Short Cuts: Roaming Around the Mobile Computing Industry

Wright Strategy for Data Collection

Data collection has long been touted as one of the prime applications of stylus-based computers. The advantages promise to be many, ranging from saved time and cost, to increased data quality when compared to manual data input of collected data.

San Diego, California-based Wright Strategies has unveiled a data collection solution for use with Apple’s Newton PDA. Dubbed OmniForm, the software enables survey specialists, market researchers, and other professionals to perform sophisticated data collection operations on-the-go.

Wright Strategies claims that OmniForm—which relies on a combination of the Newton with Macintosh or PC compatible computers—provides a compelling alternative to both OMR (optical mark recognition) and OCR (optical character recognition) systems currently available.

At the heart of OmniForm is a form builder, which enables users to create a set of fields that both prompt the user and also restricts the type of acceptable input. In addition, each field can have an associated script that gives the field special behavior.

This behavior can validate the entered data, display dialogs, or cue the user with sound. Wright Strategies claims that by using scripts, form designers can prevent against incorrect data entry.

Upon returning to the desktop, users can transfer the collected information to a PC or Macintosh. Wright states that customers include a major Southern California theme park using OmniForm to survey guests.

For more information, please contact Wright Strategies at (619) 274-1047, (619) 274-1728 (fax).

Real-time Wireless Data

Someday, we are likely to receive much of our daily information on mobile devices over wireless connections. Data Broadcasting Corporation (DBC) is taking us one step closer to this by delivering hardware coupled with an over-the-airwaves information service.

SignalCard is a PCMCIA Type II card that includes a wireless receiver. Using SignalCard, users can receive real-time financial, stock market, and sports information from major U.S. Exchanges, News Headlines from Dow Jones Personal Information Network, and Dow Jones News Alerts.

Data Broadcasting transmits data at 9600 bps using a standard FM radio network in 46 cities across North America. Users can analyze the data using specialized software on their mobile computers.

SignalCard is priced at $295 plus subscription and exchange fees. The card and service can be ordered directly from Data Broadcasting Corp.

For more information, please contact Julie Craig of Data Broadcasting Corporation at (415) 571-1800, (415) 571-8507 (fax).

Wireless State of Indiana

There has been recent debate about the cost-benefit trade-offs in employing a wireless local area network in place of a traditional wired system. For the Indiana State Legislature and its 106 year old State House, the balance was tipped in favor of a wireless solution.

As the Indiana example shows, wiring costs can be high in many old or historic buildings—both in money and aesthetics. Instead, the legislature selected a wireless network developed by systems integrator PYTHIA Corporation, using the AIRLAN/PCMCIA wireless adapter made by Solectek Corporation.

The PCMCIA cards are inserted into pen-based notebook computers supplied by NEC. This enables users to connect to the institution’s local area network at a range of up to 800 feet, and transmit data over spread spectrum at rates up to 2 Mbps.

The system employs several bridges to ensure than users maintain connection throughout the building. This includes an antenna at each end of the State House, along with antennas in the House chamber and on the third and fourth floors.

The system, which has been dubbed CHASY (CHamber Automation SYstem), was initiated because of the increasing printing costs involved in getting copies of bills to more than 150 house and senate members, not to mention a number of consultants and experts.

Legislators use the stylus computer to enter the bill’s number on the Windows for Pen Computing software. The bill’s text is then displayed on-screen, properly formatted into pages and keyed line-by-line for quick access during debates.

For more information, please contact Solectek at (619) 450-1220, (619) 457-2681.

Newton Aids in Disasters

Sunshine, beaches, national parks, and historic cities—California has it all. Unfortunately, it also has fires, floods, riots, and earthquakes. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES), is piloting a system that it hopes will enable it to better perform after-disaster damage assessment.

The pilot will focus on providing damage assessment for the recent Southern California earthquake epicentered in the community of Northridge. In the pilot, 100 teams will be outfitted with the Newton-based package.

The data collection package consists of a Newton MessagePad, equipped with Trimble Navigation’s Scout Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. The hardware is tied together using special software developed by AllPen Software.

Using the Newton enables digital data collection to be performed on-site, while the GPS can time-stamp and pinpoint the location of the event. California is hoping that faster collection leads to faster assistance delivery.

For more information, please contact Jennie Shikashio of Regis McKenna, Inc. at (408) 974-4104.

TapWorks Integrates

While the Newton brings a new level of application integration to the computing world, Avail Technology, Inc. hopes to increase the control users have in creating complex documents on their small-screened Newtons.

TapWorks for Newton promises to integrate text processing, spreadsheets, drawing, and graphs into a single application. Using TapWorks, users will be able to lay out a full 8 1/2 x 11-inch page suitable for faxing or printing.

The application consists of four modules supporting each of the functions mentioned. Using the text module, users can enter text in any font, size, or style. In addition, users can create text macros for often-used phrases.

The spreadsheet module supports over 100 built-in functions covering calculations in math, statistics, finance, trigonometry, and others. Users can also enter NewtonScript commands in the spreadsheet cells for extra flexibility.

The drawing module has features to sketch a range of simple and complex figures. The tools include lines, rectangles, round-rectangles, ovals, curves, and a palette of 20 pre-defined shapes including stars, pointers, and others.

Finally, the graphing module enables users to chart data into graphs, single bar, double bar, stacked bar, single and double line, and pie charts. Using the page layout features, users can arrange these elements anywhere on the page.

Avail Technology is also releasing TapWorks Viewer, a separate application that is freely distributable, enabling easier document sharing with other Newton users.

TapWorks will be available from StarCore at the end of June 1994, and will list for $119. For more information, please contact Sarah Lathrop of Avail Technology, Inc. at (408) 730-6855, (408) 746-3630 (fax).

Higher Capacity Drives

MiniStor Peripherals Corp. has announced a new family of 2.5-inch embedded disk drives featuring enhanced shock resistance. Using proprietary ImpactSafe technology, the new 340 MB, 510 MB, and 680 MB 2.5-inch drives can withstand up to 100 G shocks while operating, 150 G shocks while not operating.

The new drives have transfer rates of 23 to 39 Mbps, average seek time of 12 ms, and reliability rate of 300,000 mean time between failures.

For more information, please contact Miles Walsh of MiniStor at (408) 432-5550.