InformationWeek

June 23, 1999

Print this story

Mobile Makeover

continued...page 2 of 3

Related links from our sister publications:

Computer Reseller News Compaq enters Jupiter-class market

InternetWeek Spotlight On Verticals--Trading Hubs Gets Down To Business

The new method will create a more structured and simple process for compiling data into a formalized report, Lamker says. By using a consistent format, Cargill can provide clients with more professional reports.

The PenCentra 130 includes two PC Card slots. If Cargill decides to purchase PenCentra units, it will consider equipping them with Global Positioning Systems receivers in PC Card format, so that agronomists can track their locations within thousands of miles of farmland.

The city of Seattle is testing Itronix Corp.'s T5200, which becomes widely available this month. The Windows CE 2.11 unit, priced at $1,995, is built for durability, includes a built-in keyboard, runs on a long-life lithium ion battery, and is about half the size and weight of a standard notebook computer. About 30 city inspectors are using the units to check construction sites against city codes and standards, using electronic checklists provided in MobileApps software from River Run Software Group. Inspectors transfer the reports back to a Microsoft Access database residing on a Novell network.

In the past, inspectors took reports by hand at construction sites and typed them in at city offices. Division manager Vincent Brown expects the T5200s will let inspectors complete more inspections in less time and eliminate the need to file paperwork at city offices. In turn, he says, the city will reduce labor and administrative costs.

Mobile computing is gaining popularity in the transportation industry, which typically employs workers who spend most of their time on the road. Handheld computers can provide workers with a means to collect data quickly and accurately and to connect with databases at home offices to receive instant updates on deliveries or road conditions. Transportation companies often have specific needs in their mobile systems, such as scanning capabilities.

For example, UniGroup Inc., which operates Mayflower Transport and United Van Lines, this month will begin testing Telxon Corp.'s PTC-960M for potential use by its van operators. The goal, says UniGroup's lead application developer, Dan Meyer, is to be able to take better inventory of the goods that UniGroup transports for customers. UniGroup is exploring a process that would let drivers attach bar-code stickers to items and inventory the goods by scanning them with the unit. Using a stylus or keypad, drivers also would be able to detail any damage to the goods at the time of pickup, as well as any damage that occurred during transport.

The CE unit, which began shipping last month, is priced at $2,300. It includes two PC Card slots that are sealed from rain and dust, and supports software from PenRight Corp. and Descartes Systems Group Inc., among others.

In the health-care industry, medical personnel are finding that handheld systems can provide up-to-date patient information. And some physicians now prefer handheld computers over clipboards for recording patient information.

Several vendors are designing mobile systems with the health-care industry in mind. Ed Zabrek, a private-practice obstetrician in Houston, has found a system that suits his needs: Hewlett-Packard's new Jornada 680 Windows CE 2.11 handheld computer, which is 7 inches long and less than 3 inches wide, weighs about 1 pound, and fits perfectly into Zabrek's pocket. The Jornada 680 also features one of the largest keyboards available on a handheld, or about 75% of the size of a standard desktop PC. Zabrek says the larger keyboard makes inputting data easier.