Dr. Ed F. de Vogel

Dr. Ed de Vogel and André Schuiteman
Orchids of Southeast Asia on CD-ROM

Nationaal Herbarium Nederland, Leiden branch

Delfina de Araujo and Sergio Araujo

ORCHID NEWS, a virtual magazine and its part in the divulgation of the scientific and horticultural knowledge through the INTERNET.

The creation of the site BRAZILIAN ORCHID dated from l996 and in a short time, the site became a reference in orchidology and orchidophilia in Brazil and abroad.
In spite of the new topics, periodically added and frequent a actualization the others, the editors felt the necessity of stimulating the return constant to the site and making it more dynamic as well as to divulgate the works done in this area.
The answer to those needs was the edition of the first virtual magazine of orchidophilia and orchidology ORCHID NEWS, edited exclusively by Sergio Araujo and Delfina Araujo.
Since then more than 24 editions have been put on the Internet accomplishing the function of helping to make known the works on orchids (done in Brazil or abroad however mainly about Brazilian species), to redeem the national orchidophil memory and to stimulate the cultivation.
The editors are not only concerned about the specialist visitant (researcher) but also the amateur orchidists. So aiming to be an attractive magazine for both, the topics are diversified. There are scientific works, non -scientific approachs, scientific drawing and artistic photography, raising healthy discussions and taking advantage of the Internet as a modern way of communication in the divulgation of scientific and horticultural knowledge.


Rudolf Jenny
BIBLIORCHIDEA the Orchid Literature Database

Literature is still playing a major role in science and research, on one side because it is a documentation of research already done and a demonstration of the results. On the other hand it is also a record about recent research. At least for the time being, literature search is a part of any scientific work or project. Whoever has done literature search knows about the difficulties to reach an overview of the literature in connection with a project in an acceptable time and with acceptable effort. Computer technology today provides us with a large selection of very helpful tools to limit time and effort for literature search.
BIBLIORCHIDEA was build up over a period of about 15 years as a database about orchid literature in all its aspects, providing a fast and actual access to books and articles about or in connection with Orchidaceae. Special emphasis was given to taxonomy and systematics. Today BIBLIORCHIDEA consists of more than 125'000 documents. Because of copyright regulations BIBLIORCHIDEA is a collection of citations only, together with a extensive list of keywords based on the “hard-copy” of the publication in one of the most complete orchid literature collections worldwide.
The actual form of BIBLIORCHIDEA as it is accessible through internet (www.Bibliorchidea.net), will allow the user different kinds of search or also the connection of different search methods. These are:
direct search for author and co-author
direct search for the year of publication (selection direct or in a bos or window)
search with text-input in the fields Title, Literature quotation, Editor, Publisher, “Above species” and “Species and below” (free-text search)
direct search for new descriptions in the respective fields “Above species” and “Species and below”
search for keywords by direct selection from the keyword catalogue as single keyword or in connection with other keywords by using the connecting terms and / or (Boolean connections)
enlarge the result by using one of the above mentioned methods.
restrict (decrease) the result by using one of the above mentioned methods (“decrease to” and “decrease by” – functions)
Besides the search mechanisms, the software naturally allows the sorting of results by different criterions and the printout as list of documents or as single document with all the detailed information. The important addition is the fact that all documents the user can find in BIBLIORCHIDEA are also available as physical copy, hence a very fast access is guaranteed.

Frank Slaughter Jr
Picture documentation in electronic form

Brief description: To document its awards granting endeavors, the American Orchid Society (A.O.S.) has accumulated more than 45,000 color slides. Recognizing the perishable nature and educational value of its award slides holding, subject to the availability of volunteer and financial resources, the A.O.S. is attempting to scan its entire, growing award slides collection. This talk will review how scans at 4000 pixel per inch resolution are being made and how their color accuracy is being safeguarded. Special attention will be given to how the use of ICC profiles for digital scanners, computer monitors, printers, and digital projectors contributes to achieving accurate color both in the acquisition and use of orchid slide scans. The talk also will demonstrate custom software that has been developed to automate deriving lower resolution images from high resolution scans. Ready availability of color accurate, lower resolution images supports A.O.S. publications, strengthens visual offerings on A.O.S. web sites, and can better inform orchid judging decisions by providing rapid access to comparative pictorial information.
Brief speaker bio.: Frank Slaughter, Jr. is a retired academic mathematician, former A.O.S. Trustee, and accredited orchid judge. He chairs the A.O.S Technology Task Force, the research and software development body in charge of the digital award slides scanning project.
Likely audience: Scientists, orchid growers, general public.