Object identification system

An interactive key identification system comprising:

• a computer having:
• (i) an interactive graphical user interface for manually typing at least one specified variable that is an intended use of a first key into at least one input field of a plurality of input fields to narrow the number of key blanks that match the intended use, wherein at least one of said plurality of input fields in the interactive graphical user interface includes at least one specified variable as an identification of an intended use of said key, said specified variable being known or physically observed based upon a visual inspection of the key by a user of the system, and (ii) a database for matching a key blank through comparison of known values against the specified variable manually typed into the interactive graphical user interface, and in response said computer producing an output signal indicative of the identity of the key blank to a display rack;
• and
• said display rack for holding a physical set of key blanks and an indicator for distinguishing the identified key blank from the physical set of key blanks in response to the selection of the specified variable, which receives the output signal and presents information to the user about the identified key blank.