A few weeks ago, I returned from a trek with a fantastic group to the base camp of Mount Everest and summit of Kala Pattar in the Himalayas of Nepal.

Along with the usual supplies, I took a Panasonic Toughbook 19 computer. Throughout the trip, I was able to send updates via email and Facebook to the rest of the world from some incredibly extreme and remote locations thanks to the connectivity and durability of the convertible notebook.

When the group trekked to the summit of Kala Pattar, at an elevation of about 18,500ft, I had a comical experience with the Toughbook 19 computer. I wanted to get a quick snapshot of the group despite the space limitations on the rocky and cramped summit. So in my haste to capture a photo, to free my hands and get the Toughbook 19 laptop to a more safe location, I tossed the computer onto the side of a large boulder without thinking. My colleague looked at me in horror after tossing the unit. I calmly smiled at him and said, “Only with a Toughbook computer can you do this!” He laughed and of course, the Toughbook 19 was just fine.

We took some great shots during our trip; you can find a full album of photographs on Panasonic Toughbook’s Flickr page, here.

To learn more about our next adventure to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro this July, please visit: http://www.everestpeaceproject.org/kilimanjaro/kilimanjaro.html.

Or to learn more about Panasonic Toughbook computers, visit: http://www.panasonic.com/business/toughbook/laptop-computers.asp.

Sincerely,

Lance Trumbull

The Everest Peace Project

In this economic climate, spending cuts are widespread, forcing agencies, like police departments to improve efficiency. Without a mobile computer, writing a police report is a lengthy process, with officers taking notes by hand and then typing in the information later. Although not uncommon, this method is time consuming and prone to errors.

Police agencies benefit from systems that allow officers to digitally capture and share information. According to a press release from Astra, the Toughbook-based solution can provide the needed improvements in efficiency.

According to Dick Ellam, Vauxhall Special Vehicles Manager, the Astra has always been a trusted car model within police agencies, which is why the company has decided to make the Toughbook option available.

“Toughbook rugged mobile computers are already in use by several police services across the country, and are proving to be a revolutionary resource to police; at a time when spending cuts are rife, a device that enables the force to save time and money will be invaluable,” said Ellam.

In the Astra, the Toughbook 19 fits neatly into the new docking solution by Tempus Computers Ltd, which is mounted in the glove box. The convertible laptop can be easily removed, which allows the computer to be used in both clamshell and tablet form. The Toughbook laptop is connected to an 8.4-inch high resolution touch screen positioned in the Astra dashboard. The screen is easy to reach and is mounted flush in the dash, which meets all legal and safety regulations.

According to Ellam, the Toughbook system enables police officers to operate a mobile office system, reducing the amount of time previously spent behind a desk.

“Toughbook rugged computers are ideal for professionals working in mission-critical or field-based environments, so their potential use extends beyond that of the police,” said Ellam.

For more information on the Vauxhall Astra with Toughbook option, please visit: http://www.vauxhall.co.uk

Related blog posts:
Case Study: Tucson PD Motorcycle Officers Deploy the Toughbook U1
Poor Time Management is a Crime Too
In-vehicle Technology is Mission Critical for Public Safety

Mark Gumbert, founder and president of Copperhead Environmental Consulting, and his team spend about three weeks every spring researching and tracking bat migrations for both independent and government-commissioned research and need computers that can withstand the terrain, weather and team members’ abuse in critical situations. “We’re pretty brutal on equipment,” Gumbert said.

Gumbert has been tracking bat migrations since 2009, but has been tracking foraging bats since 1993 when calculations were done with a paper map and pencil. “By the time you were done calculating a bat’s location, 10 minutes had passed, and the bat had already moved,” he said. “Now, with computers, the data is almost instant.”

When Gumbert and his team began using laptops they would follow the bats in their vehicles and airplane and track them with GPS software. “The Dell computers we initially used got really hot sitting on our laps and caused static interference with our receiver, which covered up the signal from the bat’s transmitter,” Gumbert said. The devices often fell out of the vehicles resulting in cracked screens and requiring many to be replaced.

Given the reliability issues, Mark and his team were afraid to take these laptops into the field, especially when it was humid outside. The fragility of the devices negated the value of having a mobile solution.  After experiencing numerous failures, they decided to look for laptops that could operate in extreme weather and handle the occasional drop.

