For the Botanists (or just curious like myself)

**Alundil** · 05-05-11, 08:52 AM

My uncle, the carpenter, outdoorsman, Life Scout, Troop Leader, and cancer survivor (thank God) sent this link to me earlier. Really pretty neat...

Leafsnap combines biometrics and botany for electronic field guide | Smartplanet

This week behind the Smithsonian Castle, a research botanist and two computer science professors unveiled Leafsnap, a free plant identification app for the iPhone (available for the iPad next week and Android this summer) with broad potential for the future of image recognition.

“The project began in 2003 when we received funding from the National Science Foundation to develop a new identification system for the 21st century,” said John Kress, a research botanist at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. “Now we have a scientific tool for botanists as well as the public. We did this so people could know what they’re looking at, but also so they could think about conserving it.”

**Partyball** · 05-05-11, 09:19 AM

Looks pretty cool. I will have to check it out and see how good it is.

**dex71** · 05-05-11, 09:20 AM

Freaking amazing.

Opens the door to do the same with insects, animals, and geology. It won't be long, and Science classes in schools will be completely different than what they once were. Technology is getting absolutely incredible these days. I remember being blown away the first time I saw tv being played back from a tape.....or when food was heated quickly using a microwave oven. This shiite is off the chain.