![[The Resource Directory]](/file/36067/SIGCAT 97 - Conference on Convergence.ISO/Docs/00009/009da.gif)
Imago Documentorum: Imaging and Document Management Information Resources
Kirk L. Kroeker
EMedia Professional, March 1997Copyright © Online Inc.
| Newcomers to the document imaging and management field might find it difficult to know where to begin looking for information on this quickly changing industry. |
But how does a corporate archiver or a government imager keep up with all the new tools and technologies that have supported and will support such impressive industry growth? And how do smaller businesses hop on an imaging and management bandwagon that has now become more financially accessible?
Since the advent of the word processor, the advantages of using documents in an electronic, character-based form have become increasingly well-known. Unlike paper documents, computer-originated documents can be searched, edited simultaneously by multiple users, printed on demand with revisions and with no loss in quality, and distributed worldwide over computer networks. In addition to these significant advantages, the physical volume of magnetic or optical computer storage required for an electronic document is much less than that for the paper on which it would be printed.
Office document imaging--the technology that enables converting paper-or microfilm-based documents into fully editable, character-based form--brings the now-familiar promise of a paperless workplace to any business and institution that uses a high volume of printed text. And the related technology, document management, enables organizations to disseminate information to just about anyone inside or outside an institution by integrating imaging, workflow, optical character recognition (OCR), and other technologies with standards compliance and organizational management.
Some of the latest developments in the imaging and management fields include those systems that use jukeboxes along with Hierarchical Storage Management (HSM) software to archive large volumes of documents while only keeping frequently used documents on the hard disk. Once the HSM software detects that a document hasn't been accessed in a while, it removes it from the disk and archives it. When that document is requested again, the HSM software will find it in the archives and place it on the user's hard disk. Aside from a little delay, the HSM software is transparent to the user.
Also, improvements in CD recording have increased the removable media's popularity among corporations employing document-imaging software. For example, the advent of packet-writing technologies, faster drives, and higher-speed jukeboxes has convinced many corporations to use CD-R for document imaging storage and long-term archival purposes. But with a proliferation of such increasingly easy-to-use software and hardware solutions, newcomers to the document imaging and management field might find it difficult to know where to begin looking for information on this quickly changing industry. And the imaging and management professionals already familiar with much of the field but who want to update their knowledge of the latest OCR tools or network-compatible document management software might also be at a loss for where to go for solid and current information. This resource directory covers the organizations, Web sites, newsletters, magazines, and conferences most essential to keeping pace with the ever-expanding world of document imaging and management.
PTN Publishing Company,
445 Broad Hollow Road,
Melville, NY 11747;
516/845-2700; Fax 516/845-2797.
Advanced Imaging--a monthly magazine distributed to qualified professionals without charge--covers all things related to document imaging, including even tangential issues like digital video. Recent issues have covered high-end imaging cameras, cable modems, two-way imaging, videoconferencing standards, and digital image watermarking. The magazine also lists relevant industry conferences in an events department, and offers valuable full-length reviews of new products of use to the document imager.
1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1100,
Silver Spring, MD 20910;
301/587-8202; Fax 301/587-2711; http://www.aiim.org.
The Association for Information and Imaging Management (AIIM) is the standards body for the micrographics, electronic imaging, and document management industry. Standards are created by AIIM member volunteers and are eventually adopted, in most cases, by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and, in some cases, by the International Standards Organization (ISO). AIIM is truly an information clearinghouse covering the tools and technologies that enable effective document management. AIIM also administers DMA (the Document Management Alliance) and ODMA (Open Document Management API). These groups are developing de facto software standards to allow interoperability of document management systems.
Among AIIM's multitude of offerings, the resource center on AIIM's Web site is one of the most useful, and is perhaps the single largest document management reference and research library available to the industry. If a book or pamphlet can't be found in the resource center, AIIM's staff can analyze a user's needs and help get the required information. Not only can you find a host of books on the past and present of imaging and management technologies, but you can obtain information on industry trends, surveys, the legality of imaged documents, market sizing, industry standards, recommended practices, and federal and state regulations. For details of specific costs in relation to the strategic benefits of various media and systems and the return on investment (ROI) ratios, the resource center can provide information from an assortment of articles and publications. This service, and many others offered by AIIM, is available only to members, however.
According to the organization itself, with more than 50 chapters worldwide and a new affiliates program, AIIM currently serves more than 9,000 individual members and 600 corporate members in 150 countries. Individual membership costs $90 per year, and corporate membership ranges from $250 to $8000, but AIIM offers many discounts on its products and services, such as the DOC.1 newsletter, INFORM Magazine, or the more than 370 books, CDs, videos, audio programs, and slide shows that AIIM offers on technology, professional development, education tools, and imaging and management industry standards.
April 14-17, 1997, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center,
New York City
Association for Information and Imaging Management (AIIM),
1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1100,
Silver Spring, MD 20910;
301/587-8202; Fax 301/587-2711; http://www.aiim.org.
