handheld data collection questions

I originally posted this to midrange-l a few days ago and received only
one useful response.  I was hoping for more experiences, and thought that
the MAPICS list might well have some.  So...

Currently, we have 70 field personnel around the country using Telxon
handheld units to record rudimentary information.  Every morning they
download to our system.  It is one-way only.  They also fill out a bunch
of paperwork (on our forms) that gets mailed to us once per week, which we
want to eliminate completely.  (Probably the only thing they will continue
to mail in would be expense receipts.)

We are planning to upgrade in terms of both capacity and functionality. 
SOME FEATURES WE ARE REQUIRING are the ability to sketch a drawing,
capture a person's signature, and take digital photos.  In all of the four
hardware options we've looked at so far, the camera is an attachment to
the handheld, although one vendor seems to be leaning towards building one
into the unit.

For the graphics data (drawings, signatures, photos), is it feasible to
store this in a native iSeries database file?  Or do you typically write
these out to the IFS and point to the objects?  Or, something else I
haven't considered?

The captured text will be stored on the AS/400, of course.

We are not considering "real-time" functionality at this time, although it
may be considered in the (distant) future.

We'd prefer not to have to deal with Windows.  Part of that is keeping it
strictly a company machine, and not something that Junior can do his
report on at night.  Also, to restrict the user from changing settings
and/or adding/deleting software.

Programming the units is up in the air at this point.  One vendor is
proposing that they do all the programming of the units, while another
proposes that we'd attend training to be able to do it ourselves.  I'm not
sure that we have the time and/or personnel resources to do the handheld
unit programming ourselves and still meet deadlines.

In all of the four hardware options we've looked at so far, the camera is
an attachment to the handheld, although one vendor seems to be leaning
towards building one into the unit.

For the graphics data (drawings, signatures, photos), is it feasible to
store this in a native iSeries database file?  Or do you typically write
these out to the IFS and point to the objects?

Looking for advice on units and/or services.

tia,
ga


                
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