Lake Oswego Fire Department Chooses Motion F5 Rugged Tablet PCs
Motion F5s are improving inspection and incident documentation through real time electronic documentation and records access in the field
AUSTIN, Texas– April 27, 2010 – Motion Computing®, a leading provider of integrated mobile computing solutions, announced today that the Lake Oswego, Oregon Fire Department has selected the Motion® F5 Rugged Tablet PC to improve fire code inspection processes and aid in incident documentation.
When firefighters at Lake Oswego Fire Department endeavored to conduct fire inspections they chose the F5 Tablet PCs to achieve an entirely paperless and electronic process. The team felt that by providing the ability to access and input data electronically, fire inspections would be more accurate and the inspectors more efficient and productive. Lake Oswego Fire Department started with the purchase of FIREHOUSE Software® Mobile Inspection Software, and realized after the deployment that they would need a hardware solution that was rugged enough for harsh conditions and powerful enough to run the solution, as well as additional applications.
“We really needed hardware and software built around our processes and designed to work in our environment,” said Gert Zoutendijk, Deputy Fire Marshal, Lake Oswego Fire Department. “The software solution running on the F5s is easy to use, and the rugged design makes me feel confident that they will be able to withstand the often harsh conditions encountered by our firefighters.”
The fire department’s manual, paper-based method was time consuming and manually intensive, requiring double documentation which often resulted in inaccurate or missing information. After choosing the inspection software, Zoutendijk worked with John Hill of Allegiance Tablet PC Experts, a Motion reseller and expert in tablet PC deployments, who introduced the Motion F5 Rugged Tablet PC.
“Prior to learning about the F5s, we had been using other rugged computers, but they were too heavy, too expensive and too cumbersome to carry around the inspection site,” added Zoutendijk. “The F5 is ergonomic and thin with a convenient integrated handle, and since it’s all enclosed and rugged it protects the system against dust, moisture and other elements.”
Another feature which drew Zoutendijk towards adoption was the F5’s integrated technologies, including the digital camera which is great for documenting inspections. “Sometimes we encounter unusual situations or conditions and the ability to document and attach pictures directly into our records is an excellent benefit,” said Zoutendijk. “The F5 is also configurable with a wide array of accessories such as carrying cases, shoulder straps and mounts that really support the firefighters’ mobility.”
With the adoption of the Motion F5s, the Lake Oswego Fire Department looks forward to rolling out full implementation in the near future. Additionally, Zoutendijk also plans on utilizing the F5 for EMS charting. “When people’s lives are at stake, we need reliable technology solutions that help us improve care, and the F5s are ideal for this application,” added Zoutendijk.
About Lake Oswego Fire Department
The Lake Oswego Fire Department provides emergency response to more than 50,000 citizens within the City of Lake Oswego and three adjoining contract districts. Emergency services include fire suppression, emergency medical response, water & dive rescue, technical rescue operations, hazardous materials incidents, and disaster response. With four all-career stations strategically located throughout its district, the Lake Oswego Fire Department is prepared to provide rapid emergency service to citizens in need 24 hours a day. For more information visit www.lofire.org.
About Motion Computing
Motion Computing is a leading provider of integrated mobile computing solutions, combining world-class products with services customized for the unique needs of target vertical markets. The company’s enhanced line of rugged tablet PCs, mobile point of care solutions and accessories are designed to increase mobile productivity while providing portability, security, power and versatility.
Motion Computing and Motion are registered trademarks of Motion Computing, Inc, in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
About Allegiance Tablet PC Experts
Allegiance Tablet PC Experts provides mobile computing solutions based on the Tablet PC platform. A Motion Computing Select partner, Allegiance provides pre-sales consulting and post-sale support for all Motion Computing tablets. To learn more about our experience with Fire Departments and EMS providers, visit our website at www.alltp.com or go directly to our Public Safety Solutions page at http://www.alltp.com/public-safety-mobile-computing-solutions/.
Motion Launches Magnetic Stripe Reader for the C5 and F5 Rugged Tablet PCs EasyConnect magnetic stripe reader provides a convenient solution for point-of-sale transactions
The new EasyConnect MSR snaps into the docking connector offering the mobility and productivity of a hand-held POS device, with the flexibility of a powerful PC. N
ow, as sales representatives use the tablet PCs to help customers identify solutions and place orders, they can also conduct secure credit card transactions in real time, without the need to manage multiple devices. With the mobile broadband and wireless capabilities of the C5 and F5, secure transactions can happen whether retail employees are moving about a store or providing services and solutions in the field.
“Motion continually works with customers to identify solutions that make using tablet PCs at the point of service simple, yet extremely productive,” said Mike Stinson, vice president of marketing, Motion. “The EasyConnect MSR is a direct result of large retail organizations requesting integrated credit card processing capabilities that enhance customer satisfaction, improve the sales process and speed up billing cycle times.”
Do you have more questions about the Motion F5 Rugged Tablet PC or the EasyConnect Magentic Stripe Reader? Call Allegiance Tablet PC Experts, a top Motion Computing partner, at 877-772-5587 and ask to speak to John or Hal or visit our website at http://www.alltp.com/.
