| When I think about mobile technology, a handheld | | | | purposes. On one hand, there are small mobile |
| device is only a part of the solution. The unit may | | | | printers like ones made by Epson and Zebra that |
| or may not have a touch screen, and may or | | | | allow users to print small items like tickets or |
| may not have wireless capabilities. There is no | | | | receipts. On the other end of the spectrum is the |
| "perfect" device, as every user and application | | | | ability to print on any printer from anywhere, and |
| has unique requirements, and depending on the | | | | software from companies like PrinterOn allow you |
| specific technologies that your particular solution | | | | to connect to their service wirelessly over the |
| requires, the best tools to meet your needs | | | | Internet and print to your printers at home, the |
| might be a very interesting combination. | | | | office, or even your hotel when you're travelling. |
| By the time you finish reading this article, I hope | | | | In the middle of that spectrum, there are |
| you'll have a new appreciation for often-boring | | | | medium-sized printers like the HP Officejet H470 |
| technologies in your toolbox, and the potential that | | | | Mobile Printer or add-ons from Anycom that let |
| these technologies have to drive significant return- | | | | you print directly to the printer via Bluetooth. |
| on- investment for your mobile business solutions. | | | | However you might need to print from a mobile |
| Barcode Scanning | | | | device, thankfully there are powerful tools |
| Many devices have integrated lasers for barcode | | | | available to help you achieve whatever want. |
| scanning, but there is also a plethora of add-on | | | | Projection |
| scanners that connect to just about any device | | | | How often do you lug your laptop halfway across |
| through an expansion slot, cable, or Bluetooth. | | | | the country just so that you can give a |
| While laser-based barcode scanners are certainly | | | | PowerPoint presentation? When I talk with serious |
| the standard within the industry, there is a flurry | | | | road warriors, I regularly hear that if it wasn't for |
| of innovation around optical "scanning" technologies | | | | the presentation, they would just as well prefer |
| that would allow a device to recognize a barcode | | | | to leave their laptop behind. With technology from |
| through an image captured by a regular digital | | | | companies like Impatica, this is available today. By |
| camera. In addition to a handful of SDKs that | | | | connecting a small video adapter to any VGA |
| offer this capability, Motorola launched the MC35 | | | | projector, a mobile device can transmit the |
| with optical-only scanning and has really done a lot | | | | presentation over Bluetooth or USB connection. |
| to raise awareness about this emerging | | | | But even beyond giving PowerPoints, this same |
| technology. Even so, there are still challenges to | | | | technology can be used to show off the screen |
| reliably scanning 1D barcodes optically, which are | | | | of your mobile device, in order to demonstrate a |
| partly why many companies are focusing on 2D | | | | particular application or perform training. |
| barcodes for optical scanning on mobile devices, | | | | Further down the road in the next few years, |
| including Microsoft's new Live Barcode standard. | | | | tiny projectors will actually be embedded in your |
| Another twist we can put on the barcode | | | | handhelds and Smartphones, where they will be |
| discussion is actually displaying a barcode on the | | | | able to project an image onto a tabletop or a wall. |
| device that isbe scanned by external readers. | | | | Companies like Explay and Microvision are making |
| While this may seem cutting edge, it is already | | | | significant progress in reducing the size and power |
| being used for baseball and movie tickets, and the | | | | requirements of the projection mechanism, and |
| airlines are working together to create an industry | | | | eventually this will make the physical the screen |
| standard for wireless boarding passes. | | | | size insignificant as you will be able to use virtually |
| Biometric Authentication | | | | any surface as your mobile display. |
| While some devices like the Toshiba | | | | Radio Frequency Identification |
| Portégé G910 have built-in fingerprint | | | | While Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has |
| scanners, there are also a variety of add-on | | | | achieved much of its current adoption as a result |
| devices that provide fingerprint scanning | | | | of mandates from Wal-Mart and others, the |
| capabilities. Privaris offers a Bluetooth-enabled | | | | potential for this technology stretches far beyond |
| scanner, and Veridt has a scanner that can plug | | | | supply chain management. Most of these |
| into a Compact Flash slot. | | | | deployments revolve around fixed-mounted |
| In addition to authenticating a user for security | | | | readers that automatically scan items on pallets as |
