(Photo Credit: Kevin Burkett / Flickr)

Market research company Input has released a report identifying cloud computing and geospatial technologies as two technology trends that are set to transform the federal government. In the same vein, last year Federal CIO Vivek Kundra announced the launch of Apps.gov, a GSA-operated Web site that government agencies can use to both install and purchase cloud computing applications.

Ultimately, Input’s study shows that the federal cloud computing market will grow from $370 million in 2009 to $1.2 billion in 2014. The federal government’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will require agencies that do not employ cloud computing solutions to explain why before they obtain funds from the fiscal 2012 budget. By 2013, federal agencies will need to create reports for the OMB showing how they plan to move to cloud computing.

Over the same timeframe, the federal market for geospatial technology is expected to increase from $860 million to $1.4 billion. Manufacturers designing mobile computers for the Federal Government’s use are continually looking to leverage geospatial technology for situational awareness, safety, modern warfare, etc. An article from Geospatial Intelligence Forum discussed the Army Intelligence and Security Command’s (INSCOM) reliance on geospatial technology and applications:

“Now more than ever, U.S. military and civilian leaders around the world rely on accurate, timely and focused intelligence information to make strategic and tactical real-time decisions that directly impact military and civilian personnel in hundreds of locations worldwide. This has never been more critical to mission success than today, as hundreds of thousands of military, civil service and contract employees are deployed globally supporting contingency and strategic military operations.”

Panasonic Solutions Company has been at the forefront of technological change since 1993, adapting to the mission-critical needs of its customers. With extensive embedded wireless capabilities, Toughbook computers are optimal tools for cloud computing and geospatial applications. We will continue working hand-in-hand with federal and military customers to take advantage of new trends and keep them prepared, informed and safe.

Some of the most prominent takeaways of the report include:

• The importance of designing a rugged product from the inside-out, not just adding a rugged exterior.

• How rugged tablet computers are offering greater functionality and heightened performance

• How Hill Air Force Base is interested in rugged tablets for eTools flight line maintenance

Rugged technology is no longer just a feature or option for field workers: it is nothing less than essential.  Ultimately, the solutions discussed in the Snapshot are changing the ways in which the public sector operates. I would encourage officials in all levels of government to read this report and recognize the possibilities for enhancing their mobile workforce.

For example, the “office tools and suites” section of the site includes word processing and spreadsheet applications. The “surveys” section contains applications which offer employees the ability to gather feedback to improve services. The site even contains applications for collaboration, meetings and conferencing, designed to help users conduct meetings and presentations over the Web.

The shift toward Web-based applications for government workers is not limited to the federal government. The New York Times reported earlier this year on the growing trend of police departments to integrate customized social-networking platforms with their traditional crime-fighting tactics.

Government agencies are also attracted to the security benefits of cloud computing and Web-based applications. A recent article from Computerworld illustrated the CIA’s adoption of this approach, while specifying that classified data will be hosted within the agency’s firewalls rather than Apps.gov.

To ensure reliable access to Web services wherever someone’s work takes them, embedded mobile broadband modems are now a must-have feature for professionals’ laptops in both the public and private sector. Embedded modems provide better wireless signals than external cards, and also provide an added layer of reliability by avoiding loss, theft or damage.

It will be interesting to see how quickly the government workforce adapts to these changes, and which Internet applications become the most popular. We’ll be following it closely and continue enhancing our products to meet this growing need.

The Toughbook 30 was also declared “the fastest laptop in the review” and “the most rugged laptop in this roundup.” We’re honored to be recognized with GCN’s Reviewer’s Choice designation, although it probably won’t surprise our customers in the military, law enforcement, fire/EMS and other mission-critical government positions who rely on the Toughbook 30 every day.

Troop Transport

On Sept. 14-16, soldiers from around the country will gather at IDGA’s 2^nd Annual Heavy Vehicles Summit to explore the latest advancements in heavy vehicle technology.  Before the summit begins, I would encourage them (as well as anyone in the military) to watch this Webcast discussing a key component of today’s heavy vehicles:  mobile computers.

The Webcast features my colleague Peter Romness, who heads the U.S. Army sales team for PCSC, providing key insights into why rugged computers have become so integral to missions utilizing heavy vehicles.  Soldiers are using Toughbook notebooks in military applications like the FBCB2 to quickly access vital data and increase their situational awareness on the battlefield.  They’ve also been able to streamline vehicle maintenance paperwork processes by utilizing the notebooks for managing checklists and procedures.

To ensure Toughbook notebooks are the most reliable and durable devices for our soldiers to complete tasks wherever they’re deployed, Panasonic has also tested its fully-rugged computers to meet (and in many cases surpass) the newer and more demanding MIL-STD-810G standard for environmental conditions.

We look forward to attending the upcoming Heavy Vehicles Summit, and are honored to work with the U.S. military finding new ways to utilize heavy vehicles.

Most readers of this blog will be familiar with the concise definition of Mil-Spec, which refers to the Military standards developed by the U.S. Department of Defense to ensure products meet certain requirements, commonality, reliability, total cost of ownership, compatibility with logistics systems and similar defense-related objectives.

