The
most common use for the Paper Tiger is for filing papers.
Each file is given a number and name. Keywords can be
added to describe the contents. Filing by number,
the user can find the right file by doing a search for any
word associated with the file.
Once
you know which file number the paper is filed in, you can
go right to it, since you keep your files in numerical order
by location name and number. In the example to the left,
the files are labeled Reference 1, Reference 2, etc.
BOOKS A minister uses the books in his private library as a resource
for preparing weekly sermons, and the Paper Tiger helps him
quickly find the right book. By numbering the bindings
and keeping the books in numerical order, with the Paper Tiger
he can now search by keyword and find all books pertaining
to that subject. Then he can select the best books to use
for his research on that topic, without having to scan the
shelves and thumb through the pages of each book.
BINDERS The CEO of an advertising agency had more than 50 binders on
his credenza behind his desk. Even though the binders were
labeled for their contents, he still had trouble finding the
right binder when he was running out the door to a meeting.
By numbering the binders and entering in keywords describing
the contents of each binder (company names, logos, slogans,
themes, etc.), he was able to save a lot of time.
JOURNALS
A
physician client of mine purchased containers for storing
journals. He has labeled each container with the journal
numbers inside the container (Journal 1-12, Journal 13-24,
etc.) He has also numbered each journal with a number and
has included keywords describing important articles contained
in each journal.
CDs
Whether
you store your CDs in a jewel case or a jacket, you can
number the CD itself or the edge of the jewel case and
find the one you are looking for by using a keyword search…or
search by category.
Music
CDs may have categories such as classical, jazz, rock, 70s,
etc. Software CDs may have categories such as games, utilities,
programs, etc.
DVDs & VIDEOS
Number
the edge of the DVD case or the video and enter the title…or
find movies by category when you do a word search:
comedy
drama
romance
SciFi
documentary
MOVING & STORAGE BOXES
Numbers
are placed on the box or storage container, with a description
of the contents entered into the Paper Tiger. I am using this
system for plastic storage containers in my attic. When I
want to find something, I type in the keyword and the container
number comes up in seconds. The containers are kept in my
attic in numerical order for easy retrieval.
Several clients have used the Paper Tiger to assist them with
their moves. Category can be used for the name of the room
the box should go to. A description of the contents is entered
for each box.
CARS IN A TOW TRUCK PARKING LOT
A
tow truck company tows cars into their lot and parks cars
in numbered stalls. They come into the office and enter
in keywords such as the make, model, year, color, VIN number,
and license plate number. When the police department calls
to find out if a stolen car is there, they can look up the
number and determine immediately if they have it in their
lot. When a customer comes to claim their car, they can immediately
tell them where it is parked in the lot, based on doing a
quick search for any of the criteria they have entered.
WINE COLLECTIONS
People
with wine collections are using The Paper Tiger to find the
perfect bottle of wine to serve with a meal. They place
a number on the cubby containing the bottle, and enter
into the Paper Tiger corresponding keywords such as:
name (Cabernet Sauvignon)
type
(wet, dry, red, white, dessert, etc.)
vintage
vineyard
types
of food it is best with (salmon, steak, fruit &
cheese, etc.)
guest
favorites (Uncle Bob’s favorite)
PHOTOS
A
photographer is using the Paper Tiger to keep photos in
numerical order in albums. He can retrieve photos by doing
a keyword search by these criteria:
subject
or name (Mary Jones wedding, Bill Smith head shots)
location
(geographic region, landmark name, city name)
date
or event(1996 Atlanta Olympics)
X-RAYS
A
medical professor numbers her teaching x-rays and stores
them in numerical order. When she wants to teach her medical
students about a particular disease, she can do a word search
to find the right x-ray. Keywords examples for this
teaching x-ray:
chest
X-ray
adenocarcinoma
lung
tuberculous
fungal
granuloma
malignant
tumor
MEDICATIONS & MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
I
went on a mission trip to Mexico in 2003 and implemented the Paper
Tiger for a non-profit community medical clinic that is run
by volunteer doctors who are only there for a short time.
They have a large supply of donated medications and medical
equipment. In the past, it was difficult for their volunteer
medical teams to know what medications and supplies were available,
or where to find them in their warehouse.
I
numbered the shelves and put descriptions of the shelf
contents in the Paper Tiger. Now when they type in a keyword,
they know right away if they have it and what shelf they will
find it on.
Although I do know know enough Spanish to add the Spanish equivalent of the names of medications, another volunteer can add the translations, so both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking medical professionals can find what they need right away.
Update: In March 2005 I wrote the clinic to ask how things were going with The Paper Tiger. I was a little bit concerned because there are so many short-term volunteers coming and going, and I am not there to teach them how to use the software. I was so pleased to receive this e-mail reply on 3/24/05:
Dear Kathy,
Thank you very much for being so helpfull with your computer program. Everything is going just fine. Paper Tiger really helps our visiting nurses and doctors locate items!
Thank you and God Bless,
Brooke Ramos
Baja Clinic Supervisor
LABORATORY TEST TUBES
The
National Institute of Health is using it in some of its research
labs to cross-reference tissue samples. They put numbers
on the test tubes. One container of test tubes holds 25
tubes, so the containers have tubes numbered 1-25, 26-50,
etc.
Number
the edge of the DVD case or the video and enter the title…or
find movies by category when you do a word search:
A
tow truck company tows cars into their lot and parks cars
in numbered stalls. They come into the office and enter
in keywords such as the make, model, year, color, VIN number,
and license plate number. When the police department calls
to find out if a stolen car is there, they can look up the
number and determine immediately if they have it in their
lot. When a customer comes to claim their car, they can immediately
tell them where it is parked in the lot, based on doing a
quick search for any of the criteria they have entered.
A
photographer is using the Paper Tiger to keep photos in
numerical order in albums. He can retrieve photos by doing
a keyword search by these criteria:
A
medical professor numbers her teaching x-rays and stores
them in numerical order. When she wants to teach her medical
students about a particular disease, she can do a word search
to find the right x-ray. Keywords examples for this
teaching x-ray: 
