Hi Rick,
> This is planned. I'm mostly waiting to get enough photos to make
> it worthwhile. We currently only have about 145 Megabytes of data. A
> CDROM can hold about 600 Meg.
If you use writable CD's those could updated later on if the disk is
not full already.
>
>
> We have had a few heroic contributors, such as
>
> Jan Schlauer: main db
> Juerg Steiger: pings
> Isao Takai: pings
> Andreas Wistuba: Nepenthes
> Arthur Lauffenberger: Nepenthes Guide, Danser
> Kevin Snively: Drosera keys: Obermeyer, Gleason
>
> but the overall image coverage of species is still very spotty right now.
I have got a modest selection of own shots at home but some expert
should check if the titles are right.
>
> I don't think it worth my effort to produce and distribute the data at
> this time. Once we get, say, 50% coverage of species, and good pictures
> of all the common stuff, then I'll be excited about doing the work.
>
> Once we get a "critical mass" of images, then the issues that will
> need to be dealt with are:
>
> development/licensing of platform independent database software
> (I now use the UNIX pgrep and awk programs for database searching
> this will not work immediately on MAC or PC platforms...)
> development/licensing of platform-independent browser software
> (Netscape or Mosaic binaries should be on the CDROM for
> MAC, DOS, OS2, UNIX, etc...)
> conversion of all filenames to DOS limitations
> (Files currently have long UNIX-style names)
> conversion to the CDROM filesystem standard, burning test copies, ...
> (We will need to alpha and beta test the CDROMS before
> mass-production and offering them through CPN...)
>
yes, I know lots of problems ahead.
> As far as sharing the data with those less fortunate, many public
> libraries have WEB browser capability. A recent newspaper ad offered
> refurbished IBM-486 machines with graphical WEB browser software for
> $299! Local "free-net" public WEB accounts can be had for $40/year!
> The CP WEB database can be browsed with text-only machines for even
> cheaper. Kinko's Copy Center will rent you machines and WEB time for
> several bucks an hour. Anyone that has a machine capable of using
> a CDROM, can incrementally add WEB access for very little extra money.
Talking about a fraction of the world population, right ?
Next time somebody asks me if he/she could watch those pictures/texts
at home I will ask them to rent one of those cheap machines from Kinko's
Copy Center. Note: there is life outside the borders of the US, even
on this list. :-)
>
> If I stall enough, everyone will eventually have WEB access and the
> issue will be moot (only 1/2 of a smiley :-)).
>
> You can speed things up by contributing lots of nice pictures :-)
Once I am done with my thesis, sure I will. (just a questions of weeks
anymore)
> Seriously now, I really do want to put out a CDROM. It is just a matter
> of deciding when we really have a stable, useful, chunk of info that is
> worth the effort to "get it out there".
>
> Please let me know if you think I'm "off base" here, or if you want
> to volunteer to do the work... :-).
Does the smiley indicate that this question (no questionmark !?) is rhe-
torical, or what?
>
> I'm willing to send a tar file to anyone who wants to volunteer to solve
> the above-mentioned issues and spearhead a short-term CDROM project. I
> am planning on doing it myself, but only when the data is a bit more
> complete.
>
Sorry, no, it is just an idea of me that something like CD-ROM is nice.
I am not going to get involved in struggly for honour and glory on this
subject. You have done a great work so far and I guess we are all thank-
ful.
> Best regards,
> --
> Rick Walker
>
Michael
>
>
--
Michael Hasemann | Technical Research Centre of Finland - Automation
| Kaitovayla 1, P.O. Box 13023, 90571 Oulu, Finland
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