News Week of August 21, 2005

Intel plows health care field

Intel is developing reference designs (see above) for devices that interact with medical equipment and that health practitioners, as well as patients, can use. Burns said Intel has been working with doctors and nurses to create the prototypes. The tablet mock ups (see above) have wireless connectivity (Bluetooth, RFID and Wi-Fi) for getting data from instruments, like a stethoscope, and sending data into patient records.  One prototype (the one on the right side of the trio pictured above) will allow Parkinson's patients to conduct their own tests. For example, the patient would move plastic pegs from one side of the device to another to test the the state of their tremors. Other capabilities of the device are testing the strength of the patient's voice and downloading a datastream of tremor data from a customized watch. Intel in partnership with medical organizations and top neurologists is beginning investigatory trials with the prototypes in 75 households, said Eric Dishman, general manager of health research and innovation at Intel. (Source: Dan Farber, ZDNet)

Bill Crounse - Talking hospital tech with CIO of Overlake Hospital (Video)

Bill Crounse, a medical doctor who works at Microsoft, as the global healthcare industry manager, invited us over to see Kent Hargrave, CIO at Overlake Hospital Medical Center. I had an opportunity recently to spend a week in the hospital while my wife had surgery. I noticed that the hospital had wifi almost everywhere (which I greatly appreciated, by the way). But, in this interview we learned a lot more about the role of technology in hospitals. (Source: Scobelizer, Channel 9)

Toshiba Announces Notebook Storage Cart for Educational Settings; Mobile Cart Allows for Easy Set-up and Storage of Notebook PCs, Projectors and Printers for Classrooms

Toshiba's Digital Products Division, a division of Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. and provider of industry-leading portable computers, projectors and other mobile-related services and products, today announced the availability of a Notebook Storage Cart that offers the convenience of a portable digital classroom.

The Notebook Storage Cart stores and charges up to 30 notebook computers in individual compartments and provides room on the top shelf for a work surface or for use with a digital projector or printer.

Designed to enable educators to provide more engaging classroom experiences, the Notebook Storage Cart can be easily moved around a classroom or from room to room. Teachers can combine a projector, such as Toshiba's TDP-T91AU with integrated document camera, and a Tablet PC such as Toshiba's Tecra(R) M4 or Satellite(R) R15, with the Notebook Storage Cart to create the ultimate mobile classroom experience.

"We have found a lot of interest in the cart from educators who wish to take full advantage of notebook and projector technology in the classroom," said Jane Poon, product manager for Toshiba projectors. "It can help provide an all-in-one digital education solution."

Manufactured by Bretford, a leader in education furniture, the Notebook Storage Cart is constructed from 20- and 18-gauge steel and features a Toshiba exclusive Topaz Blue powder paint finish. The all-steel construction with multiple-point locking doors and padlock deters theft and helps ensure the security of equipment. The top shelf comes with a non-slip rubber mat and features a grommet hole at the back for cord management and access to electrical units.

Toshiba's Notebook Storage Cart comes pre-assembled and is available in 15-, 18-, 24- and 30-unit configurations. Starting estimated single unit price (ESUP)(1) is $940.

The carts can be purchased along with Toshiba notebook computers and mobile projectors through authorized distributors, dealers, VARs or mail-order outlets, and at www.toshibadirect.com.  (Source: Press Release Business Wire)

Students: Top Ten Benefits of Microsoft OneNote (a must read)!

Moving into your new dorm or apartment? Ready to work hard towards that 4.0 average? Plan to join study groups nightly? 

Well even if the odds of sticking to such a Puritan plan are against you, you still can use technology to make the most of your study time. With your Tablet PC and Microsoft OneNote, it is easier than ever to keep on top of your class lectures, organize your notes and prepare yourself for the dreaded midterms and final exams.

Microsoft has published the "Top 10 Ways Academics Can Benefit from OneNote" and I must say it sounds very promising. If only I had these tools available when I went through Arizona State University, my GPA could have been bumped a notch and I still would have had the time to party - um I mean sleep and exercise. (Source: Barry J. Doyle,  Tablet PC Review Spot)

Real estate's future driven by Tablets, Dashboards

The Real Estate Dashboard is the software that works in conjunction with a tablet computer to allow real estate agents to eliminate one of the most wasteful of all real estate activities � driving different places to collect signatures on documents. While you may not do this personally, someone else is. Furthermore, either you or your client is being charged for it. In fact, as I listened to the experts in the area of e-signatures discuss the coming changes, I wanted to stand up and scream, "Do you really think we like driving all over town to collect signatures?" Some of them actually thought we did. Given the traffic in most major cities and the high price of gas, there are few activities that are more wasteful.

