Microscope usage control

[Ihalainen Teemu Olavi]

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
*****

Dear Listers,

This is not directly microscopy related question, so forgive me.

We would like to monitor our microscope usage more carefully and I would appreciate if someone has some ideas how to do it.

At the moment people need to log on and out of the computers with their own logins and after the imaging write to the logbook what they have done. The problem is that users are really not writing anything to the logbook and thus it is a bit difficult to follow who was doing what and so on. Therefore we have decided to implement some kind of "digital logbook" to the computers controlling the microscopes. Our aim is that when user is finally logging out from the computer (Windows xp), he/she would be asked give information about the usage (which light sources and objectives were used, if the person was using FLIM or TIRF, etc.) and possibly about the problems/malfunctions. This information would be then saved to the server or to the computer. Later, the people who are responsible for the maintenance would be able to go through the usage history.

Does somebody know already a good solution/software which would do this? This is a bit too big piece for me to write...

Best,
Teemu Ihalainen

Teemu Ihalainen, Ph.D.
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich
ETH Hönggerberg
Laboratory for Biologically Oriented Materials
Wolfgang-Pauli Str. 10, HCI E417
CH-8093 Zürich
Tel.: [phone]

[Vasanji, Ph.D., Amit]

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
*****

Hi Teemu,
  I've written a program to do this (we have it currently installed on 2 confocals, several wide-field scopes, a TIRF system, bioluminescence system, ultrasound, biorad icyclers, etc)...you can download a 15 day demo @

www.resource-vision.com


Please feel free to ask questions if you have issues with the installation. If you are interested in purchasing the software we can customize it for your particular needs.

Amit Vasanji, Ph.D.
Director, Biomedical Imaging & Analysis Core
Lerner Research Institute
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, OH
[phone]
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Ihalainen Teemu Olavi
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 2:25 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Microscope usage control

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
*****

Dear Listers,

This is not directly microscopy related question, so forgive me.

We would like to monitor our microscope usage more carefully and I would appreciate if someone has some ideas how to do it.

At the moment people need to log on and out of the computers with their own logins and after the imaging write to the logbook what they have done. The problem is that users are really not writing anything to the logbook and thus it is a bit difficult to follow who was doing what and so on. Therefore we have decided to implement some kind of "digital logbook" to the computers controlling the microscopes. Our aim is that when user is finally logging out from the computer (Windows xp), he/she would be asked give information about the usage (which light sources and objectives were used, if the person was using FLIM or TIRF, etc.) and possibly about the problems/malfunctions. This information would be then saved to the server or to the computer. Later, the people who are responsible for the maintenance would be able to go through the usage history.

Does somebody know already a good solution/software which would do this? This is a bit too big piece for me to write...

Best,
Teemu Ihalainen

Teemu Ihalainen, Ph.D.
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich
ETH Hönggerberg
Laboratory for Biologically Oriented Materials
Wolfgang-Pauli Str. 10, HCI E417
CH-8093 Zürich
Tel.: [phone]


===================================

P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail

Cleveland Clinic is ranked one of the top hospitals
in America by U.S.News & World Report (2009).  
Visit us online at http://www.clevelandclinic.org for
a complete listing of our services, staff and
locations.


Confidentiality Note:  This message is intended for use
only by the individual or entity to which it is addressed
and may contain information that is privileged,
confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable
law.  If the reader of this message is not the intended
recipient or the employee or agent responsible for
delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are
hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or
copying of this communication is strictly prohibited.  If
you have received this communication in error,  please
contact the sender immediately and destroy the material in
its entirety, whether electronic or hard copy.  Thank you.

[Boswell, Carl A - (cboswell)]

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
*****

Hi Ihalainen,
A free calendar is available at: http://demo.arl.arizona.edu/.  With this
system installed, it logs individuals in and out, disallowing any access
unless a person is registered with the calendar.  This precludes any
voluntary or erroneous estimates.  It can also tabulate usage over time,
such as for billing purposes.  If you decide to go this route, I can forward
to you a protocol for installing it.
C

Carl A. Boswell, Ph.D.
Molecular and Cellular Biology
University of Arizona
520-954-7053
FAX [phone]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ihalainen Teemu Olavi" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 12:25 PM
Subject: Microscope usage control


*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
*****

Dear Listers,

This is not directly microscopy related question, so forgive me.

We would like to monitor our microscope usage more carefully and I would
appreciate if someone has some ideas how to do it.

At the moment people need to log on and out of the computers with their own
logins and after the imaging write to the logbook what they have done. The
problem is that users are really not writing anything to the logbook and
thus it is a bit difficult to follow who was doing what and so on. Therefore
we have decided to implement some kind of "digital logbook" to the computers
controlling the microscopes. Our aim is that when user is finally logging
out from the computer (Windows xp), he/she would be asked give information
about the usage (which light sources and objectives were used, if the person
was using FLIM or TIRF, etc.) and possibly about the problems/malfunctions.
This information would be then saved to the server or to the computer.
Later, the people who are responsible for the maintenance would be able to
go through the usage history.

Does somebody know already a good solution/software which would do this?
This is a bit too big piece for me to write...

Best,
Teemu Ihalainen

Teemu Ihalainen, Ph.D.
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich
ETH Hönggerberg
Laboratory for Biologically Oriented Materials
Wolfgang-Pauli Str. 10, HCI E417
CH-8093 Zürich
Tel.: [phone]

[Bidlack, Felicitas]

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
*****

Hello Carl,

The free calendar sounds marvelous and would help our lab a lot, too. If you could send us a protocol for the correct installation, that would be great and very much appreciated.

Thank you,
Felicitas

Felicitas Bidlack, Ph.D.
Dept. of Biomineralization
The Forsyth Institute
245 First Street
Cambridge, MA 02142

Phone: [phone]
Fax:     [phone]
E-mail: [hidden email]


-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Carl Boswell
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 3:59 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Microscope usage control

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
*****

Hi Ihalainen,
A free calendar is available at: http://demo.arl.arizona.edu/.  With this
system installed, it logs individuals in and out, disallowing any access
unless a person is registered with the calendar.  This precludes any
voluntary or erroneous estimates.  It can also tabulate usage over time,
such as for billing purposes.  If you decide to go this route, I can forward
to you a protocol for installing it.
C

Carl A. Boswell, Ph.D.
Molecular and Cellular Biology
University of Arizona
520-954-7053
FAX [phone]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ihalainen Teemu Olavi" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 12:25 PM
Subject: Microscope usage control


*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
*****

Dear Listers,

This is not directly microscopy related question, so forgive me.

We would like to monitor our microscope usage more carefully and I would
appreciate if someone has some ideas how to do it.

At the moment people need to log on and out of the computers with their own
logins and after the imaging write to the logbook what they have done. The
problem is that users are really not writing anything to the logbook and
thus it is a bit difficult to follow who was doing what and so on. Therefore
we have decided to implement some kind of "digital logbook" to the computers
controlling the microscopes. Our aim is that when user is finally logging
out from the computer (Windows xp), he/she would be asked give information
about the usage (which light sources and objectives were used, if the person
was using FLIM or TIRF, etc.) and possibly about the problems/malfunctions.
This information would be then saved to the server or to the computer.
Later, the people who are responsible for the maintenance would be able to
go through the usage history.

Does somebody know already a good solution/software which would do this?
This is a bit too big piece for me to write...

Best,
Teemu Ihalainen

Teemu Ihalainen, Ph.D.
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich
ETH Hönggerberg
Laboratory for Biologically Oriented Materials
Wolfgang-Pauli Str. 10, HCI E417
CH-8093 Zürich
Tel.: [phone]