Over a six-week period this past summer, the United States Army tested the viability of using touchscreen phones and tablets in the field.  The trial was such a success that Army officials anticipate that soldiers overseas could potentially receive the first wave of smartphones later this year.

In the meantime, the Army is already seeing tremendous value in using tablet computers for training, administrative purposes, situational awareness in the tactical environment and location tracking, among many other uses. In fact, Michael McCarthy, operations director of the Army’s Brigade Modernization Command’s Mission Command Complex, has said that he has seen a 10% increase in average scores and a 14% increase in grade point averages by students who use tablets in Army classrooms. In these controlled environments, consumer-grade tablets have performed well.

But, as conditions become more demanding, not just any tablet will do. The requirements of controlled classroom environments or event briefing centers are a stark contrast to harsh battlefield conditions.  To sustain the abuse that soldiers in the field endure, such as sandstorms, windstorms, and the effects of other extreme conditions, a tablet suitable for the Army must be ruggedized if its to emerge unscathed and intact.  In order to do that, it must pass the following tests:

• Drop and shock resistance
• Vibration resistance
• Liquid resistance
• Particle resistance
• Temperature resistance (both hot and cold)
• Humidty resistance
• Electromagnetic energy testing

More importantly, whether it is being used in the field or in the Army’s classroom, the tablet absolutely must meet the security standards set by theUnited States government.

The Army is in the process of trying out multiple tablets to determine which meets their needs and standards, and which fall short.  The search is ongoing as they have yet to find the “perfect” tablet that is fully ruggedized in order to sustain the beatings it must endure, yet also meets the government’s rigid, yet necessary, security standards, such as:

• Encryption capabilities
• Authentication capabilities
• Data protection
• Compliance logging
• Auto-blur
• Lockout functionality
• Plastic privacy filters

In response to the Army’s search, and that of many other federal government and public sector entities who are also investigating the possibility of incorporating tablet technologies into their day-to-day operations, Panasonic recently unveiled the Toughpad^TM  family of professional-grade Android^TM powered tablets.    The needs of mission-critical and highly-mobile workers were at the forefront of the Toughpad’s design requirements.

Developed by the team responsible for Panasonic’s line of Toughbook^R mobile computers, the computer of choice for many of the country’s federal government and public sector departments for its promise of reliability, durability, and quality, the Toughpad meets the rugged and security standards required by these agencies. Backed by Panasonic’s world class service and support infrastructure, the product is poised to become the “tablet of choice federal government and public sector entities.”

As Michael McCarty has said when discussing the value of the tablet, “The potential is limitless.”  In today’s world, which many experts are referring to as the “post-PC era,” it is vital that government agencies keep up with the changing technologies in order to stay current and stay relevant. Test out a tablet today!

But is this enough to make consumer-grade tablets ready for “real world” use? For some, yes. For most, these measures won’t do it.

More than 15 years ago, Panasonic introduced the world to the first fully-rugged mobile computer. Over the years, we’ve found that in highly-mobile outdoor markets, including aviation, construction, field sales and law enforcement, to call yourself “rugged” you have to meet a slew of requirements. Your device has to be able to withstand all of the elements, from the blazing heat of the Middle East to the altitudes of Mount Everest and snows of Antarctica.

So, what should IT professionals look for when they are evaluating tablet hardware devices for use in rugged environments? Here are five pointers:

1. Can you see the screen during the day?
• Look for multi-touch, daylight viewable screens that allow you to easily see critical data regardless of lighting conditions
2. Can you drop the device and not have to replace it?
   • Look for MIL-STD 810G drop ratings that ensure that your tablet will survive the occasional (or frequent) drop from heights of 4-6’ feet
3. Can your tablet handle the elements?
   • Outdoor use will subject your tablet to dust and water. Ingress protection ensures that you keep the elements from impacting the performance of your tablet.
4. Will it keep going and going?
   • Using your device in the field means that it will be on for most of the day. You need batteries that will get you through a full shift of work without recharging.  Another consideration relating to batteries is that they be replaceable. Many consumer focused tablet devices do not allow for battery replacement.
5. Is it Secure?
   • Consumer devices are not designed with security in mind. Look for security built into the hardware level with support for features such as encryption, enhanced VPN, dual factor authentication, trusted boot and device management. If you’re dealing with highly sensitive data, seek out FIPS 140-2-compliant devices for Federal government use.