In addition to the tremendous time savings, going paperless has a host of other advantages. Most agents find accurate record keeping to be challenging at best. When did they drop off the document? When was it picked up? Did the seller and buyer actually read it even though they're saying they have no recollection of receiving it? In a time where litigation continues to soar, going digital is a godsend. You can tell the exact moment a document was sent. You can tell whether the recipient opened the file as well as when it was opened. One attorney who was representing an agent who had closed a digital transaction said her file was the best-documented file he had ever seen. The agent didn't do any more than she did normally. The difference was the technology tracked it all for her.  Subscription Required (Source: Bernice Ross, Inman Real Estate News)

New money, technology for CPS caseworkers

Tablet PC's will play a big role in the state's effort to better it's Child Protective Services agency.

"We're going to be reducing workload. The tablet PC is a good example of that. We're going to be hiring aides and clerical support, other workers. So again, the caseworkers themselves can spend focus the time that they need to spend with children and with families," Department of Family and Protective Services spokesperson Patrick Crimmins said. (Source: Hermelinda Vargas, News 8 Austin)

Taiwan market: Lenovo to launch first ThinkPad

China-based notebook vendor Lenovo will launch its first ThinkPad-branded notebook, the X41 Tablet PC, for Taiwan on August 29. The wide-screen ThinkPad X41 is designed for the slim and light segment and is priced at NT$69,900 (US$2,172), according to the company. (Source: Amy Kao, Jessie Shen, DigiTimes)
Posted Thursday, August 25, 2005 by ChrisD
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Rentacomputer.com Introduces the Just Back From Rental Sale

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MedAptus' Practice-Proven Electronic Charge Capture Deployed on Tablet PCs

   Solution and Form Factor Combine and Create Pathway to EMR Integration

    MedAptus, a provider of point-of-care solutions to healthcare enterprises, today announced that its Electronic Charge Capture has been successfully deployed on Tablet PCs.  The application, which supports accurate and compliant professional charge capture and submission, was previously available to physicians via PocketPC(TM) handheld devices and computer workstations.

    Usage of MedAptus' charge capture, the cornerstone of its solution suite, has been repeatedly demonstrated to yield healthcare enterprises with significant revenue improvements.  It has additionally been met with high physician adoption given its ease-of-use and ability to provide rapid access to valuable patient and encounter information.  The Tablet PC version affords physicians the same application functionality and benefits as does the widely utilized handheld version.

    Many MedAptus customers seek its charge capture solution as a foundation for an eventual EMR strategy given its ability to dramatically increase revenue while simultaneously easing physicians into technology adoption. However, this deployment milestone also speaks to the role of MedAptus' charge capture as an EMR add-on capable of augmenting powerful clinical applications with its unparalleled coding intelligence.

    Prime Care Physicians, PLLC, based in Albany, New York, is one of the first MedAptus customers to migrate physician-users from handheld devices to the increasingly popular Tablet PCs.  Prime Care, a MedAptus customer since 2003, decided to make this change in order to support the use, and integration, of charge capture with its own acclaimed electronic medical records system, Vertex.

    According to Denise Palermo, chief information officer of Prime Care, "Even though physicians had been using the handheld version of the application for more than a year, the transition to the Tablet version was inevitable. Organizationally, adopting this solution has allowed us to increase revenues, improve efficiencies and now extend the value of our EMR.  Physicians, our administration, and even patients have all benefited."

    "MedAptus is largely known as a premier handheld technology company - but what this announcement demonstrates is that we are much more than that.  Our aim is to provide customers with tools based on needs and workflow, which we understand are fluid.  For example, with our system a physician can use a Tablet in his office and later take his handheld device to the hospital for use during rounds.  All components are completely interchangeable, which is highly unique," said Dennis Mitchell, president and CEO of MedAptus. (Source: Press Release, PRNewswire)

Can Apple save the Tablet?