The AIIM Show and Conference is the watershed event for the document imaging and management community, as it provides an annual forum and learning experience for more than 40,000 attendees. Conference sessions focus on just about every aspect of document imaging and managing--from COLD to OCR--and an exhibit floor hosts hundreds of exhibitors. If you manage documents, the AIIM Show and Conference is the most important event you can attend for the year. The more than 350 exhibits this year will include, according to AIIM, everything that's new and important in the field. Costs for attending the show in 1996 ranged from $700 to $1240.
Information House,
20-24 Old Street,
London EC1V 9AP, United Kingdom;
+44 171 253 4488; Fax +44 171 430 0514; http://www.aslib.co.uk/.
The Association for Information Management (Aslib) promotes information about refining the management of information resources worldwide. Aslib's wide range of books, journals, and reference sources supports this objective. The Aslib Know How Guide series, for example, was set up in 1994 and has proved to be a valuable resource for document managing professionals. Six new titles appeared in the 1997 catalogue, which makes for a total of more than 20 books in the Know How Guide series. Further titles, as well as details of other Aslib publications and products, will be announced throughout the year in Managing Information, Aslib's monthly magazine, and on Aslib's Web site. Managing Information is read, according to the organization, in 115 countries worldwide and is devoted to information professionals and business people who want to better understand the strategic importance of information management. Managing Information offers practical articles, a calendar of courses, conferences and events, and a book and electronic product reviews section. The extensive news section highlights important developments and trends in the information industry. Membership costs around $75 annually, and includes a free subscription to Managing Information.
222 Mervis Hall,
Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh,
Pittsburgh, PA 15260;
412/648-1588; Fax 412/648-1693; http://www.pitt.edu/~ais/.
The Association for Information Systems (AIS) is an organization whose purpose is to serve as a global center for professionals working with information systems. According to the AIS, the organization strives to create an identity for IS professionals, further establish the credibility of the field, and develop a vision for the future. AIS provides members with a subsidized subscription to one of three journals as a benefit of membership. For $7.50 to $15 above the annual $80 membership fee, a member may select an annual subscription to Information Systems, Journal of Organizational Computing, or MIS Quarterly. But the association also offers a free newsletter, which announces industry events and new products relating to information systems.
4200 Somerset Drive, Suite 215,
Prairie Village, KS 66208;
913/341-3808; Fax 913/341-3742; http://www.arma.org/hq/.
The Association of Records Managers & Administrators (ARMA) is a not-for-profit professional association of over 10,000 records and information management professionals in the United States, Canada, and around the world. Local chapters offer educational, technical, and networking opportunities. The mission of ARMA is to advance records and information management as a discipline and a profession; to organize and promote programs of research, education, training, and
networking in the profession of records and information management; and to promote cooperative endeavors with related professional groups. At the local level, there are over 140 chapters throughout the U.S., Canada, Japan, and New Zealand. Local chapters hold regular meetings to provide members with networking, education, and leadership opportunities throughout the year. Members of ARMA receive information on developments in the information and records management field, as well as notices covering opportunities for receiving education from professional practitioners in the field. Members also receive Records Management Quarterly, News Notes and Quotes, and the local chapter's newsletter. Local chapter meetings allow good opportunities for networking with other records and information professionals. ARMA dues are $100 annually, and an additional $10 to $50, depending on the chapter.
UB Commons,
520 Lee Entrance, Suite 202,
Amherst, NY 14228-2567;
716/645-6162; Fax 716/645-6176; http://www.cedar.buffalo.edu/.
Concerned with the science of recognition and analysis of documents, the Center of Excellence for Document Analysis and Recognition (CEDAR), although somewhat theoretical in orientation, offers on its Web site a wide range of bibliographic information and covers in extreme depth the technical details of document imaging. Membership in CEDAR is advantageous for those whose work intersects with computational theory, algorithms, software or hardware design, or system maintenance. Membership in the CEDAR Industrial Affiliates Program is open to organizations with interest in document analysis and recognition technologies that would both benefit from and contribute to technical interchange. The corporate membership fee is $20,000 per year. For companies with fewer than 500 employees, a special membership of $10,000 is available. Members gain access to CEDAR research through direct collaboration, technical advisory committees, special reports, research project updates, short courses, and special seminars.
Association for Information and Imaging Management (AIIM),
1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1100,
Silver Spring, MD 20910;
301/587-8202; Fax 301/587-2711; http://www.aiim.org.
DOC.1 is the single best weekly newsletter for the document imaging and management industry. Published by AIIM, which has a strong sense of the industry, DOC.1 provides news of the corporations and technology shaping the document management field. DOC.1 covers workflow, multimedia, EDI, electronic and micrographic imaging, and voice and other document management technologies. AIIM members can subscribe to DOC.1--which is available by fax or email--for $25 per year; non-members can subscribe for $70.
