Efficacy of USB microscopes for imaging forensic materials.USB microscopy, a relatively new and developing technology, offers a highly portable and relatively inexpensive means for performing microscopy.  However, it has not been established that USB microscopes are capable of imaging at a level deemed sufficient for forensic requirements.  The purpose of this study was to determine the value, applicability, and limitations of current USB microscope technology by comparing USB microscopes with traditional microscopes by collecting images of common forensic trace materials.  The USB microscopes were highly portable, easy to work with, and able to take an image in any orientation.  USB microscopes do not share the same level of resolution, image quality, or image contrast as the most sophisticated microscopes.  However, USB microscopes could add value to forensic investigations when used for preliminary exams, low magnification imaging of samples, and imaging scenarios that require magnification but don't conform to traditional microscopy.
USB microscopes
Efficacy of USB microscopes for imaging forensic materials.USB microscopy, a relatively new and developing technology, offers a highly portable and relatively inexpensive means for performing microscopy.  However, it has not been established that USB microscopes are capable of imaging at a level deemed sufficient for forensic requirements.  The purpose of this study was to determine the value, applicability, and limitations of current USB microscope technology by comparing USB microscopes with traditional microscopes by collecting images of common forensic trace materials.  The USB microscopes were highly portable, easy to work with, and able to take an image in any orientation.  USB microscopes do not share the same level of resolution, image quality, or image contrast as the most sophisticated microscopes.  However, USB microscopes could add value to forensic investigations when used for preliminary exams, low magnification imaging of samples, and imaging scenarios that require magnification but don't conform to traditional microscopy.
USB microscopes
The purpose of this study was to determine the value, applicability, and limitations of current USB microscope technology by comparing USB microscopes with traditional microscopes by collecting images of common forensic trace materials. 
traditional microscopes
Efficacy of USB microscopes for imaging forensic materials.USB microscopy, a relatively new and developing technology, offers a highly portable and relatively inexpensive means for performing microscopy.  However, it has not been established that USB microscopes are capable of imaging at a level deemed sufficient for forensic requirements.  The purpose of this study was to determine the value, applicability, and limitations of current USB microscope technology by comparing USB microscopes with traditional microscopes by collecting images of common forensic trace materials.  The USB microscopes were highly portable, easy to work with, and able to take an image in any orientation.  USB microscopes do not share the same level of resolution, image quality, or image contrast as the most sophisticated microscopes.  However, USB microscopes could add value to forensic investigations when used for preliminary exams, low magnification imaging of samples, and imaging scenarios that require magnification but don't conform to traditional microscopy.
USB microscopes
Efficacy of USB microscopes for imaging forensic materials.USB microscopy, a relatively new and developing technology, offers a highly portable and relatively inexpensive means for performing microscopy.  However, it has not been established that USB microscopes are capable of imaging at a level deemed sufficient for forensic requirements.  The purpose of this study was to determine the value, applicability, and limitations of current USB microscope technology by comparing USB microscopes with traditional microscopes by collecting images of common forensic trace materials.  The USB microscopes were highly portable, easy to work with, and able to take an image in any orientation.  USB microscopes do not share the same level of resolution, image quality, or image contrast as the most sophisticated microscopes.  However, USB microscopes could add value to forensic investigations when used for preliminary exams, low magnification imaging of samples, and imaging scenarios that require magnification but don't conform to traditional microscopy.
USB microscopes