The mobile service desk
The modern system manager and service desk employee can’t live without such gadgets as the Blackberry, PrintBrush and Plastic Logic’s flexible screen.
PDAs, Smart phones, Pocket PCs
PDAs (such as the Blackberry), hand-helds, pocket PCs and smart phones (like the Treo) are available in all shapes and sizes. Ownership of one of these intelligent mobile phones is like carrying around your office in your back pocket.
Canadian company Idokorro has developed a useful application which enables management of the server to be carried out from the Blackberry and other PDAs. Most current servers are supported: BlackBerry Enterprise Server, Windows, Domino, SQL Server, Novell, etc.
Electronic paper
Developers at E Ink and Philips have designed an ultra-thin, flexible SVGA screen that bends, twists and can even be rolled up. British firm Plastic Logic now produces the flexible screens in their prototype facility, using E Ink Imaging Film. This can be useful for example to show information about stock or purchased items in credit card format. Another futuristic idea is to sew the screen into the sleeve of a jacket to allow its wearer to read email while on the run or refer to maps in an unfamiliar city. It can even be rolled up and popped into your jacket pocket!
Virtual wireless keyboard
The Virtual wireless keyboard is an intuitive tool that wirelessly projects a virtual keyboard. Via infrared technology the keyboard is displayed on a flat surface. Users can then type as they would using a normal keyboard. The possibilities in combination with a mobile phone or PDA are endless!
The smallest printer in the world
Swedish company PrintDreams has designed PrintBrush - a miniscule printer to be launched at the end of 2006. Barcodes, emails, text messaging, images and other information can be downloaded from the PDA, mobile phone or laptop to the PrintBrush via a Bluetooth link. The printer can then be moved by hand over the paper and the device registers and retains which movements, rotations and speeds are made.
Tablet computers
Processing data on location is becoming a standard necessity for most companies these days. The demand for different sorts of mobile PCs is increasing as a result. Pen computers and Tablet PCs are ideal in situations where people have to gather entirely mobile data and consult using full-screen Windows based applications.
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