After the announcement of the beta test program, we received many fantastic applications, and we had to make a difficult call -- we only had few scanners to deliver. The first results are now showing up -- improvements in hardware, software and packaging for the new model are continuously being made. Here is a short overview of the major features of this new design and some photos of people building their stuff!
Jonathon's Duerig build!
- duerig.jpg (121.19 KiB) Viewed 14870 times
More of Jonathon's build here:
https://alpha.app.net/duerig/post/37760646
Privacy International:
Andrew Drozdov and team building together the scanner:
- workgroup.jpg (104.89 KiB) Viewed 14870 times
More photos from Andrew:
http://imgur.com/a/Yy7Zz
Needwant.com build:
We sold and developed
The Hackerspace Scanner for two years, and received crucial critical feedback from hundreds of users -all of which is incorporated into this new model.
BIGOSITY! HUGEACIOUSNESS!
This scanner is bigger, so you can scan bigger books - up to 12x15”.
SIMPLICITY! AUSTERITY!
The new scanner frame has drastically fewer parts than the old scanner. Great emphasis was placed on making it easier to assemble. Wherever two parts could be merged into one, they were. Wherever a wood screw could be replaced with an Ikea-style furniture bolt, it was. Wherever a washer could be eliminated with a flange nut, it was. The end result is a simpler, more durable machine that can be assembled in an afternoon.
COLOR! BOLD, BEAUTIFUL, ACCURATE COLOR!
On the previous scanner, the lighting module was experimental and based on cheap COB LEDs from China. Although it made a cheap and easy system for lightning, it didn’t compare to the halogen lighting on very expensive, archival scanners. Recently, drastic advances have been made in the color rendition that is possible with LED lights, and we optically designed the entire lighting system around these advances. The result is a lighting system that reproduces exceptional color with a measured 95 CRI output, and that produces no IR or UV. Try getting those numbers from other scanner manufacturers, who don’t share this basic technical information. No amount of calibration makes up for poor lighting - you should be suspicious of anyone using LEDs or CFLs without at least giving you a CRI number.
WE CARE ABOUT YOUR OPERATORS!
There are many small enhancements across the machine, like the cradle lift stop and the new counterweight system. You can remove the cradle from the scanner, adjust it for each book, and put it back again. Your operator’s backs and arms will thank you - no more leaning over a machine trying to get things right.
We expect the beta test to be completed near the end of October -- stay tuned!