Footwear retailer schuh uses the BHT-1505BB handheld terminal from DENSO WAVE EUROPE. The branded shoe stockist was looking for a mobile data collection device to reduce the stock take time in their 132 stores in the UK and Ireland.
Mobile Computers, Mobile Computing
Mobile computers are handheld or wearable devices that allow users to access computing resources while away from a fixed location. They typically have a smaller form factor than traditional desktop or laptop computers, and they often have features that make them ideal for use in mobile environments, with ruggedized designs and long battery life. Mobile computing involves interaction between the user and a small, portable computer device that can be used on site or in the field. Modern mobile computers also often feature a raft of features; including camera, barcode scanner, phone and Internet access. This coming together of what have historically been features available on separate devices, is often referred to as Convergence.
Handheld Group appoints Thomas Löfblad as new CEO
Nov 05, 2019
Handheld Group, the global manufacturer of rugged mobile computers, today announced the appointment of Thomas Löfblad as its new CEO. Löfblad will lead the efforts of Handheld Group’s continued global expansion. 2019 has been a record-breaking year for Handheld Group, with several high-profile contracts and an expanded product portfolio.
Datalogic at the forefront of Android Enterprise implementations with the release of OEMConfig application
Oct 30, 2019
Datalogic has announced the first release of its OEMConfig application, one of the most important changes to Android management in recent years.
Datalogic launches new products for Industry 4.0: Matrix 300N 2MP, MXE-90 and S5N
Oct 22, 2019
With new product lines of smart sensors, image-based scanners, vision technology and robot guidance, Datalogic is offering new solutions for digital automation. The new systems have been developed to support industry 4.0 concepts and are helping users to automatically control, process and track their operations along their production lines.
New Salesforce Research reveals that while brick-and-mortar stores remain relevant, digitally savvy Brits have an average of 2 shopping apps on their mobile devices
Oct 22, 2019
Salesforce, the CRM solutions provider, has released the third edition of its Connected Shoppers Report, which reveals that British and Irish shoppers are moving targets, jumping across physical and digital destinations as they browse, purchase and request service and support, with 4% of purchases occurring on emerging digital touchpoints that are completely separate from retailers’ and brands’ owned properties.
Vista Global in revolutionary partnership with Collins Aerospace
Sep 25, 2019
The business aviation space is changing. With the advancements in technology comes a revolutionary partnership between Vista Global and Collins Aerospace. Part of United Technologies, Collins has stated it will provide “the fasted broadband speeds available within the United States” and it’s LuxStream offering will be the only service providing incredible bandwidth speeds of up to 25Mbs in the US and 15Mbs globally........
Huawei reveals Intelligent Campus Ecosystem Plan, collaborating with the industry to win a Trillion-Yuan market
Sep 24, 2019
During Huawei Connect 2019, Huawei introduced its Intelligent Campus Ecosystem Plan and the intelligent HiCampus solution jointly developed with partners for enterprise customers in China and beyond. The announcement came during an intelligent campus summit themed around "bringing digital to every campus for pervasive intelligence."
What devices are consumers using for online shopping in 2019?
Sep 19, 2019
Online shopping is slowly supplanting the high street and the supermarket as the most popular form of commerce worldwide, with 87% of retail perchance in the UK alone now made online.
Zebra unveils next-generation 2D imagers for retail, healthcare, electronics manufacturing industries
Sep 17, 2019
Zebra Technologies Corporation has introduced the new DS4600 series of 2D handheld imagers featuring models purpose-built for retail, healthcare and electronics manufacturing environments.
FutureProof Retail announces a new partnership with IT Retail
Sep 10, 2019
FutureProof Retail (FPR), provider of the latest line-free mobile checkout technology, offers merchants a more powerful, efficient and modern alternative to self-checkouts.
Mobile Computers
Mobile computers are used in a variety of industries, including retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics. They are used for tasks such as inventory management, barcode scanning, data entry, and customer service.
Some of the most common types of mobile computers include:
- Handheld computers are small, portable devices that are typically held in one hand. They have a touchscreen display, a keyboard, and a barcode scanner. Handheld computers are often used in retail and logistics applications.
- Tablet computers are larger than handheld computers, but they are still portable enough to be used in mobile environments. They have a touchscreen display, a keyboard, and a variety of other features, such as cameras, GPS, and cellular connectivity. Tablet computers are often used in healthcare, education, and government applications.
