Advantages

Use of the Classifynder offers time and labour saving for your highly trained scientific resources, allowing this expertise to be much more highly leveraged. Whilst a trained palynologist is required to effectively train and set up the system for ongoing use, no specialist knowledge of image processing techniques or user interventions are required to obtain results. The palynologist simply reviews results at the end of each scan and makes any final adjustments of classifications required by dragging and dropping images with a mouse. This is usually far more time efficient that using traditional manual counting and classification techniques.

The Classifynder software requires only a well specified modern PC or laptop running a 64 bit Microsoft Windows 7 operating system. A system should have an Intel Core i7 processor, with a minimum of 8GB RAM, a 3GHz+ CPU, with at least three USB2 ports, a 16, 24, or 32-bit OpenGL capable graphics adapter

The system creates libraries of images complete with sample name, image date, image, classification parameters and geo-referenced location coordinates as embedded metadata. These libraries can be shared with other users for use in developing new training and reference sets and for pollen database creation. Access your Classifynder from across the campus or across the world or let it email you when it has completed the task you have set it. Export raw parameter data in CSV formats and then use this to explore statistical correlations in Microsoft Excel, ‘R’ or any other software able to able to import this format. Send your images in PNG image formats with embedded metadata able to be read and extracted by a wide variety of image reading and editing software. The clean, well segmented images can be sent by email or inserted into publications with ease.

Classifynder offers excellent repeatability and consistency (the ability to re-analyse a sample and return the same result) when compared to manual counts and classifications by trained palynologists. The system provides 3D position indexing of all objects on the slide, meaning that a researcher can understand and visualise the spatial distribution of all objects on the slide and quickly identify regions of particular interest. The images of all microscopic objects of interest on the slide or region of interest are captured with focus available across the full depth of field. A researcher can return to explore all or any of the slide objects without remounting the slide. Full image traceability is provided. Double click a library image and the system will direct you back to the slide and then to the location on the slide of the image of interest (very useful if re-examination of evidence is needed, or you want to examine the object using another microscope). Such a virtual slide does not suffer from the common problem of biological sample degradation over time.

The system has a small unobtrusive footprint on the lab bench; it can be easily moved and carried by one person. It's compact and robust enough to be shipped (in its packing case) almost anywhere at low cost.

With approriate permissions, we can access classifynder systems remotely over the internet to assist users with training or diagnosis of problems or issues.