Home Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum

a new idea

This is my first post and I wanted to complain about the scores that I received on my recent submission, but instead I am going to present an idea for a way to grade cards objectively, not subjectively: use a computer program. Put the specks for every year and every type of card in a computer program. The card is then scanned and graded by the computer, not a person who could be having a bad day, or even hate the player they are grading. If anyone could write this program, I truly believe they can make a huge amount of money.

Comments

  • Welcome to the boards!
  • It will happen in the future. Programs will be able to detect anything that is off as long as the program has a true base model to get its information from. Would truly be the best way. The program would automatically detect centering, corners, any discoloration, any attempts to restore color. It maybe aways off but it will happen.
    "I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they
    wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're
    going to feel all day. "
    ~Frank Sinatra
  • storm888storm888 Posts: 11,701 ✭✭✭
    image



    I have wanted this to happen for years.
    I wonder if anybody is already working on it.

    It would be easier with stamps, but it could be
    done with cards too.

    Folks Who Bite Get Bitten. Folks Who Don't Bite Get Eaten.
  • mandeldmandeld Posts: 350 ✭✭
    I've thought a lot about this, and have come to the conclusion that an automatic system could be an improvement, but will never be able to completely eliminate human intervention. So many cards are miscut at the factory - the system would reject on sizing and only a pair of human eyes would be able to ascertain if a card had been trimmed or not....
    Successful transactions with: vintagetoppsguy, packman, barndog, Big80s, MurphDawg, BrackAttack, mealeworm, Publius, Whiteshoes, bigredone, rube26105, ledsters, reelinintheyears, digicat, themetalsign, OSClabs, 1420sports, bighurt2000, MeteoriteGuy, lsutigers1973, skier07, Machodoc, gameusedhoop, tennesseebanker, Downtown1974, CGeorge, Salinas, corvette1340, lbcoach20, initialD, IJustLoveCards, TedSimmonsFan, Goldlabels, Lothar52, bigred1, Bosox1976, itzagoner, svtPONY95
  • storm888storm888 Posts: 11,701 ✭✭✭
    Yup.

    The new system would NOT eliminate humans taking a look.
    It is more about "absolute" accuracy than about getting rid
    of humans, who would probably insert the card under the
    scanner and stay with the process to the end.
    Folks Who Bite Get Bitten. Folks Who Don't Bite Get Eaten.
  • image

    Good idea! image

    Giovanni
  • storm888storm888 Posts: 11,701 ✭✭✭
    Here is the simple logic in the OS.

    Fixed = 100

    Subject = X% of 100


    The machine would tell the operator what % of "perfect" the subject is.

    It should not be terribly complicated to make the thing work.

    All of the attributes the grader looks for would be in the system.
    The machine would measure/record those of the subject and
    print the results. The grader would then "check" the results.

    SOOOOOOOOOO many different types of cards, though.

    This may happen with currency first. Fewer different notes
    to code.







    Folks Who Bite Get Bitten. Folks Who Don't Bite Get Eaten.
  • WondoWondo Posts: 2,916 ✭✭✭
    I believe that PSE (stamp arm of CU) uses computers to verify centering on the stamps.
    Wondo

  • Sure, until the computers turn on us humans and slab me in a 2.5 holder to live out my life of mediocrity, dammit!!!!!
    "I've never been able to properly explain myself in this climate" -Raul Duke

    ebay i.d. clydecoolidge - Lots of vintage stars and HOFers, raw, condition fully disclosed.
  • otwcardsotwcards Posts: 5,291 ✭✭✭
    Not to sound like a kill-joy, but writing such a program to grade cards would involve way too many variables to be remotely effective.

    Several issues come to mind immediately. Without a subjectively "perfect" sample of EVERY card, the program would have to randomly assign some values. For example, printing flaws. How would a program know the difference between a dirt clod in the picture and a printing glitch? How would it read the registration difference between a daylight and evening shot? How would you measure such things as surface gloss? What would the threshholds be for registration?

    While the premise is great, there really isn't a way to have a fully automated grading system.

    The best alternative would be to have a graduated system wherein the grader examines the card in a series of reviews. Each review would be weighted and a cumulative total would result in the final grade. This could be done by breaking the card into front and back and then into quadrants. Aside from registration, focus, and printing flaws, you would have an additional 10 quadrants: 4 edges, 4 corners, and front and back surfaces.

    Using these quadrants with a weighted scale, one could easily grade each quadrant plus the asthetic aspects and then a program would cumulate the aggregate total and when applied to a preset standard score, factor the final grade of the card.

    Granted, it would involve more time, but it would allow for a more uniform examination and final determination of the condition of the card.

    But that's just my 2 cents...
  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    If the grade does not fit you must submit.


    Steve
    Good for you.
  • perkdogperkdog Posts: 31,560 ✭✭✭✭✭
    image
  • digicatdigicat Posts: 8,551 ✭✭
    Never going to happen. Too pricy, and no guarentee of increased revenue for PSA.
    My Giants collection want list

    WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
  • It would also help out the scammers to get some good fakes or reprints graded and holdered. You would still need a human to inspect the card, which would really defeat the purpose.
  • BrickBrick Posts: 5,001 ✭✭✭✭✭
    imageimage Hi, hello , how are ya?
    Collecting 1960 Topps Baseball in PSA 8
    http://www.unisquare.com/store/brick/

    Ralph

  • its all well and good until skynet takes over and nukes us all!
  • bluemarlinbluemarlin Posts: 627 ✭✭✭
    image
Sign In or Register to comment.