Institutional vs. Personal Collections
Insight Personal Collection Feature
Personal & institutional collections together
February alpha-test with CDL ISDP
+ adding a collection easy to learn
+ easy batch processing for images
+ viewer & light table during cataloging
+ re-editing easy as editing
+ tends to keep metadata linked with image
- only 3 records structures in this version
- specific interface bottlenecks
- relationships between images awkward
LUNA Imaging is developing a personal collection feature.  It manages personal collections with the same Insight software as is used for the institutional collections -- and on the same servers.  It resembles the software for the institutional collection in nearly every way but has the capability of providing separate collection security and separate record structures.

This feature was alpha tested in February with the Cal. Digital Library (at UCI).  A real prof with a real collection of digital images spent 4 hours working with the software and discussing it with observers.  She found the process of adding a collection very easy to learn, liked the easy batch processing of image groups, appreciated having the full complement of Insight "image work space" features while cataloging (light table re-groupings, zooming, etc.), and was glad to see that Insight tends to keep the image and its metadata together in its export features.

The major fault she found with this version was being limited to 3 templates for record structures -- as soon as she understood the available records she was eager to customize for her specific collection needs.  There were also some interface and documentation glitches -- as is typical with interfaces that are rich in features and choices.  (e.g. using the control key to select multiple images).  The test subject noticed that it was difficult to record relationships between images (such as the narrative sequence of several images) -- something that many of us have noticed with many other systems.