| purposes, this same biometric fingerprint scanning | | | | they move by. Even beyond that, RFID can do |
| technology can be used for many other purposes | | | | things that are not possible with barcodes. First, |
| as well. For instance, a nurse could scan a patient's | | | | RFID tags can be authenticated, unlike most |
| fingerprint to pull up their medical history and | | | | barcodes which are easily replicated. Additionally, |
| make any necessary observations. | | | | RFID can store information in the tag and |
| Other types of biometrics besides fingerprints are | | | | perform both read and write actions, while |
| retinal, facial, gesture, and voice. Oki Electric has a | | | | barcodes can only be read after they are printed, |
| retinal scanner for use with mobile devices, and | | | | and the information in the barcode cannot be |
| VoiceIt Technologies has a mobile SDK product | | | | changed. |
| for voiceprint-based authentication. It is only a | | | | Specifically from a mobile perspective, handheld |
| matter of time before all of these biometric | | | | RFID scanners are not line-of-site, which can be |
| technologies become commonplace. | | | | both a challenge and an opportunity. If tags are |
| GPS Integration | | | | close together, they can be rapidly scanned in |
| Beyond traditional GPS applications like basic | | | | sequence, but the problem is that the user does |
| mapping and navigation, this technology is capable | | | | not necessarily know which physical tags have |
| of contributing to many more types of solutions. | | | | been scanned or in what order. While this could |
| For instance, take a simple positioning function-, | | | | present issues in certain applications, it also allows |
| and a field survey application can capture the GPS | | | | a mobile application to scan tags that are not |
| coordinates of where the data is physically being | | | | visible. For instance, this could be tags that are |
| captured. In a twist on navigation, a field service | | | | inside a closed box, a sealed surgical instrument |
| solution can hold the location of the where the | | | | tray, or even inside an animal. And since data can |
| physical items are that need to be repaired, and | | | | actually be written to the tag, a mobile field |
| can lead the technician to the exact spot to do | | | | service automation solution could actually store a |
| the work. In a delivery solution, the mobile | | | | record of the repair on the tag itself. While it will |
| application could optimize the route to minimize | | | | certainly take a long time to reach the level of |
| drive time, and in a dispatch-automation solution, | | | | ubiquitous adoption as the barcode has done, |
| the mobile devices can all upload their current | | | | RFID's impact on the efficiency and workforce |
| positions in real-time to the central system that | | | | productivity of many business processes will be |
| can quickly identify the worker that is best | | | | no less significant. |
| located to be assigned the job. Although these | | | | Signature Capture |
| GPS-centric implementations are not necessarily | | | | Even though signature capture has traditionally |
| complex, a little innovation can drive enormous | | | | been one of the most basic components of many |
| return-on-investment. And with more devices | | | | mobile solutions since the time handheld business |
| arriving with integrated GPS all the time, and | | | | applications were first deployed, the importance |
| literally dozens of plug-in or wireless GPS add-ons, | | | | of this capability is nonetheless extremely |
| there is no reason not to embrace this innovation. | | | | significant. With recent legislation upholding the |
| Image Capture | | | | validity and legally-binding nature of |
| Over the last few years, the integration of a | | | | electronically-captured signatures, the ability to |
| digital camera has become a commonplace | | | | capture and store these signatures is incredibly |
| addition to virtually every handheld and | | | | important for a wide range of mobile applications. |
| smartphone. When cameras first started to | | | | Many sales force automation solutions need to |
| appear in mobile devices, many people struggled | | | | capture a signature to close a sale, delivery |
| to grasp why anyone would use them. Now, but | | | | applications must capture a signature to provide |
| as time went by they have been adopted into | | | | proof of receipt, and point of sale solutions need |
| the core of our culture. Celebrity rants, customer | | | | to capture a signature in certain cases to fulfill |
| service blunders, and disasters are now captured | | | | their merchant agreements when processing |
| instantly, and within seconds are e-mailed around | | | | credit card transactions. There are limitless |
| the globe, posted on blogs, and displayed on news | | | | numbers of applications that require signature |
| television. Just as these scenarios have become | | | | capture, and thankfully any device with a touch |
| so commonplace in our personal lives, so will | | | | screen is capable of doing that. |