12 West 21st Street,
New York, NY 10010;
800/542-7279; Fax 212/691-1191.
Imaging Magazine is for information professionals who implement and manage imaging products and services. Especially useful in this magazine is a broad approach to imaging that includes management, storage, and network solutions. Of especial use to the imaging professional will be the annual buyers guide--in the 1996 volume published in the August issue--that includes directory coverage of digital cameras, workflow software, scanners, SOHO imaging, OCR software, and 30 other categories. The magazine--whose subscription price is $17.95 per year--offers feature-length articles covering everything imaging from monitors to application of imaging technology in the legal realm.
Taylor & Francis Inc.
1900 Frost Road, Suite 101,
Bristol PA 19007-1598;
800/821-8312; Fax 215/785-5515; http://www.ics.uci.edu/~kling/tis.html.
The Information Society Journal, published since 1981, is a quarterly forum for analysis of the impacts, policies, system concepts, and practicing methodologies related to information management technologies. Some of the key information technologies covered in the journal include computers, telecommunications, and the social effects of information. Though not a hands-on practical guide to information management, almost every issue of The Information Society Journal offers a glimpse into the current state of information management and what it might look like as new technologies are brought to bear. Personal subscriptions to the journal cost $54.
Association for Information and Imaging Management (AIIM),
1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1100,
Silver Spring, MD 20910;
301/587-8202; Fax 301/587-2711; http://www.aiim.org.
AIIM's monthly INFORM Magazine covers applications, offers product comparisons, and provides other industry information. INFORM provides a number of valuable features like a quarterly international management supplement, worldwide case studies, monthly columns on imaging and document management fundamentals, and a buying guide with product prices. INFORM's core audience, according to AIIM, is composed of 10,000 members of the Association for Information and Imaging Management and another 25,000 individuals who have attended the AIIM conference. INFORM is published monthly except August and December for $85 per year, but AIIM members receive the magazine free.
Prospect Place, 9 Hillside Avenue,
Waltham, MA 02154;
617/290-4990;
http://www.ileaf.com.
Interleaf is a provider of integrated document management solutions, and houses on its Web site a host of good information covering document management and the methods best used to leverage document-based information to gain a competitive advantage. Interleaf offers on the site a series of extensive and free informational guides which answer hundreds of document managing-related questions. In addition, each guide explores and explains the important aspects of and issues surrounding the implementation of a document management system for particular business requirements. The ISO 9000 and SGML guides, for instance, tell you how you can determine if and how you should prepare for complying with these international industry standards as they relate to document management, and what criteria to use when choosing the system and vendors you need. The site also provides good overviews of electronic document distribution technology, the many approaches to it, its benefits, and guidelines for evaluating potential solutions.
187 East Union Avenue,
East Rutherford, NJ 07073;
201/935-4100; Fax 201/935-3150
http://www.docimage.com/
Although a document management and imaging solutions vendor, MicroAge offers one of the best Web resources available anywhere on the topic of document imaging and management. The MicroAge site offers pages covering news and reviews, technology tips, document imaging resources, associations, organizations, hardware, software, standards, publications, business process reengineering, and more. With a fully linked listing of vendors, organizations, and other related sites, MicroAge is worth repeat visits.
401 North Michigan Avenue,
Chicago, IL 60611-4267;
312/644-6610; Fax 312/245-1081;
http://www.simnet.org/.
The Society for Information Management (SIM) is an organization whose membership roster numbers more than 2,700 information technology (IT) professionals from around the country. SIM offers members the ability to share information, knowledge, expertise, and solutions for information technology management. Of especial use to members and non-members alike is the SIM Web site, where SIM provides access to a host of IT data designed to aid professionals in streamlining an enterprise computing environment. The cost of membership ranges from $125 to $22,000 a year, depending on type of individual or corporate membership status, and includes a subscription to the SIM journal, MIS Quarterly.
http://members.aol.com/cdia01/index.html.
The Certified Document Imaging Architect certification program is an industry-wide, vendor-neutral program developed and sponsored by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CTIA) and designed to provide a means of identifying individuals having the base level of knowledge required to plan, design, and specify a document imaging system. The certification stipulates that a Document Imaging Architect will be able to identify the five basic subsystems involved in a document imaging system and the issues specific to each. Because the CTIA doesn't have an extensive Web site covering document imaging, Tony Sullivan--who is a systems engineer and CDIA instructor--has provided a Web site full of information on document imaging. The site offers a slew of links to document imaging-related resources and a host of other information, including information on OCR, the cost of managing an imaging system, and more.
Kirk L. Kroeker is assistant editor of EMedia Professional.
 Home Page |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Copyright © 1997, Online Inc.![[LiveLink]](/file/36067/SIGCAT 97 - Conference on Convergence.ISO/Docs/webcd.gif "[LiveLink]"){kind=small}
All rights reserved.
info@onlineinc.com
[This site created for best results under Netscape.]