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For microscope that don't require a computer for control, would it be possible to have them plugged to some power management system like a smart UPS or something and somehow have that under computer control? ...note the use of the highly technical terms "something and somehow"

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Boswell, Carl A - (cboswell)
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2012 11:44 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: How to control microscope through computer login?

Hi Bjorn,
It's not clear what you require.  If there is no interface between the microscope and the computer then you have one problem.  If the microscope is controlled by the computer, then the problem has multiple solutions.  There are a number of commercial, and a few open-source, programs that track user time on a system, generate reports and even provide billing statements.  Search the listserv archives to see what has been discussed in this regard.
Cheers,
C


Carl A. Boswell
520-742-6131

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bjorn Tyrberg
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2012 7:25 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: How to control microscope through computer login?

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We have an interest in tracking use of our microscopes for billing. To do this we have tracking software that links to our billing system. The problem is that if the user does not log in to the computer, they do not get tracked. Does anybody know of a solution where the power to the microscope can be controlled by log in to a computer, essentially making scopes unusable unless logged in to computer?

Tx
Bjorn Tyrberg