Technology

[Snapolit1]

Isn't there some kind of technology that the graders could use to put on every card they grade like a microscopic scan or trace that would leave an indelible electronic footprint of the history of the card? PSA receives a raw card and first thing they do is scan it. And something on the magic wand reads "PSA 6 - 12/12/15."

To work would have to be an industry thing of course. While this would influence their expertise and judgment, being what it is, at least it would tell them the formal grading history of the card and may raise flags on alteration.

Does such super high powered technology exist. I haven't a clue. In this day and age seems like it should.

[pokerplyr80]

I don't doubt it exists. But what would it cost? And would collectors accept not only the premium they would have to pay to cover the costs but the microscopic alteration to their cards?

[Tripredacus]

The tools for doing that type of work certainly exists. What likely doesn't is the real need for such a thing. Besides the fact that someone would need to create the software, there is also the data storage requirements. A grading company may not think there would be a need to purchase $100,000 worth of computers and hire multiple software developers to create, maintain and support what would be a proprietary system.

Before you even get to that point, someone would have to create a PoC to prove that this type of technology is, beyond a doubt, an improvement over whatever method is currently being used.

It may just come down to the fact that it may not be worth the time and effort to put in such a system, unless it would be a vast improvement.

[chalupacollects]

Maybe some sort of micro-printing with invisible ink...probably expensive though...

[Leon]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

I don't doubt it exists. But what would it cost? And would collectors accept not only the premium they would have to pay to cover the costs but the microscopic alteration to their cards?

I have to think there could be a solution to invisibly marking cards that won't render them altered. I would bet the future holds more technology for grading. My guess is a company will come out with machines to grade cards.....then at least there won't be human error (except maybe the s/w programmers).

[topcat61]

I would think the easiest thing to do is to photograph every card coming in and matching it for reference with a number. Cards are like fingerprints in no two are alike. Just how long graders take, or want to spend on one card, and how much time and effort the company wants or can do the same is the question. I'm pretty sure they could do this if they wanted to, but my gut is that they wont.

[drcy]

There is and will be useful and important technology, including for identifying alterations, but humans will always be involved in assigning grades. One thing is the criterion for a grade is subjective and human-made (and different people, including here at Net54, have different views on what should be the criterion), and how to balance competing qualities likely requires human judgment. Aesthetics aspects can likely only be judged by humans. And you want a human to notice obvious errors in the technology's opinion.

The experienced human eye is a sophisticated tool. When you look at a T206 Honus Wagner and instantly know it's a reprint, that's sophistication a computer program can't do.

But new technologies and techniques for identifying alterations is a good idea.

In authenticating rare ancient artifacts, both the art historians and science are used. Each has an important viewpoint and knowledge, and double check each other-- and when they both agree, you are in good shape. Science can identify when the art history opinion is in error, but the art historian can identify thngs the science tests misses or doesn't test. The scientific tests are very specific-- testing one thing or aspect and often done on only one part of the item-- and the art historian gives a broader view. I think grading is similar, though these people are often trying to identify and date unique items.

Alterations are often a part of ancient artifact forgeries, so they are seasoned in identifying physical alterations of many kinds.

[Bigdaddy]

Originally Posted by drcy

The experienced human eye is a sophisticated tool. When you look at a T206 Honus Wagner and instantly know it's a reprint, that's sophistication a computer program can't do.

It's called machine learning or Artificial Intelligence (AI). You develop a learning algorithm for a machine and then feed it a large data set to learn from, knowing the truth. Is this real or fake? Has it been altered? There are even cases now where the machine learns on it's own, without a given set of exemplars. And the speed at which a machine can make those decisions is way beyond a human's ability. You are right about traditional software where a human has to code all the intelligence into the machine's decision making process. But AI/machine learning, there is some crazy stuff happening now. And grading/authenticating a baseball card aint that far of a reach.