As
a computer programmer and systems
architect, Andrew Davies is used to sketching
out visions
of software applications using a pen and paper.But
when he wanted to share those visions with
peers or clients, Davies
would be forced to fax them the
paper, or scan it and e-mail it.
Then, last December, he
purchased what was the latest in computer technology:
a Tablet PC. Now, using a
pen-like stylus, Davies sketches his ideas and
hand-writes his words on the Tablet's screen.
He then saves and
e-mails the files just as he would with any desktop
or laptop computer. He can view them in Microsoft
Journal, or share them with anyone using the application.
Extreme mobility with
the power of a laptop
"It's just another way of preserving anything
you'd do in pen and paper," said Davies, president
and CEO of Think Technologies Inc., a Coral Springs-based
computer content management solutions company. "It's
extreme mobility without losing any of the power
of a laptop."
The Tablet is part of a new generation of PCs. When
it debuted late last year, the Tablet PC was supposed
to revolutionize the portable personal computing
market. It features installed wireless networking,
voice recognition, handwriting recognition with a
stylus on a digitized screen, and the power of a
lightweight notebook PC.
The Tablet PC is expected
to make up 2 percent of notebook PC sales by 2004,
and will approach 4 percent
by 2005, according to In-Stat/MDR, a research firm
that follows information technology spending
patterns. The Tablet PC today is Davies'sprimary
computer. Less than a year ago, he spent $4,000 on his
Fujitsu model, including
an extended warranty to cover the screen. "Hybrid" models
include full keyboard and mouse devices, with screens
that swivel and present content with either a horizontal
or vertical display.
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At
less than 4 pounds, he
carries it around to appointments and client visits,
jotting
notes and connecting to the Internet using the wireless
networking capabilities. Davies even will dictate ideas
to the machine, which he estimates has more than 90 percent
voice recognition accuracy.
The built-in wireless
networking allows a
user like Davies to access the Internet at any
remotely connected Internet or Wi-Fi "hot spot," like
a restaurant, coffee shop or even a client location.
Once back at the office, he slips the Tablet into his
desktop docking station and can use his wireless keyboard
and mouse. 
Think Technologies has
written client software applications augmenting the Tablet
and
Windows XP operating system. One system allows a client
to walk through a warehouse selecting product for shipment.
In fact, any Windows user who has the free Microsoft
Journal Viewer application installed on a PC can view
files created with a Tablet. If they don't have Viewer
installed, Windows will open the document as an image
file.
Davies envisions the day when
any professional accustomed to writing notes or sketching
ideas -- physicians, architects, attorneys and the like
-- will enter them on a Tablet outfitted with templates
customized to their trade.
Jeffery D. Zbar is a free-lance
writer. He can be reached via email at jeff@jeffzbar.com. |
