As a side note:

Does anyone here have an adroid device? If so would anyone like to test the app once it's ready for testing? (We will be creating a website with a download link / information)  

- laurencem

We could include an option to scan a barcode instead of taking a picture - Would make it easier for items with bar codes, and then if there isn't a code then a picture could be used.

Yep , but what I meant was something different, I was suggesting you how there are great similarities in the "procedure" or "workflow".

There are virtually no differences between making (correctly) an inventory of a warehouse and "cataloguing" items found during a search (well things in a warehouse should be slightly better accessible ), basically "by hand":
Warehouse inventory:

1. you get where the stuff is carrying your blocknotes, pen and (optionally) a camera
2. you examine the item on the scaffolding
3. you take notes of what it is and where it is
4. optionally you take a picture of it
5. loop to #2 until no items left

Caltaloguing items found in a search:

1. you get to the place carrying your blocknotes, pen, camera and some containers for evidence
2. you examine the item found
3. you take notes of what it is
4. you take a picture of it
5. you put it in an evidence container (and seal/sign/date/etc.)
6. loop to #2 until no items left
7. you carry the evidence containers away with you or arrange to have them delivered to laboratory

When it goes to "automated" and with the help of a tablet instead of the paper/pen the procedure is exactly the same in both cases, when doing an inventory you might want to use a bar code scanner to be faster and avoid mistakes when copying serials/labels/ID's etc., but the workflow is the same.

The suggestion was that since the "inventory" kind of software exist, you could have a look at some of them to understand how exactly the workflow is arranged (as I presume that their developers will have tested sequences/commands/sound alerts if needed/etc./etc. that result in either a faster or "as intuitive as possible" procedure).


jaclaz
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- In theory there is no difference between theory and practice, but in practice there is. -