Tim Anderson over at IT Writing wrote in October 2003 about tablet PCs. He makes the point that basically said that tablets aren�t much good for writing large blocks of text - which is what I�ve found with the pen. Consequently they will only capture a nich� market (form fillers) until something special happens. Will that be Apple?

Ink needs some work before it�s ready for use with a tablet, but I don�t imagine Apple have been sitting on their hands. Currently it�s at version 1.2 When the Tablet Mac comes, expect at least version 2.0. Apple do have their work cut for them. But they�ve done it before and I reckon they�ll do it again. I reckon when they bring out a Tablet Mac, it will be something special. (Source: Chris Howard, Apple Matters)

The Magic Invisible Cloth That Only Wise Men Can See

As a �notebook-plus� product, the convertible will cannibalize notebooks. Slates, on the other hand, derive most of their market from older dedicated-hardware markets or replacement of manual (pen and paper) methods. The tablet PC is a generally good idea, and Microsoft is especially motivated to have a success in this form factor. One issue facing the company is how Longhorn, now named Windows Vista, is going to make a splash when most of the new technology is hidden in the system. One good way is to have new form factors enabled by the new OS. Tablet functionality built into the OS is one way to help create a feeling that Windows Vista really is revolutionary.

Meanwhile, alternative form factors have arisen to handle some of the demand that might potentially have gone to tablets, form factors such as Blackberries and converged phones. Mobility is clearly important, and yet there are a number of possible ways of getting a good mobile computing experience. (Source: Roger Kay, Technology Pundits)
Posted Wednesday, August 24, 2005 by ChrisD
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Gartner's latest on tablet PCs, social tagging, and other emerging technologies

Gartner says that tablet PCs are coming of age, and especially in customer-facing situations, could be worth their premium prices, particulary if they are convertible models.

"When we recently tested one of the available new versions, we were surprised at how significantly handwriting recognition has improved. Even with bad handwriting, the system often recognizes words correctly at first glance (for this author, it was about 70 percent of the time)."

But don't forget the drawbacks if you are considering tablets. Gartner perceptively noted some of the pitfalls of handwriting on a screen. For example, a user's line of sight can be obstructed while writing and making command-and-control movements, and the positioning of the pen cannot be exactly calibrated to the actual position of the pointer on the screen, which can be a limiting factor for some granular graphical uses.   (Source: Chris Jablonski, ZDNet)

Fujitsu Revamps Flagship Convertible and Slate Tablet PCs

Updated Models Smart Choice for Mobile Workers and Professionals in
              Healthcare, Field Force and Sales Force Automation

    SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Fujitsu Computer Systems today
updated its mobile product portfolio with the enhanced LifeBook(R) T4000 and
Stylistic(R) ST5000 Tablet PCs.  These innovative Tablet PCs have been
redesigned to even better meet the needs of mobile professionals with faster
processors and new security options so that users can do their jobs more
efficiently and accurately.  With a reputation for reliability, the new
offerings from Fujitsu demonstrate the company's continuing commitment to
provide affordable and dependable computing platforms.

    "As enterprises increasingly rely on vast numbers of mobile workers, they
require a mobile computing platform that is easy to deploy, maintain, and
service," said Paul Moore, director of mobile product marketing at Fujitsu
Computer Systems. "Fujitsu offers a broad array of mobile solutions with the
features, security, flexibility, reliability, and ease of integration these
companies need -- all at competitive prices."

    The LifeBook T4020 Tablet PC combines the convenience and familiarity of a
notebook with the powerful and versatile functionality of a slate Tablet PC.
It is perfect for both users of vertical applications requiring inking or pen-
driven navigation, and for mobile professionals who need an integrated
keyboard and media drive.  Offering maximum flexibility, the LifeBook T4020
Tablet PC features the Intel(R) Pentium (R) M Processor ULV 740 or 760, a
bright 12.1" XGA display with a wide 160 degree viewing angle, optional
Bluetooth and fingerprint sensor, and a long battery life.  The LifeBook T4020
Tablet PC also comes with a choice of either the Atheros Super AG(R) or
Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2915ABG network connection.

