| GISdevelopment.net ---> GITA 1999 ---> Exploiting Field and Mobile Technologies |
Windows CE offers exciting Mobile Computing Possibities
Richard A. Groff
President
Lehigh Systems
1650 Ascension Bluff, No. 150
Arlington, TX 76006
Richard A. Groff
President
Lehigh Systems
1650 Ascension Bluff, No. 150
Arlington, TX 76006
Mobile Computing Market
The mobile workers along with the general mobile consumer segment represent a significant market for the computer industry. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are approximately 21.6 million field workers and 19.2 million mobile ofllce workers in the United States. Included in the field worker category are customer service, sales representative, insurance agents and health care workers and included in the office worker category are managers, executives, professionals, architects, engineers, and scientists. Mobile users and people on the go need a different kind of computer. They need computers that:
Windows CE Operating System
Windows CE is a 32-bit Windows compatible operating system designed to fill the need for a small, scalable OS (operating system) that can work in a wide range of products, including mobile computers, terminals, industrial controllers, medical devices, testing instrumentation, and many others. Windows CE is a 32-bit, preemptive, multitasking, multithreaded operating systems specifically designed to support embedded systems.
Windows CE can be customized by selecting from a set of available software modules. In addition, some of the modules can be further customized by selecting from a set of available components for that module. Componentization of the Windows CE provides the ability to design embedded system platforms using the minimum set of software modules and components needed to support the platform’s systems requirements, which minimizes the memory footprint and maximizes performance of the OS. For example, using componentization, it is possible to build a Windows CE embedded operating system that contains the kernel and selected set of communication modules but does not provide a graphical user interface.
All of the components of Windows CE can execute in place in ROM, reducing the amount of RAM required. There is no requirement for additional resident or removable storage, although both are supported. The memory needed by a Windows CE based system is totally dependent on which components are required by the system. For example, a low-end system with just the kernel, the communications stacks, and a single non-display application would require less than 500KB of ROM, depending on the application’s need. The Windows CE components in the handheld PC, a full-fledged Windows CE based device using all of the components of the architecture, take up about 2MB of ROM.
With the latest release of Windows CE 2.1 for the Handheld Professional, Microsoft has continued to add basic database, registry, fonts and device driver functionality. Support for additional processors and added wireless capabilities have been included. In addition to the current 640X240 color and gray-scale display Windows CE 2.1 now support 640X480 and 800X600 displays. These new capabilities are producing a new and larger set of mobile products providing the consumer more choices to meet their business needs.
Hardware
The hardware requirements to support a Windows CE based device are a supported processor, memory, and an internal timer for scheduling. No other hardware is technically required by the operating system, but obviously most devices will have a number of peripherals. Windows CE supports various processors such as:
Currently, Windows CE based devices are available in three form factors, those being handheld PC, palm PC and the Handheld PC Professional. The handheld PC is generally:
Some of the current handheld PC vendors are:
Some of the current palm PC vendors are:
Software Tools
At the application level, Windows CE applications can be built within the existing Integrated Development Environment (IDE) by using the Windows CE Toolkit for Visual Basic 5.0, Visual C++ 5.0 and Visual J++ 1.1. These tools are add-ens to the respective parent tool. Each add-on supplies Windows CE specific functionality so applications can be built on a PC then easily downloaded, monitored, and debugged on a remote device. Besides the Microsoft supplied development tools, a number of additional products are now appearing on the market to assist developers, such as Visual CE from SYWARE and Mobile Forms Database from AllPen Software. Certainly, as the market matures, additional application development and database development tools will become available. Most of the major database developers will have versions of their software, which will run on the Windows CE operating system.
