The Gazette 1991

NOVEMBER 1991

GAZETTE

Imaging involves several tech- nologies. Optical discs are used to store documents; computer sys- tems are needed to communicate and display them; and sophisti- cated data base software is necessary to organise and search for specific images. Every information system must capture the information before it can be used. In a computer system, this is done at a keyboard. In an imaging system, it is done by a "scanning device". The image or document is fed into the system as it is, wi t hout alterations. No rekeying of the data is necessary. In effect the scanner takes a "photograph" of the document, creating an unaltered electronic copy of the original. After the document is in the image system, it must be indexed for later retrieval. In Computers and Law, September 1991, the journal of the Society for Computers and Law, John Matthews outlines recent develop- ments on document imaging in the legal profession. John Matthews states that interest in document- image processing is high among law firms but there is a reluctance to take action especially as those firms that have taken "the plunge" have met with mixed success. John Ma t t hews states t hat litigation is where document imaging will impact first. Solicitors hope that document imaging can cut the time and cost involved in litigation so that both the solicitor and the clients stand to benefit. He says that, in the long term, docu- ment imaging along with advances in electronic publishing and docu- ment management promises to transform the management of documents in law firms. • FOR SALE

2. order Ireland to pay the costs.

of a practising barrister. Un- fortunately, he died wi t hout completing the work. The task was then taken up by Julitta Clancy. The Chief Justice stated that it was difficult at any time to take up a project started by someone else, but Mrs. Clancy cheerfully agreed to take up the work and finished the work with remarkable effect. The Chief Justice expressed the Council's gratitude to the proof reader, Mary Gaynor of the Law Society's Library in Blackhall Place, to Gerard Hogan, the Consultant Editor, to the printers and to Margaret Byrne of the Law Society for helping Mrs. Clancy in her research. Finally, the Chief Justice mentioned that in addition to its other enterprises the Council is about to embark on the publication of Cumulative Index to the contents of all reported law, thus facilitating for lawyers a method of searching through the various Digests. The Irish Digest 1984-1988 is available from the Law Reporting Council, First Floor, Four Courts, Dublin 7 at the price of £55 plus £2.50 post and packaging. An action against Ireland was brought before the Court of Justice of the European Communities on 26 July, 1991 by the Commission of the European Communities [Case C-192/92]. The Commission claims that the Court of Justice should: 1. declare that by failing to bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply w i th Council Directive 85/374/EEC of 25 July, 1985 on the approxi- mation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning liability for defective products and/or by failing to inform the Commission forthwith thereof, Ireland has failed to fulfil its obligations pursuant to that Directive and in particular its Article 19 and pursuant to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community; Liability for Defective Products

The Commission in the case refers to the binding character of Articles 189 (3) and 5 (1) of the EEC Treaty which places Member States under an obligation to comply with dir- ectives. The Commission stated that the period for compliance laid down in Article 19 of Directive 85/374/EEC had expired on 30 July, 1988 but that the Irish Government had not put the appropriate legislation into force or, in any event, the Commission had not received any communication from Ireland which indicated that it has done so. Imaging - A Revolutionary Technology Imaging has been described as one of the most revolutionary tech- nologies to come along in decades. The technology, called imaging, is changing the way information is used, the way we work, and the way business operates. Although still in its infancy, imaging is already making an impact on organisations around the world. Imaging is the automation of paper processing - storing, accessing, and distributing the electronic images of paper documents - allowing more people, in a shorter period of time, to use information to do their jobs more effectively. The first attempt to solve the paper problem was the technology of micro-graphics. Images were captured by camera, recorded on a role of film or fiche and stored in cabinets. Yet micro-film has its limitations. Images are the elect- ronic copies of paper documents. Image systems automate and streamline the flow of paper through an organisation. Imaging is the automated technology of document storage, management retrieval and communication. It is called 'imaging' because the system does not store the actual physical document but rather an electronic image of the document - an exact electronic duplicate.

1 Wang OIS Word Processing systems Model 50 67mb disk storage. Two workstations. Wang Word Processing software. Factory maintenance. Training - Cost £2,500 Phone: 217100 Fax: 215241 Monday, Tuesday or Thursday 9 am -1.00pm

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