Abstract
Researchers in bio-sciences are increasingly harnessing technology to improve processes that were traditionally pegged on pen-and-paper and highly manual. The pen-and-paper approach is used mainly to record and capture data from experiment sites. This method is typically slow and prone to errors. Also, bio-science research activities are often undertaken in remote and distributed locations. Timeliness and quality of data collected are essential. The manual method is slow to collect quality data and relay it in a timely manner. Capturing data manually and relaying it in real time is a daunting task. The data collected has to be associated to respective specimens (objects or plants). In this paper, we seek to improve specimen labelling and data collection guided by the following questions; (1) How can data collection in bio-science research be improved? (2) How can specimen labelling be improved in bio-science research activities? We present WebLog, an application that we prototyped to aid researchers generate specimen labels and collect data from experiment sites. We use the application to convert the object (specimen) identifiers into quick response (QR) codes and use them to label the specimens. Once a specimen label is successfully scanned, the application automatically invokes the data entry form. The collected data is immediately sent to the server in electronic form for analysis.
References
[1] Kumar N., In vitro Plant Propagation: A Review, Journal of Forest and Environmental Science, 2011, 27(2), 61–72Search in Google Scholar
[2] Espinosa-Leal C. A., Puente-Garza C. A., García-Lara S., In vitro plant tissue culture: means for production of biological active compounds, Planta, 2018, 248(1), 1–18, doi:10.1007/s00425-018-2910-110.1007/s00425-018-2910-1Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
[3] Jayaraman P. P., Yavari A., Georgakopoulos D., Morshed A., Zaslavsky A., Internet of things platform for smart farming: Experiences and lessons learnt, Sensors, 2016, 16(11), 1–1710.3390/s16111884Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
[4] Duarte M., Baptista A., Pinto G., Exploring the use of Quick Response Codes: accessing videos in the laboratory, TEEM Conference 2015, 2015, 99–103, doi:10.1145/2808580.280859610.1145/2808580.2808596Search in Google Scholar
[5] Georgakopoulos D., Jayaraman P. P., Internet of things: from internet scale sensing to smart services, Computing, 2016, 98(10), 1041–1058, doi:10.1007/s00607-016-0510-010.1007/s00607-016-0510-0Search in Google Scholar
[6] Rouillard J., Contextual QR codes, Proceedings of the 3rd International Multi-Conference on Computing in the Global Information Technology (ICCGI 2008) in Conjunction with ComP2P 2008: The 1st Int. Workshop on Computational P2P Networks: Theory and Practice (Athens, Greece), 2008, 50–55, doi:10.1109/ICCGI.2008.2510.1109/ICCGI.2008.25Search in Google Scholar
[7] Colezea M., Musat G., Pop F., Negru C., Dumitrascu A., Mocanu M., CLUeFARM: Integrated web-service platform for smart farms, Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2018, 154, 134–154, doi:10.1016/j.compag.2018.08.01510.1016/j.compag.2018.08.015Search in Google Scholar
[8] Ganesan M., Prashant S., Jhunjhunwala A., A Review on Challenges in Implementing Mobile Phone Based Data Collection in Developing Countries, Journal of Health Informatics in Developing Countries, 2015, 6(1), 366–374, doi:10.1523/ENEURO.0029-14.201510.1523/ENEURO.0029-14.2015Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
[9] Nandhini S., Performance Evaluation of Embedded Color QR Codes on Logos, 2017 Third International Conference On Science Technology Engineering and Management (Chennai, India), 2017, 1009–101410.1109/ICONSTEM.2017.8261315Search in Google Scholar