    The Stylistic ST5032 Tablet PCs blend quality and reliability into a
svelte slate tablet that weighs a mere 3.5 pounds yet features the customer's
choice of a large, bright 12.1" XGA indoor or indoor/outdoor display with a
greater than 160 degree viewing angle, or a high-visibility 10.4"
indoor/outdoor display.  Combined with an Intel(R) Pentium(R) M Processor ULV
753, a shock-mounted hard drive and ample system memory, the Stylistic ST5032
Tablet PC offers exceptional reliability, uncompromising performance, and
extended battery life.  It comes with a complete set of security features
including built in TPM, a dedicated Smart Card slot, and a biometric swipe
sensor (on 12.1" display models only).  The Stylistic ST5032 Tablet PC also
comes with an optional Bluetooth PAN and a choice of Atheros Super AG(R)
802.11a/b/g WLAN or Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2915ABG network connection.

    The Fujitsu LifeBook T4020 and the Stylistic ST5032 Tablet PCs are
available through Fujitsu Computer Systems at http://us.fujitsu.com/computers
or 1-800-831-3183 and through Fujitsu resellers (1). (Source: Press Release, PRNewswire)

Fashionable Tablet PC:LT20-4

LG levers its recent good form in notebook computing and its consumer electronics background with this, it's first Tablet PC. This stylish convertible has a bright 12.1in display (with wide viewable angle and Wacom digitiser backing) that can be used like a traditional notebook or fold back on itself to become a slate. Using a stylus to scribble down and save notes or diagrams in a meeting and swivel the screen around to show other attendees has obvious appeal. Tablet PCs are also slowly winning fans in education, finance and healthcare industries.

The LT20-4 isn't a powerhouse of a machine (it scored 66 in PC WorldBench 5 and 2526 in 3DMark 2001) but will handle everyday applications in addition to those integrated into Windows XP Tablet PC Edition including handwriting or voice-to-text conversion.  (Source: Danny Allen, PC World)

Motion Computing LS800 Tablet PC Review

After three days I have to say I am very impressed. As previously posted my first impression was �wow that�s small� and I still think that every time I look at it. However I now have a few additional things to say�

The overall impression is that the LS800 as been designed very, very well. When you first look at the unit you notice that the screen is offset away from the battery when held in portrait mode. Additionally the battery itself has a rubberised coating on the exterior surface. These two factors combined make the LS800 very comfortable to hold in one hand like a book � great for reading and browsing. At just 1kg (2.2lbs) the LS800 is light enough to hold like this for quite some time. (Source: Craig Pringle, GeekZone)
Posted Monday, August 22, 2005 by ChrisD
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EverNote helps messy workers clean up their computers

EverNote Plus at $34.95 is intended for the small number of notebook computers with Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. Tablet PCs have touch-sensitive screens and can use a stylus for taking handwritten notes. EverNote Plus includes handwriting recognition for turning those notes into text. If you don't have Tablet PC, however, you don't need EverNote Plus; the standard version even lets you create handwritten notes or drawings with a mouse, although without handwriting recognition.

I tried EverNote using a sample file supplied by the company with 300 notes of all types. The software sorted through these notes at lightning speed and otherwise worked as advertised. (Source: MIKE LANGBERG , Knight Ridder News Service, St. Paul Pioneer Press)

The Evolution and Death of the Laptop Computer

Tablet PC

The Tablet PC, in slate form, looks and feels like a big OQO. While most are the same size, Motion Computing just brought out a device that is closer to the OQO size than it is to a traditional notebook computer. It will fit in a large coat pocket and has a display that is easier on aging eyes than the smaller device. Motion hasn't integrated the keyboard, which is probably a requirement for a replacement product, but you can now see a working device that is larger and get a sense for where user needs with regard to size are and where the related fixed screen technology currently is.

Tablets, in general, were expected to replace standard laptops starting this year and, for the most part, that isn't happening. They are moving aggressively in education, which does suggest this move is still on its way, but it is likely still several years out. One of the big limiters for this has been the inability to make the pen-based interface available for desktop computers and, at least now, many are moving between the two product types.

The tablet PC is clearly coming but it is more an evolution of the user interface right now than a true replacement for the existing laptop computer.  (Source: Rob Enderle, TechNewsWorld )