handheld data collection questions

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.  These will end up
being stored on the AS/400, along with the other text data that will be
captured.

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 (they're using
something called C#), while another proposes that we'd attend training to
be able to do it ourselves.

Looking for advice on units and/or services.

ga


                
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