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XID Services

Species

The complete list of species found in the 1,225 Weeds database can be found here. These species are found in at least one of the over 50 weed identification books referenced by the Weeds database (page numbers in these books are cited in the program).

Interactive Plant Identification

Flora ID Northwest – Illustrated XID interactive plant identification databases for All The Native and Naturalized Plants in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Arizona, and New Mexico as well as the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

Gallery

The 1,225 Weeds database contains over 6,200 photos. Over 22,000 images can be found in the Gallery. Photos are available for licensing...

Features

XID Services USB drive

The largest Weed Identification reference ever produced for North America.

System requirements: Windows 95 through Windows 10, 1.6GB storage to install (will also run from the USB drive)

Gallery
all remaining species can be viewed simultaneously for comparison. The user can determine the number and size of images to be displayed
Species List Report
the images, data, and references for all remaining species can be scrolled for comparison
Printed Reports
all aspects of the program including species lists, images, menu structure, data etc… are printable
Analysis
Provides the user with a dynamic list of the most efficient menus for the identification process based on steps taken thus far, ease of use, and items remaining in the database
View Data Set
Shows all of the data for any selected species in the database
Show Data Distribution
Shows the relative frequency of characteristics within the database
Descriptive Item Text Fields
Author defined help text for each species
Item Graphics
color photos are incorporated for each species in the database
Context Specific Help Screens
Author defined help text for each characteristic and menu
Characteristic Graphics
Photos or line drawings can be incorporated for each characteristic or menu
List Unusual Characteristic
Shows the most unusual characteristics of any item (compared to those remaining) in descending order
Triggered Pop-Up Taxa
Family, genus, and species are recognized and displayed in scientific databases
Sequential User Reinforcement
The user is shown the number of remaining items after each step
Directed to Page Numbers in Multiple References of Authors Choice
The author can reference the page number in up to 50 references.

Please take the time to view the YouTube tutorial below to see all the features of the software. The tutorial is the same for the DVD and flashdrive versions (you just get more species on the flashdrive).

Order Here

There are 16 modules to the tutorial, so it takes about 45 minutes to see all the features of the software.

XID Authoring System

The XID Authoring System allows authors to create their own “smart key” or random access expert system for the identification of any group of species, individuals, or objects, i.e., plants, animals, cars, criminals, etc. The system consists of multi-layered menus in which any attribute can be prioritized and described. The elegant simplicity of the XID System makes it extremely user friendly. It is as useful for the junior high school teacher as for the professional scientist.

As well as creating state-of-the-art identification systems for professional scientists, the XID System provides an excellent vehicle by which to teach classification, taxonomy, logic, and problem solving skills. The authoring system allows students to be involved in the entire process, including selection of subject matter, determination of characters and character states (i.e., color {red, blue, green}), gathering and compiling the data, data entry, error checking, and data correction. Their efforts are strongly reinforced by the final use of the program for the identification of the selected subject matter.

Unlike many of the larger and more cumbersome systems such as DELTA and MEKA, the XID System utilizes state-of-the-art technology. This allows for extreme user friendliness for both the author and end user of the database, as well as maximizing the speed and efficiency of data storage and manipulation. This is why the XID System was chosen by Flora ID Northwest to create the largest comprehensive interactive plant identification database in the world, currently encompassing the entire flora of eighteen states and four Canadian provinces

Characteristic terminology and database items may be graphically represented using line drawings or color photos. In addition, unlike a dichotomous key, which requires a rigid set of steps, the XID System allows the user to randomly select characteristics that are consistent with their specimen and skill level. If the user cannot decide upon a characteristic, they may query the program, which will provide a list of suggestions in order of ease of use and effectiveness, interactively customized to the items remaining.

Applications in which the XID System is being used include the identification of weeds, insects, poisonous plant symptomatology, fishes, rocks and minerals, diseases, gastrotrichs, etc. The XID System can also be used in applications as diverse as assigning health care benefits, personnel selection, research plot evaluation, or any other application where a relational database is required.

As well as the Authoring System, XID Services also markets the weed identification databases created by co-founder Dr. Richard Old, weed identification specialist for Cooperative Extension Service at Washington State University since 1976.

Following are three examples of attempting to identify a dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) from a database of 1,069 species, using sets of three characteristics chosen by different students. Following the examples generated by the three students is an example of using the “analysis” function alone to accomplish the identification. The most efficient method of identification is to first select a few obvious characteristics (as the students have done) and then use the “analysis” function to complete the process. As soon as the database is reduced to a relatively small number of remaining species, the images of these species can be scrolled or displayed simultaneously for comparison.

