Shazam App for Tartan Identification

[Triathan]

Any software engineers our there?? Just a crazy idea of mine. It's 2021 and I think it's high time that we develop an app where we could take a photo of any tartan and have the app identify it. For music as some may know, there is a free app called "Shazam" where your iphone "listens" to a song or tune and identifies it. It would require some cooperation perhaps with the SRT/STA, and with enough encouragement from the kilt-wearing masses (or even the textile industry) maybe they'd take it up and fund it.

[figheadair]

Any software engineers our there?? Just a crazy idea of mine. It's 2021 and I think it's high time that we develop an app where we could take a photo of any tartan and have the app identify it. For music as some may know, there is a free app called "Shazam" where your iphone "listens" to a song or tune and identifies it. It would require some cooperation perhaps with the SRT/STA, and with enough encouragement from the kilt-wearing masses (or even the textile industry) maybe they'd take it up and fund it.

There have been attempts to do something similar in the past and each time it has failed miserably. The issue seems to be with the ability to differentiate between the numerous shades and hues of an individual colour. Three other considerations that would mitigate against this idea:

Firstly, and this is the crux of the matter, it would not be able to identify tartans not in its database. I could see some form of update available to take account of the weekly additions to the SRT/STA databases but that would not account for those not officially registered. That includes the majority of new commercial tartans from the likes of Marton Mills, Lochcarron, House of Edgar etc.

Secondly, there’s the old chestnut of when is a tartan not a tartan but a fashion check and what is the difference? Many of these non-clan, district, association type patterns still have names.

Finally, what’s the point? The vast majority of the commonly seen tartans seen are readily identifiable with a little knowledge.

[Jock Scot]

There have been attempts to do something similar in the past and each time it has failed miserably. The issue seems to be with the ability to differentiate between the numerous shades and hues of an individual colour. Three other considerations that would mitigate against this idea:

Firstly, and this is the crux of the matter, it would not be able to identify tartans not in its database. I could see some form of update available to take account of the weekly additions to the SRT/STA databases but that would not account for those not officially registered. That includes the majority of new commercial tartans from the likes of Marton Mills, Lochcarron, House of Edgar etc.

Secondly, there’s the old chestnut of when is a tartan not a tartan but a fashion check and what is the difference? Many of these non-clan, district, association type patterns still have names.

Finally, what’s the point? The vast majority of the commonly seen tartans seen are readily identifiable with a little knowledge.

Besides, who needs a computer program when we have your expert tartan knowledge to hand?