The company started looking into Toughbook PCs. The team was looking for something that was rugged yet portable and had electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), which would prevent interference from the avionics and other electronic equipment in the vicinity.

They decided to go with three Panasonic Toughbook 19s. The team liked the 19’s durability and its ability to function in extreme weather. Since the team faced electronic interference issues in the past, the Toughbook 19’s MIL-STD461F certification ensured the Toughbook mobile computers would be electromagnetically compatible with other nearby electronics. They also really liked the backlit keyboards, since much of the team’s work takes place at night.

Piper Roby, biologist and project manager at Copperhead Environment Consulting, works on the ground crew and uses the Toughbook 19 with mapping software to track the bats. “I really like the touch screen in tablet function,” Roby said. “Our team is really rough on equipment and the Toughbook 19s allow us to do our jobs more easily. It makes being in the field a lot more enjoyable since we no longer have to worry about something going wrong with equipment.”

“If a Toughbook device can withstand our brutal team, it can withstand anything,” Gumbert said.

A crucial factor in land reclamation is how fast the soil can be firmly compacted. To improve the efficiency and accuracy of this work, the bulldozers, vibratory rollers and survey vehicles were equipped with Panasonic Toughbook 19 convertible tablet PCs.

The bulldozers used the Toughbook 19s, onboard GPS and a set of LED indicator lights to show the operator when the current ground level differed from the planned surface elevation so that uniformed soil thickness could be achieved. Without this technology, the contractors would have had to use surveying equipment to stake out and measure the terrain’s elevation and incline, making it difficult to operate at night.

As part of the quality control criteria, the vibratory roller needed to pass eight times over each piece of land. The Toughbook 19, mounted next to the dashboard in each cab, recorded the number of passes over each spot. The screen displayed a ground plan of the site and portrayed strips of color in relation to the number of passes made. If any patches of the vast area of land reclamation had not received a full eight passes, it was clearly indicated on the screen. Given the size, scope and time constraints of the project, this system was the most efficient and accurate way to monitor the number of roller passes.

Survey vehicles were also equipped with Toughbook 19s to measure the completed work and take accurate assessments of the terrain.

The system used at the Tokyo International Airport project followed the prototype developed by Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd in 2002-2003. The system is adaptable and can be improved according to site conditions and operator needs. However, the only type of computer Penta-Ocean Construction installs in its construction vehicles is the Toughbook 19. The 19 is designed to survive harsh environments like construction sites and can handle high vibrations. Studies have shown that vibratory rollers can experience high G stresses – in some cases up to eight Gs.  An ordinary computer would experience immediate breakdowns under these conditions.

Panasonic’s Toughbook 19 played a significant role in the construction progress of Runway D. Without implementing technology, the quality control checks would have been completed manually, lengthening project completion significantly. Runway D now provides the Tokyo International Airport with greater capabilities to act as a major Asian hub airport.

You can find more information on the Tokyo International Airport deployment on the Toughbook Global Site here.

The company initially tested commercial-grade tablet computers, but found they were not able to withstand the day-to-day work environments of an arborist, resulting in failures due to road vibrations, contact with moisture and exposure to extreme temperatures.

Connectivity was another issue faced by AMS.  Originally, the company planned to use external PC modem cards to provide its mobile broadband connection, but found this solution created an increased opportunity for device failure – if dropped or bumped against any surface, an external card could snap off, damaging the motherboard and possibly leaving the field worker with an inoperable tablet.

It was clear to AMS that commercial-grade tablets with external modem cards were not an appropriate solution for its highly mobile workforce. After conducting additional research, the company purchased 80 Panasonic Toughbook 19s with Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband Built-In.  AMS chose Verizon Wireless because of its wide coverage network and its ability to keep employees connected in the field despite the excessive number of miles each arborists covers. The Toughbook 19s were selected for their combination of durability, functionality and performance.

Since rolling out the Toughbook 19s with embedded Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband, AMS has seen a number of positive changes. With the constant connectivity, field workers are able to send and receive greater levels of data, improving the quality and quantity of information available to the company and its customers.  With the embedded modem, the new solution allowed the IT department to eliminate a potential point of failure, “break/fix” support and maximizing mobile worker productivity.  Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband service also allowed IT  remote desktop access to troubleshoot user problems in the field, virtually eliminating downtime and the need for arborists to stop their work and bring their notebook to the office for upgrades or repairs.