[10] Wang Y., Sun C., Kuan P., Lu C., Wang H., Secured Graphic QR Code with Infrared Watermark, 2018 IEEE International Conference on Applied System Invention (Chiba), 2018, 690–693, doi:10.1109/ICASI.2018.839435110.1109/ICASI.2018.8394351Search in Google Scholar
[11] Lay K., Chen T., Visual QR Codes with Lossless Picture Embedding, 2018 3rd International Conference on Intelligent Green Building and Smart Grid (Yi-Lan, Taiwan), 2018, 1–4, doi:10.1109/IGBSG.2018.839354610.1109/IGBSG.2018.8393546Search in Google Scholar
[12] Melgar M. E. V., Santander L. M., Channel Capacity Analysis of 2D Barcodes : QR Code and CQR Code-5, 2016 IEEE Colombian Conference on Communications and Computing (Cartagena, Colombia), 2016, 1–5, doi:10.1109/ColComCon.2016.751637610.1109/ColComCon.2016.7516376Search in Google Scholar
[13] Chu H., Chang C., Lee R., Mitra N. J., Halftone QR codes, ACM Transactions on Graphics, 2013, 32(6), 1–8, doi:10.1145/2508363.250840810.1145/2508363.2508408Search in Google Scholar
[14] Nurwono K. A. H., Kosala R., Color Quick Response Code for Mobile Content Distribution, MoMM2009, 2009, 267–27110.1145/1821748.1821799Search in Google Scholar
[15] Pearson J., Robinson S., Jones M., Nanavati A., Rajput N., ACQR: Acoustic Quick Response Codes for Content Sharing on Low End Phones with No Internet Connectivity, Proceedings of the 15th international conference on Human-computer interaction with mobile devices and services - MobileHCI ’13 (Munich, Germany), 2013, 308–317, doi:10.1145/2493190.249319510.1145/2493190.2493195Search in Google Scholar
[16] Asare I. T., Asare D., The Effective Use of Quick Response (QR) Code as a Marketing Tool, International Journal of Education and Social Science, 2015, 2(12), 67–73Search in Google Scholar
[17] Cata T., Patel P. S., Sakaguchi T., QR Code: A New Opportunity for Effective Mobile Marketing, Journal of Mobile Technologies, Knowledge and Society, 2013, 2013(2013), 1–7, doi:10.5171/2013Search in Google Scholar
[18] Law R., Interactive lectures using quick response codes, Proceedings of the 18th ACM conference on Innovation and technology in computer science education - ITiCSE ’13, 2013, 317, doi:10.1145/2462476.246557610.1145/2462476.2465576Search in Google Scholar
[19] Durak G., Ozkeskin E. E., Ataizi M., QR Codes in Education and Communication, Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 2016, 17(2), 42–5810.17718/tojde.89156Search in Google Scholar
[20] Lerner A., Saxena A., Ouimet K., Turley B., Vance A., Kohno T., Roesner F., Analyzing the Use of Quick Response Codes in the Wild, Proceedings of the 13th Annual International Conference on Mobile Systems, Applications, and Services - MobiSys ’15 (Florence, Italy), 2015, 359–374, doi:10.1145/2742647.274265010.1145/2742647.2742650Search in Google Scholar
[21] Narayanan A. S., QR Codes and Security Solutions, International Journal of Computer Science and Telecommunications, 2012, 3(7), 69–72Search in Google Scholar
[22] De P., Dey K., Mankar V., Mukherjea S., An Assessment of QR Code as a User Interface Enabler for Mobile Payment Apps on Smartphones, 7th International Conference on HCI (Guwahati), 2015, 81–84, doi:10.1145/2835966.283597710.1145/2835966.2835977Search in Google Scholar
[23] Barker K. R., Attridge E., Bennett J., Hiserman T., Horne A. S., Moody D., Ramsey E. C., Son I. K., Vaughn P., The implementation of embedded quick response codes into library resources to improve service delivery, Journal of Medical Library Association, 2012, 100(1), 68–7110.3163/1536-5050.100.1.013Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
[24] Coleman J., QR Codes: What Are They and Why Should You Care?, Kansas Library Association College and University Libraries Section Proceedings, 2011, 1(1), 16–2310.4148/culs.v1i0.1355Search in Google Scholar