Tracking of Safety Equipment Made Easy with Handheld RFID Readers
Construction and manufacturing companies are required by law to conduct regular inspections on safety equipment such as eyewashes, safety showers and fire extinguishes. An essential part of these inspections is the accurate identification of each location where the equipment resides, regardless of its location (regularly changing) and the environment (dirt, dust, corrosive chemicals). If the location cannot be verified, the equipment at that location cannot be passed as safe.
Tuscaloosa, AL, January 16, 2009 --(PR.com)-- CASE Inc, an Alabama based software development company, has developed an RFID tracking solution for safety equipment incorporating handheld RFID readers from Tracient Technologies and Motion F5 tablet PC’s. The solution is designed for construction and manufacturing companies who are required by law to conduct regular inspections on safety equipment such as eyewashes, safety showers and fire extinguishes. An essential part of these inspections is the accurate identification of each location where the equipment resides, regardless of its location (regularly changing) and the environment (dirt, dust, corrosive chemicals). If the location cannot be verified, the equipment at that location cannot be passed as safe.
Manual data entry from testing is time consuming and creates an unacceptable opportunity for error, especially through operators selecting incorrect equipment records or equipment locations in the database / handheld application. So CASE Inc has developed an RFID based solution for verifying the location of safety equipment in a fast, accurate and effective way using existing off-the-shelf hardware along with custom written software.
CASE Inc CEO Thomas McKane says “We considered using Barcodes but found they were are out of the question due to degradation and cost of replacing stickers when they became worn and/or unusable. Outdoor use and use around mostly metal areas makes barcode stickers hard to place and use. RFID tags have proven to be far more versatile and don’t need ‘refreshing’ as they get dirty.”
CASE found the RFID tags also provided certainly. RFID tags are unique whereas barcodes can be duplicated, not guaranteeing true proximity verification.
CASE’s choice of hardware started with Motion F5 tablet PC’s and docking stations because of the built-in camera, WIFI, and durability in harsh conditions. However the F5’s built-in RFID readers didn’t always work around metal and the tablets would not fit into small, hard to reach areas where tags were sometimes mounted. Tracient’s hand-held Padl-R HF readers were selected to overcome these limitations, ensuring that inspections could be carried out 100% of the time. Connected to the tablet via Bluetooth, the Padl-Rs provided a quicker wand-like reading solution than the built-in tablet reader, cutting the time in half when inspecting hundreds of points per inspection.
Tracient’s readers were chosen because of their small size and competitive pricing, considerably less than comparable readers found in the United States. Their ease of use was also a big advantage - only 10 minutes of training per operator was needed to begin using the readers reliably.
Thomas McKane, CEO, CASE Inc says “The quality has been excellent and integration has been very easy. The support and sales teams from Tracient are highly professional, we are continually impressed with their response time and knowledge in the field of RFID technology. So far it has proved to be a perfect decision to use their readers.”
CASE chose RFID Tags from FerroxTag due to the low price/point and compatibility with metal in an industrial environment.
CASE’s rapid prototyping software development was used to write the inspection software. The software was loaded onto the Motion F5 tablets were it was used to match tag ID’s with the corresponding location. The tablets ran SQL 2005 Express which the CASE software used to reference the RFID tag ID's and verify the location. The tablets then sync’d with a master SQL 2005 server via WiFi or CAT5 connections.
In March 2008 a large US based manufacturing company (who wishes to remain anonymous) allowed CASE to begin testing the solution in one of their facilities. Testing started with approximately 50 RFID tags in highly critical safety areas, focusing on the more important inspections. The tags were placed in locations where inspections could be verified, i.e. pump houses, storm water drains etc. Different environments were also tested, including wood, metal and plastic. The testing revealed the read distance to the tags was fairly consistent, regardless of the environment, with the Padl-R typically reading the FerroxTags at 1-2 inches (2-4 cm). After several months of testing, CASE moved on to other facilities.
The trial proved the following benefits:
- Significantly reduced time to manage and verify inspections. The average time for an inspection was cut by 1/3rd.
- Verifiable inspections that cannot be fabricated with pencil and paper.
- A completely paperless solution, creating cost reduction by removing the expense of paper and paper storage.
- A much cleaner and safer workplace creating better working conditions for employees.
CASE Inc believes their solution will provide their customers with long term cost reduction in environmental/safety compliance due to less environmental fines and fewer safety accidents. They believe the solution is both robust and long lasting because if RFID tags change in the future, the Tracient readers follow industry standard protocols and offer compatibility with most brands and types.
Thomas McKane says “This is great as it has freed us from having to deal with proprietary hardware, which reduces costs in the long term and increases flexibility regarding the choice of tag.”
CASE Inc intend to market the solution to manufacturers, construction companies and utility providers through out the United States.
Allegiance Technology and Motion Computing are sponsoring a webinar so that you can learn about the new Motion F5 Field Service Tablet PC. The webinar, which lasted about 45 minutes, will show you how this tablet is a great value as relates to both ruggedness and price. If you decided to purchase an F5 within 30 days, you'll be able to deduct $1,000 from the list price!The Motion F5 Mobile Field Tool is the first semi-rugged slate PC designed specifically for the mobile field worker that combines durability, mobility and integrated functionality with the benefits and convenience of tablet input. See our Motion F5 Brochure.
Durability Matters
You can sign up for the webinar here.