- Wearable computers are devices that are worn on the body. They can be in the form of watches, glasses, or headsets. Wearable computers often have features that allow users to interact with their surroundings, such as gesture recognition and voice control. Wearable computers are still in their early stages of development, but they have the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with computers.
Mobile computers offer a number of advantages over traditional desktop or laptop computers, including:
- Portability: Mobile computers are small and lightweight, making them easy to carry around.
- Wireless connectivity: Mobile computers typically have wireless connectivity, which allows users to access data and applications from anywhere.
- Durability: Mobile computers are often ruggedized, making them resistant to damage from bumps, drops, and dust.
However, mobile computers also have some disadvantages, including:
- Smaller screens: The screens on mobile computers are typically smaller than the screens on desktop or laptop computers, which can make it difficult to view data and applications.
- Limited battery life: Mobile computers typically have shorter battery life than desktop or laptop computers.
- Security risks: Mobile computers are more susceptible to security risks than desktop or laptop computers, as they are often connected to public Wi-Fi networks.
Mobile computing
Today with the proliferation of a new generation of mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and PDAs, the emphasis is increasingly shifting to mobile and multi-device user experience, mobile social computing, next generation mobile solutions, mobile cloud services and infrastructure. Mobile computing is typically characterised by its portability, meaning that users can take their devices with them and use them in different locations.
Mobile computing has three aspects: mobile communication, mobile hardware, and mobile software. The first aspect addresses communication issues in ad-hoc and infrastructure networks as well as communication properties, protocols, data formats and concrete technologies. The second aspect is on the hardware, e.g., mobile devices or device components. The third aspect deals with the characteristics and requirements of mobile applications.
Key features of mobile computing:
- Portability: Mobile devices are small and lightweight, making them easy to carry around. This allows users to access computing resources from anywhere.
- Connectivity: Mobile devices typically have wireless networking capabilities, which allows them to connect to the internet or other networks. This provides users with access to a wide range of resources, such as web pages, email, and applications.
- Ubiquity: Mobile devices are now ubiquitous, meaning that they are widely available and used by people of all ages. This has led to the development of a wide range of mobile applications that cater to different needs and interests.
Applications of mobile computing:
- Web or Internet access: Mobile devices can be used to access the internet, which allows users to browse web pages, check email, and use online applications.
- Global Position System (GPS): Mobile devices can use GPS to determine their location, which can be used for a variety of purposes, such as navigation, tracking, and emergency services.
- Emergency services: Mobile devices can be used to call for emergency services, such as the police or fire department.
- Entertainment services: Mobile devices can be used to play games, watch videos, and listen to music.
- Educational services: Mobile devices can be used to access educational resources, such as textbooks, online courses, and apps.
Rugged Mobile devices and PDAs are used in field service and workforce management applications. They are particularly useful for field service engineers recording work in the field, communicating information back to an office environment -sending and receiving invoices, ordering parts. They are commonly used in parcel delivery with couriers using these devices to scan barcodes and record signatures as proof of delivery.
Innovations in wireless technology, energy-efficient portable hardware and adaptive software, has enabled a massive growth in the use of these devises for businesses across the enterprise or for personal and social use. These devices are now so versatile that employees are using smartphones for business applications (BYOD –Bring Your Own Device)
This phrase has become widely adopted to refer to employees who bring their own computing devices – such as smartphones, laptops and PDAs – to the workplace for use and connectivity on the corporate network.
BYOD Security - Employees using personal smartphones and mobile devices at work, pose a security risk. Many corporations that allow employees to use their own mobile devices at work implement a BYOD security policy that clearly outlines the company's position and governance policy to ensure network security is not compromised by employees using their own devices at work.
Email and Web access is a reality that is experienced by millions of users worldwide through their smartphones and tablets. Hot spot access points for Wi-Fi connection are becoming more prevalent and widespread, even in London`s underground network.
Cloud computing is evolving as a new paradigm of computing in which dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources are provided as a service over the Internet. The confluence of hardware virtualization, cloud and mobile computing drives the new era of mobile cloud computing. Platforms such as android, iOS, Windows 7 erodes the power of computing platforms like Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS and is creating cross platform app centric environment in which end-users and in particular the consumer marketplace will drive developments in business computing. There are endless possibilities that can be brought about with the mobile cloud in the near future.
