Re: handheld data collection questions

Thanks Marco and others.  Not really interested in focusing on M$ and C#
at this point, but rather would like to know about handhelds suitable for
outdoor use and enable the user 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?

--- Marco Facchinetti <facchinetti@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> You can explore the PALM/OS world, nice objects, easy and
> powerfull programming, a lot of free (or almost free)
> software.
> 
> HTH
> Marco
> --- G Armour <garmour400m@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> > 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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