The standards have become a common benchmark in validating the level of ruggedization in a notebook, with a variety of tests designed to determine a product’s ability to withstand challenging conditions in the field. These include drops, high altitudes, dust, liquid, vibration and extreme temperatures.  Our fully-rugged Toughbook notebooks each pass numerous Mil-Spec tests; a summary can be found here.

Given the dependence on Mil-Spec to evaluate rugged laptops, I’d like to call attention to some common misconceptions and important recommendations to help anyone considering which rugged notebooks to deploy:

• Ensure that the right tests were passed - Potential buyers shouldn’t hear “Mil-Spec certified” and assume the device is rugged in all respects. There are numerous independent tests, so verify whether a notebook has passed the ones that best reflect the environment it will be deployed in. For example, a computer that will be mounted in an Arizona police car should put considerable priority on passing the extreme heat and vibration tests.
• Don’t assume third-party validation - Currently, the Armed Services do not conduct actual tests or certify that rugged devices meet Mil-Spec standards.  Each supplier of rugged computing equipment is expected to assure or guarantee adherence to the standards. Always ask for third-party validation that the tests were passed.
• Know the boundaries of every test – There are varying degrees of Mil-Spec tests, and many of them simply don’t go far enough to ensure reliable use in certain applications. The 810F water-resistance test, for instance, doesn’t compare to the level of rain that a disaster response team might encounter in a tropical storm. Panasonic tests fully-rugged Toughbook notebooks beyond Mil-Spec requirements in many categories, such as spraying fully-rugged notebooks with water for 12 hours (other standards related to ingress protection, or IP, also exist). Fully-rugged Toughbook notebooks are also held to a higher standard on drop tests, with three-foot drops onto every angle while the unit is operating. The Toughbook U1, an ultra mobile rugged handheld PC, exceeds four feet.
• In the end, failure rates are what counts – After all, Mil-Spec is just a test. Whether a computer continues to operate smoothly after several years of abuse in extreme environments is the best determinant of how rugged they really are.  Even if a computer passes the dust-resistance Mil-Spec test, the only way to ensure it will withstand years of blowing dust (whether in Iraq or West Texas) is to check the failure rates.

Panasonic is currently the only notebook manufacturer to make its failure rates public. Fully-rugged 30 and 19 computers boast failure rates of 1.5 and 2.5 percent, respectively, and they are being put to the test by field workers every day. Even our business-rugged notebooks all have failure rates under five percent, a fraction of the industry average for business notebooks, as published by PC Magazine.

For additional advice on making an informed Mil-Spec assessment, I highly recommend this overview from leading analyst Rob Enderle, which emphasizes the importance of validating Mil-Spec claims. Roger Kay also completed an interesting and comprehensive report on rugged computing in 2008.  Finally, David Krebs of VDC has recently delivered a paper that focuses on TCO and ROI and the impact of deploying the wrong solution in what should be a rugged usage environment.

Today, there aren’t many professions left where computer downtime does not have a major impact on productivity.  In the case of first responders and military personnel, to declare computer uptime as “mission-critical” is to understate the responsibilities they’re tasked with every day. Panasonic has consistently raised its standards of reliability for these types of customers for 15 years, and we will continue helping mobile professionals across every industry navigate the increasingly complex landscape of rugged standards.

[NOTE: MIL-STD-810G, which was created in October 2008, supersedes MIL-STD-810F]

The current issue of Government Computer News features an in-depth review of the latest Toughbook® 30 model, by Lab Director John Breeden.  It provides an excellent summary of how the latest upgra

des, such as a brighter screen with anti-glare and anti-reflective coatings, support government users who require a notebook that will operate under any conditions.

The Toughbook 30’s concealment mode is a new feature that can be easily overlooked, but figured prominently in the review due to its significance for the police and military. GCN saw firsthand how easy it is for a user seeking to remain undetected to shut off all external lights while leaving the computer fully running. It’s a great example of how Panasonic engineers its computers to meet the specific needs of end users.

For years, rugged has been defined, measured and misunderstood in many ways, causing confusion for those trying to understand whether they should purchase products with this distinction.  The GCN report paints a clear picture, explaining the history of rugged, how rugged technologies have grown, how ruggedness is measured, and how users can determine if and how they should deploy rugged technology.

Areas addressed by the report include:

• How rugged technologies are expanding beyond laptops
• Understanding rugged testing
• Why it’s not just the computer that needs to be rugged
• The 12 recommended steps for considering a rugged device
• Rugged products being developed for specific operating environments

The report shows that rugged technologies will be developed to support the many environments government and military personnel find themselves in.  As a result, public sector employees need to understand how rugged technologies can positively impact their jobs.  The GCN Rugged IT Report is a great guide for this, so I’d encourage you to give it a read and discover new methods for boosting job productivity and performance.

The information collected by aircrafts in Afghanistan is sent to soldiers on the ground, who use Toughbook® computers to spot suspicious changes or patterns. According to Osborn, ODIN is “reputed to have killed 3,000 alleged bomb-planters and led to the capture of several hundred more.”

As technology becomes more pervasive on the battlefield, whether through drones or robots, reliable laptops that can withstand extreme conditions are now more important than ever. We’re proud that Toughbook computers have played an important role in the U.S. Military for years, and look forward to supporting these exciting new technologies as they come along.