Freiburg, 27 February 2007
Fraunhofer IAIS presents a study on the digitisation of cultural assets: http://www.iais.fraunhofer.de/bkm_studie.html
The study investigates the digitisation needs of German libraries, archives and museums, analyses the organisational and technical aspects of digitising texts or images and compiles specific recommendations for action for cultural institutions.
One fundamental aspect of this project was provided by a specific study conducted by the online agency Virtual Identity. It examined the utilisation of digital cultural assets and highlighted the potential involved in refinancing the digitisation process. Virtual Identity analysed and evaluated current initiatives for the realisation of this effort.
According to the findings of the study, the utilisation of digital cultural assets has a number of parallels with the marketing of consumer goods by businesses. For cultural institutions, this involves expanding their primary focus on preserving and making cultural assets available to the public to include commercial options for utilisation. The study provides specific recommendations for action for the institutions along with tools for successful implementation.
About Fraunhofer IAIS
Fraunhofer IAIS is based in Sankt Augustin, Germany. The institute explores and develops innovative hardware and software systems to analyse data and supply information. From sensor data to business intelligence, from media analyses to visual information systems: The solutions developed by Fraunhofer IAIS enable companies to do more with their data. The institute’s core competencies include machine-based learning and adaptive systems, data mining and business intelligence, automatic media analysis, interactive development and exploration as well as autonomous systems. IAIS focuses its work on sectors such as business (banks, insurance companies), media (information processing companies, market research, advertising), network-oriented suppliers (energy, telecommunications) and security (monitoring, rescue, defence).
About Virtual Identity
Virtual Identity connects brands and companies with our networked society. Founded in 1995, the agency develops Web-based solutions for brand management and corporate communication. Virtual Identity has around 50 employees at its offices in Freiburg and Munich. Clients include: Allianz, BASF, HypoVereinsbank, Lexware, SAP, Siemens, Swiss Re and Vitra.