Student #1
Characteristic Chosen
Flower Color: Yellow
# of Petals: >10*
Flower Width: 1.4 inches*
# of Species Remaining
433
135
38
Student #2
Characteristic Chosen
Stem Cross Section: Hollow
Juice: Milky
Flowering Stem: Leafless
# of Species Remaining
109
16
5
Student #3
Characteristic Chosen
Leaf Length: 4 - 8 inches
Leaf Arrangement: All Basal
Leaf Margin: Lobed
# of Species Remaining
533
57
12
Analysis
Characteristic Chosen
Flower Color: Yellow
Leaf Width: 0.8 – 1.6 inches
# of Petals: >10*
Root: Taproot
Flower Width: 1.4 inches*
Seed Windblown: Yes
Juice: Milky
Flowering Stem: Leafless
Flowering Stem: Unbranched
# of Species Remaining
433
241
75
**50
24
13
7
2
Identified: Dandelion

* Not technically correct but often interpreted in this manner so the data reflects both possible interpretations.

** The message “Family Identified: Asteraceae” appears on the screen at this point.

Note: Although many very technical characteristics are available in the program, those chosen by the analysis function are very similar to those chosen by the students. This is due to two factors: (1) the characteristics chosen by the analysis function are weighted for ease of use, and (2) this function does not mandate a selection, but instead, presents a list of the remaining characteristics in order of effectiveness.

Order

1225 Weeds of the 48 States & Adjacent Canada. On flashdrive

An Interactive Identification Guide

XID Services USB drive

Cost: $49.95
Shipping: $5.00

More product details.

System requirements: Windows 95 through Windows 10, 1.6 gigabytes to install (will also run from the USB drive)

By using the PayPal “Buy Now” button below, your credit card payment will be processed by PayPal’s secure processing system, or you can pay using funds in your PayPal account. There is no charge to use the PayPal service and you do not need to have or create a PayPal account to use this service. If you do not have a PayPal account: After clicking the “Buy Now” button below, select the box where it says “Pay with a Debit or Credit Card.”



If you wish to order site licenses, photo licensing, the XID Authoring System, pay an existing invoice, or place an order using a purchase order number, please contact sales@xidservices.com. We are happy to ship your order with an invoice if you do not wish to use PayPal.

If you have any questions, phone 1-509-332-2989 or email: info@xidservices.com

References

Upon selection or identification of a species, the weed identification database references the page number where the species images/description appear in any of the following weed identification reference books. The purpose of the program is not to replace your existing reference books, but to make them more easily accessible. Where ever possible the ISBN number is given to facilitate in finding the book (in case the user wants to add the book to their library).

Dr. Richard Old

I am a fifth generation resident of Whitman County in southeastern Washington, and self professed "weed nerd", with a particular fondness for the "channeled scablands". Through the years I have taught courses on ethnobotany, survival, plant identification, forensic botany and expert systems.

If you are visiting the site in an attempt to identify an unknown plant, and fail in doing so, Email Me an image and I will give it a try.

For those of you more interested in credentials than qualifications, see below.


BS, MS, Washington State University

Ph.D. Plant Science University of Idaho 1990

Weed Identification Specialist, Washington State University Cooperative Extension 1976 to present

Weed Identification Specialist, University of Idaho 1984 – 1992, and 2009 – present

Regional Reviewer, Flora of North America Project

Consultant on forensic botany to state and federal law enforcement agencies (including the Spokane Serial Killer case, aired on Forensic Factor, Season 5 Episode 5, Discovery Channel, spring 2009)

Owner and co-founder, XID Services, Inc., expert-system software for biological identifications. Used by Flora-ID-Northwest to create the largest interactive plant identification database in the world.

Former Scientific Adviser, Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board (Appointed by Governor)

Former Chair, Education Committee, Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board

Former President, Eastern Washington Native Plant Society

Former Vice-Chair, Whitman County Noxious Weed Control Board

Former President, Eastern Washington Weed Board Association

Former Member BLM Regional Advisory Committee (Appointed by Secretary of the Interior)

Former Member, National Weed Alert Committee, Weed Science Society of America

1991 – Idaho Weed Worker of the Year

1990 – Honorary lifetime member, Washington State Weed Association

1999 – XVI International Botanical Congress, St. Louis Missouri, United States Chairman, Session on Expert Identification Systems

2005 Washington State Weed Warrior, the highest award of the Washington State Weed Association

Author, 1,000 Weeds of North America, interactive identification guide on CD ROM

Author, 1,200 Weeds of the 48 States and Adjacent Canada, interactive identification guide on DVD

Author, 1,225 Weeds of the United States and Adjacent Canada, interactive identification guide on flash drive, the most comprehensive weed identification reference ever published.

Contributor, Flora of the Northeast, Magee and Ahles, 2007 (interactive CD ROM in book jacket)

Contributor, Grasses of the Northeast, Magee, 20014 (interactive CD ROM in book jacket)

Photographic Contributor, Field Guide to Wildflowers of North America, Brandenburg 2010

Contributing Author, Forensic Botany, Hall and Byrd 2012

Co-author, Forb Seedling Identification Guide for the Inland Northwest, Pavek, Erhardt, Heekin, and Old 2013

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