Barcode Scanning with the Rugged Tablet Extra Speed, Extra Accuracy

Everyone is familiar with the barcode its been around since for years. The square or rectangular image consists of a series of black lines or squares and white spaces (of varying sizes). These combinations can be read by a scanner to quickly identify the object they are attached to.

Barcodes are used in numerous verticals, from retail stores selling every kind of product imaginable, to warehouses where inventory can be quickly tracked with a barcode scanner, to invoicing for rapid scanning of data that could take pages to delineate, to the transport and delivery service where codes can track items from manufacturing through packaging and on to delivery.

The Evolution of Barcodes

One dimensional, or 1D barcodes are the ones commonly seen used to store basic text information, including product type, size, and color. These are also regularly referred to as universal product codes (UPC) used on product packaging. Simplified, they represent a string of numbers (usually printed below the UPC code in numeric form on the sticker or packaging) that denote the manufacturer and item. For high-quality packaging solutions, consider using printing Lynchburg services to ensure your products are professionally labeled and easily recognizable.

2D barcodes are much more complex, and can add additional levels of information such as price, quantity, and even an image, and can be printed in very small sizes and etched into products if desired. Linear barcode scanners cant read them, though smartphones and tablets with imaging capability will which is why rugged tablets are becoming so popular as barcode scanning devices.

Rugged Tablets Add Speed to the Scanning Process

An area in which barcode scanning has seen major advances is speed. Differences as low as a tenth of a second can make a huge difference in scan performance.This becomes important in situations where employees doing repetitive scanning at high speed need tools that will keep up and exceed expectations and rugged tablets can meet the challenge.

Higher productivity, efficiency and profit, can be expected when tools are as fast as possible and there is no wasted time between scans. The rugged tablet which is equipped with a barcode scanner can eliminate many issues common with older scanners, including a very narrow range of use in regard to distance from the code being scanned, difficulty in scanning if the device is not held perfectly still or at the precise angle, and inability to scan both 1D and 2D codes.

Top Two Benefits of Newer Barcode Scanners

The latest rugged tablets with barcode scanning capability have two major features that can benefit users especially in situations when a handheld device is the optimal choice. The first benefit is provided by the image scanning software built in to newer 2D scanners instead of having to drag the beam of light across the barcode to read it literally, the scanner simply takes and image and decodes it.

The second benefit relies on the fact that newer rugged tablets with barcode scanning tech have motion dampeners built in so even if the tablet is not held perfectly motionless, codes can still be read and the data captured. The lower motion sensitivity makes the tablet usable even in situations such on shipboard, where movement is a given, or while on the move in a warehouse.

Rugged tablets can be barcode scanners of the future, making tasks easier for all those who require the ability to quickly and effectively scan for information.

What Medical-Cart Computers with Hot Swappable Batteries Mean for the Health Care Industry

Medical cart computers provide multiple advantages for both patients and health care personnel. The features outshine those of computers on wheels (COWs) and the advanced technology streamlines patient care, no matter where the patient is located in the hospital or care center. Benefits apply not only to the patients themselves, but anyone handling and deriving treatment knowledge from the data.

Hot Swappable Batteries

Possibly the most attractive benefit of the medical cart computer is the advantageous hot swapped battery system, which allows batteries to be exchanged without the unit powering down. Each unit comes with 3 batteries, meaning that the computer can run continuously covering entire shifts, never going down and causing interruption of patient care or loss of data. The cart never has to be taken to another location for charging the batteries are simply removed and charged while a fresh battery is installed to continue operation. This provides for superior service at the point of care.

Data Access and Capability

With data capability at the patients side, any relevant records, test results, or doctor notes can be reviewed on the spot. Allergies can be cross referenced, and medication contraindications checked for. Doctors and nurses will have access to the information they need at all times, resulting in less mistakes and higher productivity for each shift. There is no running back and forth looking for patient records or folders all the data is stored by the patients bedside in a portable format that can be taken from room to room as needed.

Cost and Time Efficiency

The built in swappable batteries offer a more affordable option that traditional medical cart batteries, which are large, heavy, expensive and take longer to charge. The 3 batteries cover about 16 hours of operation , and every shift can start with fresh batteries. The time saved by always being able to depend on the medical cart computer being powered up and accessible is vast and patient care is made that much more accurate with all the data at each caretakers fingertips.

Using medical cart computers is good for patients, good for nursing staff, good for doctors, and good for administrators who need accurate records to manage patient transfers, billing, and more. With Electronic Health Records rapidly supplanting older, traditional forms of data storage, having portable, high tech medical cart computers for every hospital room is something for hospitals, urgent care centers, and more to aspire to.

What Rugged Tablets Mean for GIS across Various Industries

As rugged tablets become more and more popular with those who use GIS (geographic information systems) in the field, the reverse is also true – those who use GIS are turning to rugged tablets for the best marriage of software and hardware.

Windows-based rugged tablets allow technicians and service personnel in the field to navigate urban, remote, and hazardous environments with the knowledge that their device is as rugged as the terrain. Mobile GIS support assists in rapid determinations in the field, including asset location, maintenance and management.

Expansion of Tablet Usage for GIS

While geospatial applications have been primarily associated with traditional field service sectors, advanced positioning and mobile computing technologies as well as durable, rugged mobile devices have allowed the tech to expand across almost every global industry. Access to GIS data is streamlined and made more usable with larger screened devices, and the relative lightness and open faced design means it is easier to handle than a laptop.