Mobile Computing
The Windows CE platform presents the opportunity for changing the mobile computing landscape by altering the economics of mobile computing. Where typically pen based computing devices range between $4,000 to $6,000, Windows CE devices currently cost below $1,000 and are expected to stay around that amount in the future. Obviously, with this type of cost differential, more field applications will become economically viable. Windows CE devices will lower the initial project investment and reduce the return on investment time. While the screen size of the majority of the current devices on the market tend to limit the full utilization of the Windows CE technology, new devices with screen sizes equivalent”to current pen table computers are starting to appear on the market. The first of these devices are the Handheld PC Professional class. Although not directly suitable for field data collection, these devices display the right characteristics for such a device. It is expected that in 1999, a number of new field ruggedized mobile computers based on the Windows CE operating system will be introduced. These devices are expected to be focused on the field computing market and will have some of the following hardware specific characteristics:
Today, there is a limit number of software products available particular to the Windows CE mobile data collection market as compared to Windows in general. There are several products on the market that provide the ability to display an AutoCAD drawing and several products that provide the capability to interface a GPS device to a Windows CE machine. It is expected with the introduction of new field devices, the current shortage of software will be eliminated. The Windows CE operating system seems to be a particularly well suited mobile platform providing end users with numerous options for enabling the basic computing needs of GIS, data collection, GPS and map display. Given, Windows CE strong support for wireless communication, these devices are also well positioned to play an integral role in the advancement of internet and mobile computing in combination.
In the future, with the production of mobile field device with prices under $1,000, the unrealized potential of mobile pen computing is expected to be realized. Those applications, such as pole inventories, engineering design, maintenance reporting, hazardous waste management, property appraisal and many more applications, which are not economically feasible with devices in the $5,000 category now have a platform with a strong operating system at an affordable price that can product real benefits.
The mobile workers along with the general mobile consumer segment represent a significant market for the computer industry. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are approximately 21.6 million field workers and 19.2 million mobile ofllce workers in the United States. Included in the field worker category are customer service, sales representative, insurance agents and health care workers and included in the office worker category are managers, executives, professionals, architects, engineers, and scientists. Mobile users and people on the go need a different kind of computer. They need computers that:
- Are small, lightweight and provide quick access;
- Are unobtrusive when used face-to-face;
- Usable while standing or moving about;
- Are uncomplicated to learn and use;
- Are easy to customize and facilitate self-reliance;
- Are designed for mobile connectivity;
- Allow pen and paper tasks to be automated and improved.
Windows CE Operating System
Windows CE is a 32-bit Windows compatible operating system designed to fill the need for a small, scalable OS (operating system) that can work in a wide range of products, including mobile computers, terminals, industrial controllers, medical devices, testing instrumentation, and many others. Windows CE is a 32-bit, preemptive, multitasking, multithreaded operating systems specifically designed to support embedded systems.
Windows CE can be customized by selecting from a set of available software modules. In addition, some of the modules can be further customized by selecting from a set of available components for that module. Componentization of the Windows CE provides the ability to design embedded system platforms using the minimum set of software modules and components needed to support the platform’s systems requirements, which minimizes the memory footprint and maximizes performance of the OS. For example, using componentization, it is possible to build a Windows CE embedded operating system that contains the kernel and selected set of communication modules but does not provide a graphical user interface.
All of the components of Windows CE can execute in place in ROM, reducing the amount of RAM required. There is no requirement for additional resident or removable storage, although both are supported. The memory needed by a Windows CE based system is totally dependent on which components are required by the system. For example, a low-end system with just the kernel, the communications stacks, and a single non-display application would require less than 500KB of ROM, depending on the application’s need. The Windows CE components in the handheld PC, a full-fledged Windows CE based device using all of the components of the architecture, take up about 2MB of ROM.
With the latest release of Windows CE 2.1 for the Handheld Professional, Microsoft has continued to add basic database, registry, fonts and device driver functionality. Support for additional processors and added wireless capabilities have been included. In addition to the current 640X240 color and gray-scale display Windows CE 2.1 now support 640X480 and 800X600 displays. These new capabilities are producing a new and larger set of mobile products providing the consumer more choices to meet their business needs.
Hardware
The hardware requirements to support a Windows CE based device are a supported processor, memory, and an internal timer for scheduling. No other hardware is technically required by the operating system, but obviously most devices will have a number of peripherals. Windows CE supports various processors such as:
- ARM 720T,
- NEC 4100 and VR4300,
- Philips 3900,
- DEC SA-1 100,
- MIPS family,
- Intel 486 and Pentium,
- Power PC 821, and
- Hitachi SH3 and SH4.
