Rugged computers for government

Today’s handhelds are built to operate for long hours in the world’s most challenging settings – toughness to match the military personnel who use them. From data collection to navigation, training to advanced communication, these rugged marvels have the latest data security features built in, to keep both people and information safe.

It’s no accident that Handheld uses military standards (MIL-STD-810G) to test the performance of our computers. With solid-state drives and housings that are sealed against water and dust, these rugged devices keep soldiers, sailors, aviators and marines more connected and productive – no matter where in the world they’re stationed.

Mount a rugged handheld within a military vehicle, and remove it when you need to hit the ground. It uses GPS and GIS to provide navigation, and scanning capabilities including RFID and NFC let you track people, vehicles and equipment with precision. Mission planning and on-the-go strategizing are easier, thanks to secure, real-time communication that includes video conferencing as well as instant sharing of visuals and field-captured data. And that data can come by way of hand entry, photos, chip scans or barcode readings.

Add rugged handhelds to your training resources – you can use them to teach skills via video tutorials, training modules, photos and high-quality simulations, even in bright outdoor settings thanks to the sunlight-readable screens.

Whether you’re building or fixing, anything that improves safety and efficiency is an essential tool. Rugged handheld computers deliver a unique set of capabilities that make everything from high-level management to parts inventorying simpler, faster and more reliable.

Of course, that tool needs to be as field-ready as the hands using it. Today’s handhelds include technology that lets you use them effectively in bright, mid-day sunshine or heavy rain; they work through drops, dust conditions and extreme hot or cold temperatures. You can mount them in a lurching crane cab or carry them in a pocket.

You think a Swiss Army knife is versatile? Using a Handheld computer’s touchscreen tablet, workers can perform intricate calculations; access, view, edit and share blueprints or topo maps; communicate with crews, managers, and stakeholders across town or across the country; and track crews, materials and equipment. Customizable construction software and task-management apps can be tailored to your situation, and you can even choose from multiple operating systems.

And rugged portable devices add safety to counter the hazards of construction and maintenance sites. You can pre-load response protocols, first-aid instructions and emergency medical info for personnel into a construction management application, so they’re instantly accessible for faster and more effective responses to injuries or other emergencies.

On a local-government level, mobile computing technology is a great way to ensure strong ROI for smaller budgets – because Handheld devices can do so many different things.

For example, public works departments can streamline and improve tasks such as work orders, scheduling, inventory management, safety checks, inventory tracking, fieldwork, vehicle monitoring and project reports. Data collection and transmission is accurate and immediate. And because much of their work is done outside in all kinds of weather, they can rely on rugged performance in any environment.

Waste management shares the same need for technology that will operate in challenging conditions – weather, temperatures, vibrations and pounding, dirt and grime… and ruggedized tablets and PDAs can handle it. From a functional point of view, they can employ navigation and route optimization to make sure the vehicles are deployed and routed efficiently, and scanning and photography capabilities to document their tasks. Real-time data and communication help deliver better customer service.

And anyone who needs GIS information is never without mobile computing. Equally effective in sunny or harsh outdoor environments, rugged handhelds accomplish data collection, paperless mapping and a multitude of other tasks, with efficiency and ease.

Mobile technology can have a positive impact on logistics, scheduling, data and communication in the public transportation world – for better route optimization, GPS navigation, computer-aided dispatch and fleet management.

For example, a bus driver can rely on a rugged tablet to show the route, with step-by-step instructions to each scheduled stop. And if road construction or an accident obstructs the route, a dispatcher can send real-time route changes to the device to keep things running smoothly. And the handheld is built to withstand both road vibrations and constant use. They even work from a lockable docking station that charges the tablet while the bus operates.

And today’s mobile technology can handle mobile and electronic ticketing. Mobile ticketing (mTicketing) lets customers purchase and validate tickets using cellphones; transit workers can refill cards and sell tickets on the vehicle or at stations and stops. eTicketing allows inspectors to use their handheld to read magnetic-stripe or smart cards, and also to check tickets for those on board.

Mobile computers can efficiently track resources such as individual vehicle locations, maintenance schedules and service appointments, as well as inventories of everything from spare parts to tire chains. And in multi-car trains, they can be used to calculate braking distances and weight, as well as the most efficient configurations.