Hardware is half of the equation. Readying tablets for use in commercial enterprises or government also requires a rich application environment. Access to vertical applications that address key concerns, such as Mobile Device Management, security and virtualization will be keys to any successful professional deployment.

Today, Panasonic is announcing the Toughpad™ family of professional-grade Android™-powered tablets, including 10-inch and 7-inch devices. The devices – targeting mission-critical and highly-mobile workers – will be supported by an ecosystem that includes an enterprise-focused app store, peripherals, developer tools, deployment support and more.

Tablets are going to be an important part of the professional IT environment and choosing the right device depends on several factors. Let us know how you plan to use tablets in your organization and what capabilities are important to you.

The topic of tablet computers in healthcare has received an enormous amount of attention since the introduction of Apple’s iPad and tablets using Windows 7. While demand for mobile devices in the healthcare market is growing, there is still no one perfect solution for healthcare users – and there never will be. Radiologists have different needs than surgeons and nurses have different needs than phlebotomists. If your goal is to improve patient safety and workflow, then you’ll need to find devices that work best for each user.

This sudden swell of interest in tablets merits a discussion of issues healthcare organizations should consider when looking for a tablet of any kind. Before deploying a tablet, you must consider a number of factors, including ergonomics, connectivity, durability, security, vendor experience, service and support, functionality and the ability to repeatedly sanitize the device.  These will all impact the success of the deployment.  The worst thing you can do is just look at price!

Ergonomics
Ergonomics is a critical consideration for a tablet.  If a clinician is going to carry a device all day, it needs to be lightweight and easy to hold for long periods of time.  Years of working with healthcare professionals resulted in Panasonic designing a “hand-free” ergonomic strap and dome hand support system that cradles the hand for comfortable long-term use.  You can see this technology in many of our devices.  When considering a tablet, I encourage you to look at the ergonomics of the design and to have clinicians consider this element as part of the testing process.

Connectivity
Tablets are designed to facilitate mobility, but the true benefits of mobility can only be achieved with connectivity.  Most healthcare facilities gain connectivity via Wi-Fi, but home health workers may require mobile broadband.  When looking at a tablet’s connectivity, consider its ability to capture a signal in fringe areas.  Most devices will have a clear signal near a router or cell tower, but how strong is the connection as you move them away from an access point?  Wireless testing is simple and often overlooked.  It’s common to blame the wireless network when you can’t get a signal, but often it’s the device.

Durability
In Panasonic’s experience, healthcare customers are some of the most demanding. This highly mobile and dynamic work environment often leads to dropped devices.  As a result, durability is a chief consideration for tablets. Fragility is not an option when your work is mission critical.

For those considering the new iPad, I’d point to a recent article from PC World.  The title – iPad Stress Tests: Buy a Case and Don’t Drop It – says it all.  At the end of the day, if you can’t rely on a computer to operate after an inevitable drop or spill, then your ability to transform your workflow is significantly reduced.  Be sure to ask about the drop rating (for both the device and hard drive) for the tablets you are considering.

It’s worth noting that the average annual total cost of ownership (TCO) of a ruggedized notebook is 40% lower than the average TCO of a non-rugged device, according to VDC Research. So purchasing a consumer-grade product and trying to make it work in a demanding enterprise environment is probably not the best solution.

Security
Security is crucial in a healthcare environment. Having options such as fingerprint scanners and smartcard readers, paired with bios-level security technology like Computrace, is critical. If mobile devices don’t offer these options, you need to consider if they’ll provide the appropriate level of HIPAA compliance.

Expertise
Since the announcement of the Recovery Act in February of 2009, we have seen a lot of interest in the healthcare market from technology companies.  When considering a tablet, make sure you are working with a vendor that has substantial healthcare market experience. Lack of domain expertise can significantly complicate your launch efforts.  You need a partner that can provide support from the evaluation process well into the deployment, not someone that will simply sell you a device.

Service & Support
Many new tablet products on the market are not replacements for current technology, rather an extra device for an IT department to manage.  Multiple devices running different operating systems can complicate IT management issues.  Also, since many new tablet devices will be widely available through consumer channels, it’s likely physicians will purchase their own, bring them into the hospital and ask for IT support.  We saw this very phenomenon in commercial markets with the iPhone.  This forced IT departments to debate the pros and cons associated with having an “our technology only” rule versus a more open policy.