[25] Adhatrao K., Gaykar A., Jha R., Honrao V., A Secure Method for Signing in Using Quick Response Codes with Mobile Authentication, International Journal of Student Research in Technology and Management, 2013, 1(1), 1–11Search in Google Scholar
[26] Naraine R., Google testing login authentication via QR codes, 2012, https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-testing-login-authentication-via-qr-codes, Retrieved[22-03-2019]Search in Google Scholar
[27] Bhattacharjee M., Share your Wi-Fi SSID & Password using a QR Code, 2015, http://www.technostarry.com/share-wi-fi-details-using-qr-code, Retrieved[22-03-2019]Search in Google Scholar
[28] Xue Y., Tian G., Li R., Jiang H., A new object search and recognition method based on artificial object mark in complex indoor environment, 2010 8th World Congress on Intelligent Control and Automation (Jinan, China), 2010, 6648–6653, doi:10.1109/WCICA.2010.555416110.1109/WCICA.2010.5554161Search in Google Scholar
[29] Lorenzi D., Shafiq B., Vaidya J., Nabi G., Chun S., Atluri V., Using QR codes for enhancing the scope of digital government services, Proceedings of the 13th Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research - dg.o ’12 (College Park, MD, USA), 2012, 21–29, doi:10.1145/2307729.230773410.1145/2307729.2307734Search in Google Scholar
[30] Liu Y., Yang B., Yang J., Bar Code Recognition in Complex Scenes by Camera Phones, Fourth International Conference on Natural Computation (Jinan, China), 2008, 462–466, doi:10.1109/ICNC.2008.28810.1109/ICNC.2008.288Search in Google Scholar
[31] Tan L., Liu K., Yan X., Wan S., Chen J., Chang C., Visual Secret Sharing Scheme for Color QR Code, 2018 IEEE 3rd International Conference on Image, Vision and Computing (Chongqing, China), 2018, 961–965, doi:10.1109/ICIVC.2018.849272410.1109/ICIVC.2018.8492724Search in Google Scholar
[32] Wan S., Lu Y., Yan X., Liu L., Visual Secret Sharing Scheme With (k, n) Threshold Based on QR Codes, 2016 12th International Conference on Mobile Ad-Hoc and Sensor Networks (Hefei, China), 2016, 374–379, doi:10.1109/MSN.2016.06810.1109/MSN.2016.068Search in Google Scholar
[33] Lin P., Chen Y., QR code steganography with secret payload enhancement, 2016 IEEE International Conference on Multimedia & Expo Workshops (Seattle, WA, USA), 2016, 1–5, doi:10.1109/ICMEW.2016.757474410.1109/ICMEW.2016.7574744Search in Google Scholar
[34] Markman A., Javidi B., Tehranipoor M., Photon-Counting Security Tagging and Verification Using Optically Encoded QR Codes, IEEE Photonics Journal, 2014, 6(1), 1–9, doi:10.1109/JPHOT.2013.229462510.1109/JPHOT.2013.2294625Search in Google Scholar
[35] Tiwari S., Sahu S., A Novel Approach for the Detection of OMR Sheet Tampering Using Encrypted QR Code, 2014 IEEE International Conference on Computational Intelligence and Computing Research (Coimbatore, India), 2014, 1–5, doi:10.1109/ICCIC.2014.723843010.1109/ICCIC.2014.7238430Search in Google Scholar
[36] Wlodarczyk K. L., Ardron M., Weston N. J., Hand D. P., Holo-graphic watermarks and steganographic markings for combating the counterfeiting practices of high-value metal products, Journal of Materials Processing Tech., 2019, 264, 328–335, doi:10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2018.09.02010.1016/j.jmatprotec.2018.09.020Search in Google Scholar
[37] Uzun V., QR-code based Hospital Systems for Healthcare in Turkey, 2016 IEEE 40th Annual Computer Software and Applications Conference (Atlanta, GA, USA), 2016, 71–76, doi:10.1109/COMPSAC.2016.17310.1109/COMPSAC.2016.173Search in Google Scholar
[38] Toh S. R., Goh W., Yeo C. K., Data Exchange via Multiplexed Color QR Codes on Mobile Devices, 2016 Wireless Telecommunications Symposium (London, UK), 2016, 1–6, doi:10.1109/WTS.2016.748203510.1109/WTS.2016.7482035Search in Google Scholar