With the successful deployment of its Panasonic Toughbook with Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband solution, AMS doesn’t worry about device failures and connectivity, and can now focus its efforts on being the best possible partner to its customers.

You can read the full ArborMetrics Solution case study here, and watch a video case study below.

Before the company rolled out a mobile computing solution its engineers would arrive on site and gather information for their reports, then drive home to complete each report on a desktop computer – a practice that wasted thousands of man hours every year.  This practice changed in 2004 when Zurich deployed Panasonic’s Toughbook 18 fully-rugged convertible tablet computer. Using the Toughbook 18, work was completed on-site, leaving the engineer free to move on to the next task. John McMullen, Head of Operations and Systems for Zurich Engineering, estimates that the division recouped its £1 million investment in Toughbook computers within the first 8 months of use.

Along with full Windows capabilities, tablet functionality and a long battery life, ruggedization is a core requirement for Zurich Engineering. The division’s engineers may find themselves working on tower cranes, in manufacturing facilities, chemical works or foundries – even clinging to offshore wind turbines, in the harshest weather conditions.  One of Zurich’s Toughbook computers, run over by a crane, sustained a cracked screen but its hard disk was still intact. “We just took the hard drive, put it in a new notebook, and the guy was up and running.” claims McMullen.

After five years of using Panasonic’s Toughbook 18 fully-rugged convertible laptop, the division is now betting squarely on the new Toughbook 19. The new convertible laptop brings further benefits to Zurich Engineering’s work, including improved 3G mobile communications and increased battery life.

Given the operating conditions Zurich’s approximately 500 Toughbook 18s were placed in, they saw very few failures.  So, when making the switch to the Toughbook 19, Zurich didn’t consider other devices.  According to McMullen, “the Toughbook 18s were reliable even in the most extreme conditions and required minimal IT support. Five years of service in a market like ours is impressive, to say the least. That level of reliability allowed us to maximize our return on investment.”

That’s not to say there has never been pressure to change devices.  “We have had other manufactures try to sell us on their solutions, but no one has been able to show us a device that provides the mix of performance, reliability and value of the Toughbook brand,” McMullen added.

Zurich Engineering is delighted with its Toughbook laptops, and with the service and support it has received from Panasonic. “We worked with Panasonic to share ideas and decide how best to make the deployment successful. The Panasonic team was very open and supportive,” McMullen adds. In the end, though, one statement from an engineer equipped with a new Toughbook 19 says it all: “If you want it back, you’ll have to fight me for it!”

The full Zurich Engineering case study can be found here.

Seagate Momentus self-encrypting drives and Mobile Armor DriveArmor can now be shipped fully integrated with the Toughbook 31 flagship rugged clamshell, the Toughbook 19 rugged convertible tablet and the Toughbook H1 Health, a mobile clinical assistant device developed for healthcare users.

We are very excited about this collaboration with Mobile Armor, and know that our customers will be too.

In case you are interested in learning more about the embedded Gobi technology, and reading about one of our customers using it, please take a look at my colleague Vicky Obenshain’s recent blog post on this topic.

One of the fun descriptions of our upgraded notebook comes from Engadget. The post titled, “Panasonic Toughbook 19 gets Core i5 grunt to match its grizzled visage,” notes “It’s mounted in the same bomb-poof magnesium case that we know and love…” To view their entire post, please click here.  (It’s safer, though less exciting, than doing your own explosive testing.)

Also, if you have a story to share about our convertible tablet, please submit a comment below. We would love to hear from you.

Crimes are usually solved at the scene, not in the office. But information nevertheless needs to be processed and passed on. The police in the English county of Leicestershire have come up with a way of reducing bureaucracy without adversely affecting data management. The solution the Leicestershire Police deployed was the fully-rugged Toughbook 19 convertible tablet.