You should also consider the availability of software written for the device.  In particular, how many full EMR applications are written for the platform?

Functionality
Although I stated earlier that there is no one-size-fits-all solution in the healthcare market, you definitely want to avoid devices that are one-dimensional. The ideal tablet (convertible or slate) allows clinicians to accomplish as much as possible with a single device.  A well designed, lightweight convertible tablet can serve as both a physician’s desktop computer and hand-held tablet for rounds and patient interactions.  Mobile Clinical Assistants (MCAs) have integrated features such as barcode scanners, RFID readers and cameras to improve point-of-care productivity.  Not all tablets can serve multiple roles or even allow for multi-tasking – something the demanding physicians we work with have come to expect as the price of entry.  A well designed tablet will allow your staff to maximize productivity while limiting the number of devices your IT department needs to support.

Sanitization
Since hospital equipment must be frequently sanitized, choosing a tablet that can be repeatedly cleaned is another key factor to evaluate during the purchase process.  If not properly designed, screen viewability could significantly degrade after repeated sanitization.  It’s good to ask what sort of testing has been done in this area, and if the device is IP (ingress protection) rated.

The move towards EMRs and the abundance of mobile computing solutions coming to market make it an exciting time to be in the healthcare IT business.  Pure tablets like the MCA (including our Toughbook H1 Health), along with new generations of convertible tablets running Windows 7, are generating a lot of interest.  Devices like the iPad will push the market forward and keep tablets at the forefront of the healthcare mobility discussion.  But before you make a decision, step back and thoroughly evaluate your options.  The wrong choice can have long-term ramifications for both the quality of patient care and bottom line performance.

Clearly today, with devices like the Apple iPad generating a lot of media attention, tablets computers (convertibles or slates) may be turning a corner.  Still, I’m amazed that in the digital age, more people take notes with pen and paper than digitally. I see this even with younger professionals who grew up with digital technology.

Why is this?  Let’s face it; we have been hearing about the pen revolution since the 80s.  Technologies like the PenPoint OS and Windows for Pen Computing and devices like the Momenta tablet or the DynaPad were early attempts to make pen computing a mainstream reality.  Well, it’s 2010 and the use of tablet computers is still a niche market- at best.

There are a number of reasons we have never been able to fully make this transition.  Weight has always been an issue, with early devices simply too heavy to carry around for long periods of time.  Battery life has also been a factor.  You can’t realize the benefits of mobility if you need to be tethered to a power supply because your device only gets a couple hours of battery life. Performance has also been an issue.  In many cases, tablets didn’t provide the desktop experience, resulting in the need for two devices – a tablet for mobility and a desktop for performance. Durability has been an obvious shortcoming in this space.  Today we see an industry average failure rate of 22% for notebook computers used in a business environment.  When it comes to tablets, most vendors take one of these business notebook models and simply add a hinge that allows the screen to swivel and lay flat. Obviously, when you place a device that already has a high failure rate in an environment that is even more mobile, it’s highly likely your failure rate will increase. Ergonomics is another area that has slowed the adoption of the tablet platform.  I challenge you to find a tablet computer that has taken into account that people might need to carry and hold the device for long periods of time.  Rather than engineering a device that is optimized for a tablet environment, notebook vendors have asked users to take their modified notebooks and make do.  There are certainly other reasons that can be pointed to, but I believe these are major contributors to the lack of tablet adoption.

For tablet computers to be adopted in an enterprise environment, they need to address all these issues. At Panasonic, we feel we’ve done this with the new Toughbook® C1.  At a scant 3.2 lbs., the Toughbook C1 is the world’s lightest (by a healthy margin) 12.1” convertible tablet and offers up to ten hours of battery life, an Intel® Core™ i5 processor (for desktop performance) and the Toughbook brand’s legendary durability. An integrated hand strap system perfectly balances the tablet in the palm of one hand for effortless long-term use in tablet mode. When you add features like twin hot-swappable batteries, Gobi2000™ mobile broadband, multiple data input options, a quick release 250GB shock mounted HDD, a fingerprint scanner and smartcard reader, it’s clear the C1 may be the ideal tablet for highly mobile professionals.

2010 could be a turning point for the tablet computer and the Toughbook C1 convertible a major contributing factor.  It may finally be time to retire all those notepads and complete your own digital transformation.

Go to www.toughbook.com for more information on the Toughbook C1 and check out a selection of Toughbook C1 videos on our YouTube channel.