Kevin Benedict is a TCS futurist and lecturer focused on the signals and foresight that emerge as society, geopolitics, economies, science, technology, environment, and philosophy converge.
Mobile Data Collection on Handheld PDAs in Africa
MobileDataforce is involved in many very interesting and large mobile software development projects around the world, but there are times when a project has a greater purpose than just good business.
EPA Underground Inspection Forms for use on Mobile Handheld PDAs
This mobile inspection application has over 400 data fields and allows the underground tank inspector to draw diagrams in the application and to wireless synchronize the inspection data and drawing back to a database in the office.
This mobile software application was developed for a Tablet PC, which was the customer's preference because of the large numbers of data fields and desire to draw diagrams depicting problem areas identified during inspections.
MobileDataforce mobilizes paper forms daily. We help our customers convert their paper processes to mobile software applications that can synchronize to office database application or accounting systems remotely from the field. We support rugged mobile handheld computers, Tablet PCs and laptops.
MobileDataforce can quickly convert paper forms to mobile software applications by using the mobile development environment called the PointSync Mobility Platform.
Mobile Handheld PDA - Socket Mobile Announces Antibacterial Handheld Computer
In the past I just wanted a nice, fast and dependable handheld computer with a good screen and lots of memory. However, going forward I will add to my list of wants a handheld computer that includes - antibacterial additives that gradually releases microbe-fighting metal ions upon becoming moist or wet.
Socket Communications, Inc., dba Socket Mobile, Inc., an innovative provider of mobile productivity solutions, recently announced a new line of products to be built with an antibacterial plastic targeted toward healthcare and other markets that involve hygiene-sensitive environments. The first product combination to debut in the new line is the SoMo 650 handheld computer and docking cradle, which will be on display at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) annual conference and exhibition in the Socket Mobile booth #1312. SoMo 650 handheld computer product demonstrations will also be taking place in the Cisco booth #6251 in conjunction with its recently attained Cisco Compatible Extensions (CCX) 4.0 certification.
"Calls for patient safety to drive health IT investments is among the top 10 issues facing the healthcare industry today," said Bob Zink, vice president of worldwide sales and marketing at Socket Mobile. "As more mobile devices make their way into sterile environments, it is important to take into consideration the effect that will have on patient safety. Our focus on and dedication to the healthcare industry has driven us to build an antibacterial product line to assist in the industry's efforts to make patient safety first and foremost in order of priority."
The new antibacterial product line incorporates the use of an antibacterial additive that gradually releases microbe-fighting metal ions upon becoming moist or wet. In conjunction with the traditional cleaning and sterilization procedures used on similar data collection equipment in the healthcare and hospitality industries, devices built with antibacterial plastic provide an additional layer of protection against the multiplication and spread of potentially harmful bacteria and microbes, giving organizations the opportunity to enhance the safety of medical staff, patients, workers and visitors. In addition, the antibacterial plastic reduces, or in many cases eliminates, the need for and dependence on protective skins or shells that can become expensive over time as a consumable-type accessory.
Mobile Sales, Orders and CRM on Handheld PDAs
My team has a lot of experience helping our customers develop world class mobile sales and mobile delivery software applications for use on handheld PDAs that use Windows Mobile. These projects include:
- Mobile sales orders - take orders in mobile locations
- Tracking the delivery of products to retail grocery stores
- Collecting in-store marketing information
- Collecting product price information
- Proof-of-delivery
- Water bottle delivery solutions to homes/businesses
- Post-delivery inspection applications (check product for shipping damage and get customer signature)
- Mobile retail planagrams (detail the shelf location of products and the re-stocking amounts)
If you would like to brainstorm about how to develop custom mobile software or mobilize your sales, delivery or CRM solutions please contact us at MobileDataforce.
Mobile Handheld PDAs in the Healthcare Field
- Home Heathcare Services
- Mobile Clinical Trials Software
- Mobile Patient Monitoring
- Board of Pharmacy Mobile Software
- Mobile Software for Orthodics
- Clinical Research
- Medicine Logisitics, Transportation and Delivery
MobileDataforce Team Photos 2008
We want to thank our many mobile software customers for your faith and confidence in our enterprise mobility solutions for handheld PDAs, smartphones and industrial handheld barcode scanners. You have challenged us with the complexity of your IT environments and we have learned much as we have helped you achieve your ROIs!
Inc. Magazine on MobileDataforce's PDA, Handheld and Mobile Software Blog
http://technology.inc.com/internet/articles/200803/blog.html?partner=rss-alert
This very blog is used as an example of a company's CEO communicating with customers, partners and other parties interested in mobile software solutions.
Thanks for reading!
Make More Sales by Using Mobile Handheld PDAs and Smartphones
- Mobile applications can prompt service technicians to renew service contracts
- Mobile applications can prompt service technicians to offer additional and complimentary services. For example: Plumbers can offer to conduct a water conservation inspection in the house while they are there repairing the toilet. The inspection can identify various ways the customer could conserve water by replacing shower heads, toilet tanks, etc.