Paperwork is a necessary evil, even for the police, but it doesn’t always have to be bothersome and time consuming.  Police in Leicestershire identified a way of making their offices mobile and providing officers access to their usual PC environment when out on the beat. In the past, officers had to return to the station in order to share information and file reports, thus wasting valuable time and increasing overtime hours. Now, mobile access via the touchscreen of the convertible Toughbook 19 notebook puts all the necessary information and more than 70 system applications at officer’s fingertips.

All the facts, wherever they go
There are 200 Toughbook 19s in use throughout Leicestershire, each equipped with 3G and GPRS. Docking stations turn the police officers’ patrol cars into mobile offices, and even make it possible for the Toughbook computers to be mounted vertically. James Pearce, the IT analyst in charge of the system, comments: “The police officers arrive at the crime scene with all the information they need and can add new information relating to the case directly to the system whilst they are there. This is unique in England!” He estimates that approximately a third of a police officer’s time was spent in, or traveling to, the office. In other words, their efficiency could potentially be increased by around 30 percent.

Quick and easy identification in the police line-up
Choosing which model to use wasn’t much of a trial, as the convertible Toughbook 19, which serves as both a notebook and a tablet PC, stands out due to its robustness and resistance to shocks, dirt and water. It can also run for up to nine hours without needing to be recharged and features a daylight viewable display.

A case for the future
The police officers are impressed too, and Inspector Sanjiv Pattani, Mobile Information Project Manager, is already thinking ahead: “The next step could be recording witnesses’ statements then and there at the crime scene.” There are sure to be all sorts of ways in which the flow of information could be improved and police work could be made more efficient and more successful thanks to the Toughbook 19.

This story was originally written and published in 2009 by Panasonic Computer Products Europe

The Dakar Rally started in Buenos Aires for the first time in 2009. Previously, the race had run from Europe to Africa (The Paris-Dakar), but security threats resulted in the move to South America.  The 2009 event was also the first outing for Ellen Lohr – one of Germany’s most accomplished female drivers and a Dakar veteran – as manager of the FleetBoard Mercedes-Benz team. To help manage the complex communications and logistics of a Dakar Rally, the team brought Toughbook 19 fully-rugged convertible tablets and business-rugged Toughbook W7s.

The 2009 rally consisted of 14 legs across Argentina and Chile totaling 9,578 kilometres, and included two Andes crossings. This was by no means the first test of endurance the fully-rugged Toughbook 19 has undergone, but weathering an array of extremities such as knocks, dirt and dust, moisture and extended usage with no recharging opportunities was nevertheless quite a challenge.

Crucial data takes the rough with the smooth
In spite of there being less sand than in past African runnings of the Dakar Rally, both man and machine were put through their paces, going full throttle down demanding dirt tracks and off-road stretches. But that’s just what Panasonic Toughbook computers are made for. Thanks to the Toughbook 19’s magnesium alloy casing and specially cushioned hard drive, the recorded data could be transferred and analyzed each evening back in the bivouac, for the mechanics to fine-tune the vehicle to the next day of racing. The next day, with sand and dust everywhere, it’s the Toughbook 19’s special seal that really comes into its own, concealing all the sockets, plug-in connections and ports behind covers.

The first high-speed office
As a business-rugged model, the Toughbook W7 is usually more suited to office environments. But it’s now in the cockpit of one of the FleetBoard team’s supply trucks. The Toughbook W7 is there because Ellen Lohr is well aware of the importance of mobile communication: “During this sort of media-heavy event, things like PR reports, blogs and other information can serve as an additional impetus when they can be sent and received along the way.” This is done with the aid of transmission options such as UMTS, HSDPA and GPRS in the Toughbook 19 and W7, all of which are as fast as the rally itself. And with such long battery lives, the long stretches of driving with no battery recharge availability need not pose a problem. Even the W7 can keep going for eight hours without being recharged.

It’s the taking part that counts
Two of the team’s three participating vehicles made it to the finishing line and were ranked 76th out of 177 cars and 38th out of 81 trucks – both respectable results that really put a smile on Ellen Lohr’s face: “We’re ever so happy.” Incidentally, Ellen and her team were not the only ones to place their trust in Panasonic Toughbook computers during the 2009 Dakar.

In January 2010, Ellen Lohr and her team were again in South America for the Dakar Rally.  Once again, Toughbook mobile computers were at their side.

This story was originally written and published in 2009 by Panasonic Computer Products Europe