) Vernon System Limited

Bil Vernon is the founder of Vernon Systems in 1985 after developing a custom dealer gallery application. He began work on a prototype of the world's first commercial PC-based museum system when he saw that there are needs for a general museum and gallery cataloguing system. Vernon System Limited develops two collections management systems for museums and galleries which are Vernon CMS, a world leading desktop system for medium-to-large organizations, and eHive, a hosted web-based system for small museums, individual collectors and consortiums.

In 1986, the prototype received response from Conference of the International Council of Museums. The evaluation was made to utilize a packaged version of software which called COLLECTION. Then, Georgia Lowe joined in1987 and the system was enhanced to add up many new features and files. After that the popularity of the system became well-known and all organization around the world has adopted this system. At the same time, the development of ready-to-run package version of standard COLLECTION was started in 1992. However, COLLECTION was re-launched as Vernon to create a more integrated company and product brand in 2003. In 2008, the new system was released, called eHive and it is the world’s first purpose built software as a service collection management system.

2.2.2) Mission

The mission of Vernon System Limited is to build worldwide collections management communities through their collections management software and services.

The Need of the System

Functionality/Efficiency

2.4.1) Cataloging

Vernon cataloging handles many types of objects or formats such as fine and decorative arts, ethnographic and historic artifacts, natural environment specimens, ephemera, and archives and audio-visual materials. These types of formats can be house in a common relational system, all out at the same time. Discipline-specific outlook provide user-focused views, while the common structure offer museum-wide retrieval and reporting across departmental limitations such as finding all items linked with a certain location, person or event.

2.4.2) Online Access

Vernon browser, Vernon browser demo and client examples, and Vernon HTML export are the modules that can be used to viewed online access to Vernon catalogue. Vernon browser provides users a vibrant web search interface to a database of records exported from Vernon CMS. It is designed for collections of all types and sizes. It is highly configurable, for seamless integration into your website. The browser provides fast and convenient web access, with indexes specifically tailored to your collections. Sites can configure the browser to use the fields and indexes of their choice and can tailor the HTML to provide the style of presentation that is consistent with their image.

Then, Vernon HTML exports generate fixed HTML pages featuring a list of records organized within Vernon. The catalogue in a hierarchical tree structure is presented so that the user can follow links through these pages.

Advantage/Disadvantage

Advantage

Disadvantage

Vernon staff has an understanding of the Museum and Gallery business which many other software suppliers fail to grasp.

Vernon provides better ways to manage collections using technology.

SMARTTRACK RFID

Technology Background

3.1.1) What is RFID?

RFID also known as radio frequency identification which used to describe a system that transmits the character of an entity using radio waves (in the form of unique serial number). It is designed to allow readers to capture data and transmit it to a computer system so that there no human energy is used or involved. Microchips in a typical RFID tag are attached to a radio antenna that mounted on a substrate. A reader is needed to retrieve data on RFID tags so that the reader can transform the information in digital form to a computer system.

3.1.2) What is Smarttrack RFID?

Smarttrack RFID consists of three types which are tag, reader, and software. It is specially designed to ease the flow for Art Gallery and Museum collections. Firstly, Smarttrack RFID tag is a small label that locates at every single collection to be tracked. This label has an RFID inlay that surrounded into it which is a chip that contains unique ID programmed to its memory. The UHF Gen 2 inlays invented by UPM Raflatac are used to make the RFID tag. Besides, an RFID inlay has been pre-printed with conductive ink according to the specific antenna design, and mounted on an adaptable PET or paper substrate. As a result, the compilation of inlay is then flanked by a printed label and its adhesive backing that yielding a smart label.

Subsequently, Smarttrack RFID reader has two types which are Handheld Readers and Fixed Readers. Those readers can be tracked at some departure spot. Besides, the radio waves that transmitted by the readers to respond with the unique ID throughout the antenna and the tags.

Vendor or Company Background

The needs of the Technologies

3.3.1) Smarttrack Handheld Readers

It is easier for the staff at the museum to locate or identify the items so that they no need to waste their time to check every single item one by one. The readers can reduce time consuming to track misplaced or missing objects in the museum. Thus, the staff can easily use the handheld readers either through off-line or in real-time mode. Staff also has the ability to read items number for access without needing to move or touch the objects.

3.3.2) Smarttrack Fixed Readers

All the museum have this reader because to make sure the absolute visibility of the collections all the times. There are two types of fixed readers which are track points and registration stations. Track point enable the staff to track the flow of the items in the museum which means the movement of the items into or out from the storage area, while registration station can assist the efficiency of registered objects or collections into the Smarttrack software.

Figure 1.1: Smarttrack Track Point

3.3.3) Smarttrack RFID Software

This software smooths the progress of collecting the data from the entire technologies. The data collected are sent to the system software and then sent to the database when the object is spotted. The alarm will automatically turn on if the object is removed because of the RFID tag. Hence, the lost or missing valuable collection in the museum can be prevented.

Figure 1.2: Process of the system works

Functionality/Efficiency

3.4.1) Smarttrack Handheld Readers

Smarttrack handheld readers have many functions in order to carry out the task in the museum. Some of the functions are to classify the objects on shelves or on display, carry out audits, inventories and stock-takes of the items, and penetrating for missing or misplaced items. This reader also can be used to update location of the items in the museum, as well to read tags on the objects. Furthermore, it also enable to simply walk slowly up scanning for the misplaced item, without needing to move or open any boxes.

3.4.2) Smarttrack Fixed Readers

Smarttrack fixed readers consists of two types which are track point and registration station. This reader are manage to trace missing or misplaced items in the museum, and also apply to register the items. Likewise, the track point is worked to record tagged items and staffs. As said before, this track point used to track the interchange of the collection into or out of the area. For example, the collection been removed because of exhibition, visitor access, conservation, registration, loans, and storage changes.

3.4.3) Smarttrack RFID Software

Advantages/Disadvantages

Advantage

Disadvantage

Improve collection preservation by reducing unnecessary work required to open and move the readable label.

Make guarantee that all the collections or art works are always up-to-date

Help out to prevent of theft from stealing the valuable collections.

Business will improve because of the growing technologies and optimistic organizational change.