Access was generally limited to Time cataloguers and researchers who assisted potential buyers in finding images. This setup let Time personnel annotate and research over the network instead of having to go to the card catalog. The company has partially overcome this drawback by storing thumbnail images on magnetic disks, where they can be accessed quickly. Users access the tape only when they need the actual high-resolution image.
New files are copied to the tape system each night.
Some of the users are now actually customers, as opposed to just in-house researchers and cataloguers. For instance, photo editors from other Time-Warner publications can now access images directly, without the help of a researcher. A publicly available Internet version should be live by the time you read this. Although online payment will not be possible initially, Time intends to add the ability to pay by credit card soon, according to Rich Grasso, a project consultant. A survivor's guide.