GRiDPad Makes Computing History with First Use in Election Exit Poll
FREMONT, Calif. — July 23, 1990 — The San Francisco Examiner has broken new ground by conducting the first ever election-day exit poll using GRiDPAD, the only computer in America that recognizes handwriting and uses an electronic pen interface instead of a keyboard.
The battery-powered, MS-DOS compatible computers replaced the slow and cumbersome manual process that market researchers have used for years to sample the public's opinion on everything from voting to toothpaste brand preference.
The exit polls were conducted for the newspaper during the June primary election in California by Richard Hertz Consulting, a market research firm. Polling questionnaires appeared on the computer's screen and data was entered on the screen with a pen.
Richard Hertz, president of the Bodega Bay, Calif.-research company, credited GRiDPAD with ''significantly increasing the speed and accuracy of the polling process. It allowed us to conduct more election day interviews, and more in-depth interviews, that provided the Examiner with immediate insight on why people voted for various candidates and initiatives.
''GRiDPAD allowed us to get into greater depth with the interviews. You can actually use the little computer anywhere you have a crowd and want to know what people are thinking then and there.''
After the polling was completed, the information was electronically transferred to a minicomputer which analyzed the results. Within hours, the Examiner was able to shed light on why people voted as they did.
GRiDPAD is a fully IBM-PC compatible, 4.5-pound, hand-held computer the size of a clipboard. The computer, introduced in September, also captures and stores signatures and graphics which can be transmitted by a built-in modem.
The poll taker, Sylvia Covington, said this was her first experience polling with computers. ''I'm totally computer illiterate,'' she said.
''As each page comes up on the GRiDPAD screen, you tap in the number the person answered using a stylus instead of a keyboard. It refines things. Because there is no keyboard, it's a totally different experience. Using GRiDPAD is easier. There is less chance for error.''
Among the 20 questions the pollsters asked were, ''In the race for governor, did you vote for Diane Feinstein, John Van de Kamp or someone else?'' and ''Why did you vote for ____________?'' A list of 22 reasons followed, with space provided for explanation.
The polling application software was developed by R2Z Co., of Fremont. It was written in only three days using R2Z's PADBASE+, a high-level dBASE language alternative to C programming.
Robert Artusy, R2Z vice president, said that PADBASE+ provides a major benefit for polling purposes. Especially for the thousands of dBASE programmers on the staffs of various newspapers, magazines and other news gathering organizations.
''The custom software is written in dBASE language, using Clipper,'' he explained, ''and our GPO (generic program outline) which comes with PADBASE+. This lowers development time dramatically.
''One of the important points is that this is sophisticated, graphics-oriented software developed using standard dBase programming techniques under MS-DOS. With PADBASE+, you are able to take full advantage of 'point and shoot' capabilities of the GRiDPAD.
''Without MS-DOS compatibility,'' Artusy stressed, ''we could not have done this project in time. User projects such as this could not be written profitably in a proprietary manner. It took 32 hours total of design, programming and testing to develop the polling software.''
Hertz agrees that MS-DOS is one key to ''rapid information turnaround. Having MS-DOS is a big factor. Many handheld computers with proprietary applications force you to do too much work. GRiDPAD's MS-DOS is a tremendous advantage.''
Hertz said that as a result of the successful exit poll for the Examiner, his company already has started a market research project using GRiDPADs for another firm. His company previously has done market research for other major news organizations including the New York Times newspaper group.
In addition to surveys and polls, numerous software vendors are developing a wide variety of applications for the GRiDPAD including inventory taking, medical forms, education and training, spreadsheet manipulation, and note and memo entry.
Companies and organizations already using GRiDPAD include the Census Bureau, one of the big three auto companies, a large food service company and the Southern Pacific railway.
GRiD manufactures and markets laptop, pen-and-display and desktop computers and electronic mail/networking systems. GRiD, which has a worldwide direct sales and support organization, demonstrates products at more than 50 GRiD Systems Centers and sells products through application specific value added resellers.
GRiD is located at 47211 Lakeview Blvd., Fremont, 94538. 415/656-4700. GRiD also has subsidiaries in the United Kingdom: 44-0-372-60266 and in Germany 49-0-211-498-2971.
GRiD is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tandy Corp., of Fort Worth, Texas. Tandy is a leading manufacturer and distributor of consumer electronics and computers. A New York Stock Exchange company, Tandy has sales in excess of $4 billion annually.
Note to editors: For photos, contact GRiD Systems Corp.
CONTACT:
GRiD Systems Corp., Fremont
Jim Detar, 415/656-4700, GSC 90-14