| enterprise-oriented mobile solutions be able to | | | | Voice Recognition and Transcription |
| leverage this technology. From attaching images | | | | When it comes to voice recognition, there are |
| of damaged property when processing an | | | | two distinct types of applications. First are |
| insurance claim, to taking pictures of products | | | | command-driven applications, like the new |
| being delivered or services being rendered, mobile | | | | Microsoft Live Search Mmobile that allows you to |
| applications can truly utilize the capabilities of | | | | say "Coffee" into your device and it will show you |
| built-in cameras. Even real-time streaming video | | | | where the nearest Starbucks is. This type of |
| conferencing is possible, and as wireless bandwidth | | | | technology has been around for a very long time, |
| continues to increase, so will the usability of those | | | | and is reliable as long as there is little background |
| applications. | | | | noise. |
| Even beyond that, image capture technology can | | | | The other type of application is transcription or |
| be used for object, character, and even facial | | | | dictation, and although people have been trying to |
| recognition. Much in the same way that barcodes | | | | do this for a very long time as well, the results |
| can be "scanned" by processing the image of a | | | | have traditionally not been as good as voice |
| barcode in the software, so can other types of | | | | commands. Additionally, the processing |
| recognition technologies use the same capabilities. | | | | requirements of these solutions are quite high, and |
| Optical character recognition can convert an | | | | are therefore not very open to mobilization. That |
| image of printed text into actual text that can be | | | | is, until now. A company called Simulscribe offers |
| formatted, processed, e-mailed, or saved in a | | | | a powerful service that will automatically |
| database. By passing the captured image on to a | | | | transcribe your voicemails and e-mail them to you |
| network of back-end servers for heavy | | | | as text, which will not only change the way you |
| processing, wireless devices can even act as the | | | | deal with voicemails, but it also demonstrates how |
| mobile interface to sophisticated facial (or other | | | | voice transcription technologies can work today |
| types of) recognition systems. | | | | with mobile technologies: by passing the audio on |
| Magnetic Strip Reading | | | | to a server for heavy processing. |
| There are not very many mobile devices with | | | | Accenture's R&D labs have even been working |
| integrated magnetic strip readers, but thankfully | | | | on a mobile application that can "coach" a |
| there is a very wide selection of add-on readers. | | | | salesperson through a conversation by recognizing |
| Given the standards in the various types of | | | | the voice of both the salesperson and the |
| magnetic stripe cards, it is relatively easy to write | | | | customer;, the system could then pass tips or |
| applications thato take advantage of this | | | | advice wirelessly through a Bluetooth earpiece |
| technology. One of the most common uses for | | | | worn by the salesperson. Wherever these |
| this is capturing credit card swipes for processing | | | | voice-driven technologies go, the future will be |
| payment at the point of sale. Another very | | | | quite exciting. |
| common magnetic strip standard is for driver's | | | | Realizing the potential |
| licenses. Imagine applying for credit by swiping | | | | While all of these technologies by themselves can |
| your license, inputting your social security number | | | | offer great capabilities as you build mobile solutions |
| and income, and digitally capturing your signature | | | | for your organization, the true potential is realized |
| for instant approval. Beyond that, there are infinite | | | | by combining these technologies in your toolbox. |
| applications that could be implemented with brand | | | | For instance: |
| loyalty cards from airlines or hotel chains. Even | | | | · GPS Positioning + Biometric Authentication |
| many tradeshows record attendees' contact | | | | = Secure timecard that proves identitfy and |
| information on a swipe card to allow for easy | | | | location |
| capture of data at exhibitor booths, and rather | | | | · Barcode Scan + Magnetic Strip Reading + |
| than using a "dumb" print terminal, a powerful | | | | Signature Capture = Completed sales transaction |
| mobile application could be used to capture | | | | · Voice Recognition + Projection = |
| additional customer information requests or even | | | | Interactive mobile sales demonstration |
| process sales orders. | | | | As your company explores its own potential for |
| Printing | | | | mobility, refer to this technology toolbox for ideas |
| There are actually several different types of | | | | that might jog some of your own inspiration and |
| mobile printing technologies, and although they are | | | | innovation. |
| similar, they are all designed for different | | | | |