- Mobile applications can prompt service technician to offer products related to the needs of the customer. Plumbers could talk to customers about water filtration systems, and other products.
- Mobile applications can prompt service technicians to sell extended product warranties
- Mobile applications can prompt service technicians to identify various service and product needs that were noted while on site with the customer. This information can be shared with the sales team for follow-up.
These are just a few examples of how mobile software applications on handheld PDAs and smartphones can intelligently remind and prompt field service technicians to help increase the sales of products and services.
MobileDataforce provides a wide range of both mobile software applications and custom mobile software development services.
Handheld PDA Research Tools in the Emergency Department
Prospective, randomized evaluation of a personal digital assistant-based research tool in the emergency department
BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 2008, 8:3doi:10.1186/1472-6947-8-3
Published:
18 January 2008
Abstract (provisional)
Background
Personal digital assistants (PDA) offer putative advantages over paper for collecting research data. However, there are no data prospectively comparing PDA and paper in the emergency department. The aim of this study was to prospectively compare the performance of PDA and paper enrollment instruments with respect to time required and errors generated.
Methods
We randomized consecutive patients enrolled in an ongoing prospective study to having their data recorded either on a PDA or a paper data collection instrument. For each method, we recorded the total time required for enrollment, and the time required for manual transcription (paper) onto a computer database. We compared data error rates by examining missing data, nonsensical data, and errors made during the transcription of paper forms. Statistical comparisons were performed by Kruskal-Wallis and Poisson regression analyses for time and errors, respectively.
Results
We enrolled 68 patients (37 PDA, 31 paper). Two of 31 paper forms were not available for analysis. Total data gathering times, inclusive of transcription, were significantly less for PDA (6:13 min per patient) compared to paper (9:12 min per patient; p<0.001). color="#006600">Conclusions
Using a PDA-based data collection instrument for clinical research reduces the time required for data gathering and significantly improves data integrity.
Marcel P.J.M. Dijkers Ph.D. FACRM
Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Clinical Research Projects and Mobile Handheld PDA Solutions
This article discusses the use of mobile handheld PDA solutions (Palm Treos) in a clinical research environment.
Company Overview:
Craig Hospital is a non-profit spinal cord and brain trauma rehabilitation and research hospital. Based in Denver Colorado, Craig Hospital has been treating brain and spinal cord trauma patients since 1956 and has treated over 25,500 patients.
Research Challenge:
Craig Hospital recently received a government grant to perform research on 8 different forms of rehabilitation in order to understand what techniques are most effective for each of the 8 disciplines. Craig Hospital teamed up with 5 other research hospitals (Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Shepherd Center, Mount Sinai, Carolinas Rehabilitation, and the National Rehabilitation Hospital) in order to make the findings representative of spinal cord injury rehabilitation practices nationwide. The data needed to be collected and sent to a main database at an outside location to be analyzed. ISIS/ICOR (International Severity Information Services/Institute for Clinical Outcomes Research) was the organization selected to perform the data analysis and to maintain the database to which all collected information was to be sent. The problem was that the hospitals and patients were all in different geographic locations, and the patient care happened in a mobile working environment which made the collection and secure synchronization of the research data to a central database a challenge.
MobileDataforce Solution:
MobileDataforce created a mobile handheld application for each of the 8 different types of rehabilitation. Each healthcare provider was issued a handheld HP iPAQ HX 2190 PDA running Microsoft’s Windows Mobile operating system and asked to record rehabilitation progress with each of their patients in the study. There were approximately 250 mobile devices across the 6 hospitals.
By using a mobile software application rather than using paper forms Craig Hospital was able to:
- Save data entry time
- Save the costs of shipping and storing paper forms
- Ensure data accuracy through the use of data validation features
- Pre-load patients’ names and information onto the mobile device to save time and ensure accuracy
- Speed up research and analysis by downloading data directly from the handheld devices to the central research database
By selecting MobileDataforce’s PointSync Mobility Platform and professional services, Craig Hospital obtained a complete enterprise mobility platform and an experienced mobile software development team. MobileDataforce developed 8 mobile clinical research software applications that allowed for the 6 hospitals to capture information quickly, in real time, from all across the United States and synchronized it into one central research database. This allowed for research and analysis to be conducted on the data in near-real time.
MobileDataforce implemented software security features to ensure patient privacy and compliance to industry rules. MobileDataforce also helped Craig Hospital select the appropriate mobile handheld devices for their data collection requirements.
Conclusion:
Craig hospital was able to collect research data on 8 different rehabilitation disciplines from 6 different hospitals across the country and synchronize the data into one centralized database using the PointSync Mobility Platform from MobileDataforce, http://www.mobiledataforce.com/. Craig Hospital saved time and ensured data accuracy by designing a custom mobile application for clinical research with the help of MobileDataforce. MobileDataforce assists organizations around the world mobilize business and field data collection processes. For additional information please visit our website at: http://www.mobiledataforce.com/.
You can find more information on these studies here.
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