Microsoft joins Cornell U in mass book-scanning project

Alexander Turcic · 10-18-2006, 05:10 AM

The Financial Times reports that Microsoft has joined Cornell University in their efforts to digitize the school's scholarly collections. Starting early next year, the books will become gradually available to the general public through Live Book Search with access restrictions to copyright-protected books.

Microsoft will use the book scanning technology from Kirtas Technology. Kirtas' APT Bookscan 2400 is a $100,000+ automatic book scanner which zips along at 2,400 pages per hour. Best of all, its automatic page turning process SureTurn is reportedly gentler than a human hand.

And for those who wonder... the name Kirtas is an anagram for "at risk", implying the risk of cultural heritage because of paper deterioration.

Slava · 10-18-2006, 07:53 AM

Here is a demo how Bookscan works.

It seems they are using two Canon 1Ds Mark II cameras to "scan" pages.

yvanleterrible · 10-18-2006, 08:33 AM

Does this mean that Microsoft will join the e-book market, like they joined music with the Zune ?

NatCh · 10-18-2006, 11:29 AM

Only if they smell money.

yvanleterrible · 10-18-2006, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

Only if they smell money.

If Microsoft smells money, then let them be our truffle hunting dogs to ebook gathering. I feel a good harvest about to happen!

NatCh · 10-18-2006, 02:25 PM

I thought they used pigs for that....

yvanleterrible · 10-18-2006, 02:26 PM

That is for the French. Italians use dogs for white truffel.

Bob Russell · 10-18-2006, 02:28 PM

Suddenly I'm hungry for expensive chocolates.

yvanleterrible · 10-18-2006, 02:31 PM

And I for an expensive reader (Irex?)

Nah! I'm not the beta type!

Slow_hand · 08-20-2008, 07:49 AM

The Kirtas machine is simply incredible. We have one in our Library. It does take many Terabytes of storage to save the scans, though.

10-18-2006, 05:10 AM	#1
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,175 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Microsoft joins Cornell U in mass book-scanning project The Financial Times reports that Microsoft has joined Cornell University in their efforts to digitize the school's scholarly collections. Starting early next year, the books will become gradually available to the general public through Live Book Search with access restrictions to copyright-protected books. Microsoft will use the book scanning technology from Kirtas Technology. Kirtas' APT Bookscan 2400 is a $100,000+ automatic book scanner which zips along at 2,400 pages per hour. Best of all, its automatic page turning process SureTurn is reportedly gentler than a human hand. And for those who wonder... the name Kirtas is an anagram for "at risk", implying the risk of cultural heritage because of paper deterioration.

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10-18-2006, 07:53 AM	#2
Slava Addict Posts: 285 Karma: 129 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New England Device: PRS-500 · iPad · K3	Here is a demo how Bookscan works. It seems they are using two Canon 1Ds Mark II cameras to "scan" pages.

10-18-2006, 08:33 AM	#3
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	Does this mean that Microsoft will join the e-book market, like they joined music with the Zune ?

10-18-2006, 11:29 AM	#4
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Only if they smell money.

10-18-2006, 02:25 PM	#6
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I thought they used pigs for that....

10-18-2006, 02:26 PM	#7
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	That is for the French. Italians use dogs for white truffel.

10-18-2006, 02:28 PM	#8
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Suddenly I'm hungry for expensive chocolates.

10-18-2006, 02:31 PM	#9
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	And I for an expensive reader (Irex?) Nah! I'm not the beta type!

08-20-2008, 07:49 AM	#10
Slow_hand Groupie Posts: 190 Karma: 326 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore Device: Amazon Kindle 2	The Kirtas machine is simply incredible. We have one in our Library. It does take many Terabytes of storage to save the scans, though.

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