[39] Lin P., Teng C., Chen Y., Diverse Augmented Reality Exhibitions for Differential Users Based upon Private Quick Response Code, 2015 Asia-Pacific Signal and Information Processing Association Annual Summit and Conference (Hong Kong, China), 2015, 1121–1125, doi:10.1109/APSIPA.2015.741544510.1109/APSIPA.2015.7415445Search in Google Scholar
[40] Wittman T., Lost in the supermarket: Decoding blurry barcodes, SIAM News, 2004, 37(7), 1–2Search in Google Scholar
[41] Mancini F., Gejibo S., Mughal K. A., Valvik R. A. B., Klungsøyr J., Secure mobile data collection systems for low-budget settings, Proceedings - 2012 7th International Conference on Availability, Reliability and Security (ARES 2012), 2012, 196–205, doi:10.1109/ARES.2012.2310.1109/ARES.2012.23Search in Google Scholar
[42] Mancini F., Mughal K. A., Gejibo S. H., Klungsøyr J., Adding security to mobile data collection, 2011 IEEE 13th International Conference on e-Health Networking, Applications and Services, 2011, 86–89, doi:10.1109/HEALTH.2011.602679310.1109/HEALTH.2011.6026793Search in Google Scholar
[43] Shrestha P. L., Usability and desirability of OpenXdata – an electronic data capture tool for data collection in health research, MSc thesis, University of Bergen, Norway, 2014Search in Google Scholar
[44] Brunette W., Sundt M., Dell N., Chaudhri R., Breit N., Borriello G., Open data kit 2.0: Expanging and Refining Information Services for Developing Regions, Proceedings of the 14th Workshop on Mobile Computing Systems and Applications (Jekyll Island, Georgia, USA), 2013, 10:1–10:6, doi:10.1145/2444776.244479010.1145/2444776.2444790Search in Google Scholar
[45] Hartung C., Anokwa Y., Brunette W., Lerer A., Tseng C., Borriello G., Open Data Kit: Tools to Build Information Services for Developing Regions, Proceedings of the 4th ACM/IEEE International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development (London, United Kingdom), 2010, 18:1–18:1210.1145/2369220.2369236Search in Google Scholar
[46] Dayalu R., Wacksman J., Chen M., Loudon M., Lesh N., Adoption and Continued use of Mobile Technology: An Analysis of CommCare Data, Procedia Engineering, 2015, 107, 247–254, doi: 10.1016/j.proeng.2015.06.07910.1016/j.proeng.2015.06.079Search in Google Scholar
[47] Medhi I., Jain M., Tewari A., Bhavsar M., Matheke-Fischer M., Cutrell E., Combating rural child malnutrition through inexpensive mobile phones, Proceedings of the 7th Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction: Making Sense Through Design (Copenhagen, Denmark), 2012, 635–644, doi:10.1145/2399016.239911310.1145/2399016.2399113Search in Google Scholar
[48] Aanensen D. M., Huntley D. M., Feil E. J., Al-Own F., Spratt B. G., EpiCollect: Linking smartphones to web applications for epidemiology, ecology and community data collection, PLoS ONE, 2009, 4(9), 1–7, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.000696810.1371/journal.pone.0006968Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
[49] Aanensen D. M., Huntley D. M., Menegazzo M., Powell C. I., Spratt B. G., EpiCollect+: linking smartphones to web applications for complex data collection projects, F1000Research, 2014, 3, 1–15, doi:10.12688/f1000research.4702.110.12688/f1000research.4702.1Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
[50] Kim S., Mankoff J., Paulos Eric., Sensr: Evaluating a Flexible Framework for Authoring Mobile Data-Collection Tools for Citizen Science, Proceedings of the 2013 conference on Computer supported cooperative work, 2013, 2(18), 1453–1462, doi:10.1145/2441776.244194010.1145/2441776.2441940Search in Google Scholar
© 2020 Isaac Nyabisa Oteyo et al., published by De Gruyter
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.