A quick guide to selecting the best Mobile Computer / PDA for industrial applications

With 20 years experience we are experts at helping organisations select the best mobile computer for their needs. Here are a few pointers, for more detailed advice call us on 01202 888079.

Looking at your environment
The most common question we get asked is can I make do with a standard PDA? The answer is really down to you and your environment.

We always suggest that you go and see how the worker does their job, particularly if you are a desk based worker:

  • Are they standing up?
  • Will the unit spend most of its life in use or being carried?
  • How often will they put the unit down and pick it up
  • How many hours a day will they use the unit
  • Will the unit get dropped, from what height and how often?
  • Is the environment dusty or will the unit get wet?
  • What is the temperature range they expect to work in?
  • Does the operator need to wear gloves?
  • Do they need keys, if so will numbers be OK or do they need alphabetic keys as well?
  • Do they need to scan barcodes? If so how many and how long will they be scanning for?

In terms of whether you need a rugged unit, you can now start to make a few calculations:

Example: "We expect to drop it twice a month and we think a standard PDA will break every third drop, with a typical repair bill of £100 therefore it will be dropped 24 times, break 8 times and create a repair bill of £800 per year - I think we need a rugged device".

Hopefully the other questions above have now started you thinking about other aspects of the device as well:

  • Ergonomics
  • Sealing against dust and moisture
  • Operating and storage temperatures
  • Drop tests
  • Keyboard size, number of keys, key size and separation
  • How will the unit be carried
  • Battery Life

Lets take a look at the types of mobile computer that are available to you and then look at other issues:

Standard PDA
The modern day standard PDA really is a fantastic piece of equipment. We use HP Ipaq 2210s ourselves (for pocket organisers) and we are delighted with them. They can be used for certain types of commercial application where the environment is friendly (unit is unlikely to be dropped, exposed to dust / moisture). Typical applications include Financial Service and Sales Force Automation - office based.

Unfortunately some organisations have tried to deploy standard PDAs into environments they were not designed for, e.g. Warehouse, Outdoor Usage etc. If you think that staff will drop the units frequently or that they will be exposed to rain, condensation or dust, we suggest that you consider a rugged PDA.

Rugged PDA / Mobile Data Terminal
There are a small set of manufacturers that produce rugged PDAs (also known as Mobile Data Terminals) that are designed to survive industrial environments. Many of the units we sell are designed to withstand 50 drops in a row from 1.2m (5 feet) to concrete.

If you are likely to use the device in the rain or in a dusty environment, you will need a sealed device. These have a “IP rating” which determines the level of sealing. Our most common devices are IP54 rated (wind blown dust and rain).

Barcode and Wireless Connection
If you need to read barcodes, you will need a barcode reader - most of which are built in these days.
There are many technologies used to read barcodes, please phone us for advice. If you are looking to connect the device via a Wireless LAN or WAN (GSM / GPRS) then these will also be factors. Many terminals now offer Bluetooth for short distance communications to say a waist mounted printer.

Ergonomics
If the device is likely to be carried most of the time, you will probably be best served by a slim unit which can be placed in your pocket. On the other hand if you are likely to be scanning barcodes for periods of 30 minutes or more, a gun style (pistol grip) device will be far more comfortable. Repetitive use injuries can be prevented by carefully selecting the right unit.

mobile computer and PDA ergonomics
Different ergonomic designs for barcode scanning: top shooter, rotating scan head, pistol grip.

Keyboard
Many applications are well suited to touch screen terminals. However if you are likely to use the keyboard a lot, then a proper keyboard is the best bet. Many terminals offer several different keypad options (numeric only, alphanumeric, ABCD, Qwerty).

mobile computer keypads
These are all available on the same unit, the more keys the smaller they get (or the terminal has to get bigger).

Battery Life
Standard PDA’s are fine for applications where you don’t need to use them for long periods. If you are using them for over an hour at a time, it is sensible to consider battery life issues. It is also worth noting that barcode scanners and wireless cards will place a significant additional strain on batteries.

We have a range of units that are designed to cope with an 8 hour shift and feature batteries that are designed for quick changes. The terminals all have options for integrated Wireless LAN cards and Barcode Scanners.

More Information
We have been selling mobile terminals / PDAs for over 18 years. We know the market inside out, so if you need help please phone (01202 888079) or request information.