Integrated Live and Stored Internet Based Digital Microscopy for Education

Extract

Few educational institutions have well maintained microscopes that facilitate the experience intended by the creators of their teaching texts. The cost of putting a high quality selection of the different types of microscopes at every educational institution for access by all students is prohibitive. The advent of the Internet and the rapid proliferation of computers at educational institutions offer the prospect for dramatic improvements in microscopy education.

We present an Internet based digital microscopy system with unique features for education. We have developed a unified architecture for management and transmission of live and stored microscope data over the Internet. The system consists of a combination of software and hardware. The hardware includes a microscope with a motorized stage, focus, and optionally a motorized nosepiece. Standard off the shelf components for each of the items can be used so that the user is afforded great flexibility in utilizing available hardware. Image acquisition is done by attaching a video camera to the microscope. Both analog and digital video cameras are supported, although it should be noted that users have experienced outstanding results with relatively inexpensive analog cameras.