Verticals Rip for GIS / Rugged Tablet Implementation

While workers in the oil and gas industry and the military quickly saw the advantages of the rugged tablet for use with GIS software, more industries are joining the switch to mobile functionality on a monthly basis. Some of the verticals now adopting this technology include:

  • Public Safety for accurate mapping of routes and clear visibility of potential problems

  • Transportation / Logistics for weight bearing bridge load information

  • HazMat and Health Services – for disease control and containment

  • Fire and Rescue for quick, accurate decision making for situations when timing is critical; for example, when gas mains are involved

  • Utilities for fast, easy surveying and marking of underground lines

  • Architecture and Construction for worker safety in the field and accurate data retrieval for construction or repair

Why Choose Rugged over Consumer Grade Devices?

Many consumer tablets simply arent built with either the durability or functionality required for in field use. Rugged tablets not only stand up to hard usage in the field, but the high accuracy position engine, data capture modules, GIS software integration, and additional peripherals and applications that can be implemented on a single device make the rugged tablet the top choice for those dealing with GIS in any vertical.

The ability to distribute high quality, functional devices to a larger number of workers with less long term cost for upgrades or replacement of broken devices makes the rugged tablet the game changer GIS users have been looking for.

Rugged Tablets and GIS Data A Perfect Match

The tech of the future is here, and its called GIS. Geographic information systems were developed for quick and easy access to information in situations when data was difficult to portray outside of a 3D representation, and mobility was a prime factor. When combined with the tablets (rugged tablets and GNSS tablets), the functionality of GIS exploded, and now the technology is used across a dizzying number of verticals and industries.

GIS and Windows

Currently, most of the GIS software is designed for Windows operating systems, removing the worry about security with Android, and its integration with Windows based tablets has opened up a whole new level of efficacy for workflow mobility. Instead of simple data acquisition, GIS applications implemented on a Windows OS simplify complex data analysis and can centralize disparate map collections. Business planning can be taken beyond basic engineering, and lend new vision and breadth to logistical modeling. The result is a proactive approach to asset management.

Rugged Tablets vs. Consumer Grade Tablets

While GIS is gradually available on certain consumer grade tablets, upgrading to a rugged tablet saves considerable costs down the road when it comes to updates and replacements. Rugged tablets and GIS can work together to capture critical data and allow access from various mobile points in critical situations or unfavorable conditions. Data capture modules, extreme mobility, and superior durability are key benefits of choosing rugged tablets over consumer grade models.

Task Specific Applications

GIS applications used by service personnel in inclement weather conditions or hazardous environments need to be embedded in devices that can stand up to the strain. Consumer grade tablets simply arent built to withstand the kind of repeated cold, heat, and shock of dropping / falling. The built-in highly accurate positioning engine is also an advantage to a rugged tablet. It provides up to centimeter-grade positioning while the other tablets only offer meter-grade positioning. The ability to connect to other peripheral equipment is also vital, and rugged tablets can offer True Serial Port or RJ45 I/O connectivity for diagnostic testing and other tasks.

Leveraging GIS via Rugged Tablets in the Field

GIS data can be specifically useful in the field in situations that include spread of a vector, tactical response execution, land and water resource tracking and management, and utility infrastructure expansion, to name just a few. Rugged tablets and GNSS tablets provide data access, analysis, continuity, and solution scalability that supports meaningful implementation of GIS functionality.

Most mobile PC manufacturers simply dont ensure compliance with GIS standards or compatibility with GIS software. Rugged tablets and GNSS tablets make sure the hardware and software sync correctly for a device that more than proves its usefulness giving mobile data access another much needed boost.

Are Rugged Tablets Suitable for Public Safety Implementation?


The potential for rugged tablet implementation and success is nowhere more apparent than in the sector of Public Safety. The sheer range of possibilities when it comes to engaging the power of mobile tech for public safety stretches across agencies and provides an untapped wealth of marketability for devices that match durability with computing power.

Professionals working in both the military and the public sector often require real time data, remote access to intelligence reports, the ability to accurately and quickly capture critical data in the field, and the connectivity to communicate between central headquarters and on the move mobile units. Here are just a few of the ways rugged tablets can improve public safety:

Law Enforcement

Tablets can deliver data fast, helping to diffuse tense situations and clarify issues. They can be used to record if needed, to take field interviews, to access records, and even to verify insurance or issue tickets or warnings. The connectivity and authentication measures available means that data can be transmitted securely.

Fire and Rescue

Rugged tablets can be invaluable for in the field investigations, necessary photos, and personnel deployment and tracking. Durability, dust and water resistance make the tablet a perfect device for use in harsh conditions. Evidence and cataloguing in emergent situations provides a records trail for later scrutiny.

EMS

Fast, reliable records access and medical information via approved and authorized journals and apps make EMT workers feel more confident. They can benefit from real time data transmission, cross referencing drug interactions and accessing past medical records, and can even video call their counterparts at the hospital for quick telemedical intervention. Lifesaving procedures can even be refreshed on the spot for accurate application.

Public Works

GPS and GIS capability ensures that markers can be verified for correct positioning and that location stamping is recorded. Photo capability adds visuals to records and inspection reports. Form access saves time and extra trips and date lookup apps and code scanners allow for swift checks for safety and viability, while eliminating errors and duplications.

Rugged tablets are safe, secure and reliable, allowing users to take advantage of easy input and one-hand operation, versatility and durability, data transfer and access, security protocol adherence, and more. Find out what rugged tablets can bring to public safety in your associated field and start implementing these must have tools today.