Currently, Windows CE based devices are available in three form factors, those being handheld PC, palm PC and the Handheld PC Professional. The handheld PC is generally:
- Clam-shell type device with a keyboard,
- 640 x 240 pixel size screen,
- Gray tone or color display,
- Touch screen,
- 4MB to 32MB of RAM,
- Alkaline battery support for 15 to 20 hours of continuous operation,
- Serial and standard infrared ports,
- PC card slot.
Some of the current handheld PC vendors are:
- Casio,
- Compaq,
- Ericsson,
- Hewlett-Packard,
- Hitachi,
- LG Electronics,
- NEC,
- Novatel Wireless,
- Philips Electronics,
- Sharp Electronics.
- No keyboard,
- 240x 320 pixel size screen,
- Gray tone touch screen,
- 2MB to 4MB of RAM,
- Alkaline battery support for 15 to 20 hours of continuous operation,
- Serial and standard infrared ports,
- PC card slot.
Some of the current palm PC vendors are:
- Casio,
- Everex,
- LG Electronics,
- Palmax,
- Philips Electronics,
- Samsung,
- Uniden
- 33.6 Kbps softmodem, IR
- 16-32MB RAM
- “ 256 color, 640X480 display
- Touch screen
- PC Card Type 11/I CompactFlash
- Serial port
- Keyboard
- Battery use 12-16 hours
- Vadem
- Sharp
- Hewlett-Packard
Software Tools
At the application level, Windows CE applications can be built within the existing Integrated Development Environment (IDE) by using the Windows CE Toolkit for Visual Basic 5.0, Visual C++ 5.0 and Visual J++ 1.1. These tools are add-ens to the respective parent tool. Each add-on supplies Windows CE specific functionality so applications can be built on a PC then easily downloaded, monitored, and debugged on a remote device. Besides the Microsoft supplied development tools, a number of additional products are now appearing on the market to assist developers, such as Visual CE from SYWARE and Mobile Forms Database from AllPen Software. Certainly, as the market matures, additional application development and database development tools will become available. Most of the major database developers will have versions of their software, which will run on the Windows CE operating system.
Mobile Computing
The Windows CE platform presents the opportunity for changing the mobile computing landscape by altering the economics of mobile computing. Where typically pen based computing devices range between $4,000 to $6,000, Windows CE devices currently cost below $1,000 and are expected to stay around that amount in the future. Obviously, with this type of cost differential, more field applications will become economically viable. Windows CE devices will lower the initial project investment and reduce the return on investment time. While the screen size of the majority of the current devices on the market tend to limit the full utilization of the Windows CE technology, new devices with screen sizes equivalent”to current pen table computers are starting to appear on the market. The first of these devices are the Handheld PC Professional class. Although not directly suitable for field data collection, these devices display the right characteristics for such a device. It is expected that in 1999, a number of new field ruggedized mobile computers based on the Windows CE operating system will be introduced. These devices are expected to be focused on the field computing market and will have some of the following hardware specific characteristics:
- Ruggedized case,
- Battery lasting 12-16 hours,
- Serial port, IR,
- 7“ to 9“ display,
- Screen display 640X480 color and gray-scale.
Today, there is a limit number of software products available particular to the Windows CE mobile data collection market as compared to Windows in general. There are several products on the market that provide the ability to display an AutoCAD drawing and several products that provide the capability to interface a GPS device to a Windows CE machine. It is expected with the introduction of new field devices, the current shortage of software will be eliminated. The Windows CE operating system seems to be a particularly well suited mobile platform providing end users with numerous options for enabling the basic computing needs of GIS, data collection, GPS and map display. Given, Windows CE strong support for wireless communication, these devices are also well positioned to play an integral role in the advancement of internet and mobile computing in combination.
In the future, with the production of mobile field device with prices under $1,000, the unrealized potential of mobile pen computing is expected to be realized. Those applications, such as pole inventories, engineering design, maintenance reporting, hazardous waste management, property appraisal and many more applications, which are not economically feasible with devices in the $5,000 category now have a platform with a strong operating system at an affordable price that can product real benefits.