interactive keys and others

[Mary Barkworth]

I use them only as a last resort. This may be because I like reading and
find that I absorb information through reading, which I enjoy, and I
like reading. I also like seeing what comes out around my plant. Sure, I
could find this out with Intkey or other programs - and get information
designed for a computer. There is a reason publishers spend time and
effort choosing fonts, layout etc. For analyses, yes, a database of
information is great. Humans are not computers. Also, customs officials,
taxonomists, and general public have different motivations for
identification. This also plays into which mode they prefer to use.One
size does not fit all. Let us remember too that identification tools
cannot be scientifically better than the underlying taxonomic treatment
(nor the willingness of organisms to fit themselves into categories,
whether these categories are called 123456 or aba daba). 


-----Original Message-----
From: Taxacom Discussion List [mailto:TAXACOM at LISTSERV.NHM.KU.EDU] On
Behalf Of Snow, Neil
Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 10:26 AM
To: TAXACOM at LISTSERV.NHM.KU.EDU
Subject: Re: [TAXACOM] interactive keys and others

In my mind there no doubt that interactive keys greatly accelerate the
rate of identification.  I was a committed skeptic back in 97 and 98
when I first became aware of their existence but that changed quickly
once I started using them.  Out of curiosity, have any readers of
TAXACOM who have made an earnest attempt to use an interactive
experienced otherwise?  NS

-----Original Message-----
From: Taxacom Discussion List [mailto:TAXACOM at LISTSERV.NHM.KU.EDU] On
Behalf Of Heike Vibrans
Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 8:26 AM
To: TAXACOM at LISTSERV.NHM.KU.EDU
Subject: Re: [TAXACOM] interactive keys and others

I was wondering (and it would be important for my own
work):

Are there any quantitative data or publications out there
on the relative merits of different ways of identifying
plants (perhaps comparing conventional keys, interactive
keys and flower-color-sorted pictures, as in many popular
field guides)? In terms of % correct identifications and
time necessary? Perhaps even distinguishing between
trained botanists and laypeople?

Regards,

Heike

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Dra. Heike Vibrans L.
Laboratorio de Etnobotánica
Programa de Botánica
Colegio de Postgraduados en Ciencias Agrícolas
km 35.5 carr. México-Texcoco
56230 Montecillo
Estado de México, Mexico

Tel. +52 (595) 95 20 200 Ext. 1335 (directo), 1331
(secretaria), 1330 (dirección)
Fax. +52 (595) 95 20 247
Correo electrónico: heike at colpos.mx (trabajo),
heike_texcoco at yahoo.com.mx

Página web:
http://www.colpos.mx/IRENAT/bot/HeikeVibransLindemann.htm
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