Bar Code Wand for Windows CE 2.0 Revolutionizes Portable Data Capture.NEWARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 13, 1997-- Socket and Welch Allyn's Add-on Turns Any Handheld PC  An editor has expressed concern that this article or section is .Please help improve the article by adding information and sources on neglected viewpoints, or by summarizing and into a Powerful Data Collection Terminal Socket Communications (OTC OTC See: Over-the-counter. OTC See over-the-counter market (OTC). BB:SCKT)(OTC BB:SCKTW)(PCX (1) A bitmapped graphics file format that handles monochrome, 2-bit, 4-bit, 8-bit and 24-bit color and uses RLE to achieve compression ratios of approximately 1.1:1 to 1.5:1. Images with large blocks of solid colors compress best under the RLE method. See PC Paintbrush. :SOK) today began shipping a portable data collection system for the new generation of Microsoft Windows See Windows. (operating system) Microsoft Windows - Microsoft's proprietary window system and user interface software released in 1985 to run on top of MS-DOS. Widely criticised for being too slow (hence "Windoze", "Microsloth Windows") on the machines available then. CE 2.0 compatible handheld PCs (H/PCs). The Bar Code Wand Card system combines Socket's top selling serial PC Card with market leader Welch Allyn's popular SCANTEAM(TM) 6180 barcode scanner/decoder. When users insert the card into the PC Card slot A socket for inserting a printed circuit board or a PC Card (CardBus card). See PC Card. of any H/PC H/PC - Hand-held Personal Computer , they can use the attached pen-like wand to collect bar code data directly into any Windows CE (Windows Consumer Electronics) Microsoft's version of Windows for handheld devices and embedded systems that use x86, ARM, MIPS and SHx CPUs. Windows CE .NET superseded Windows CE 3.0. 2.0 application. The system makes it possible to replace expensive, dedicated data collection terminals with general purpose H/PCs capable of performing an unlimited variety of computational tasks at the point of data capture. The Bar Code Wand Card is the first standards-based solution to the problem of portable data collection. When users move the wand across a bar code symbology sym·bol·o·gy n. 1. The study or interpretation of symbols or symbolism. 2. The use of symbols. symbology 1. the study and interpretation of symbols. Also called symbolism. , Windows CE 2.0 programs behave as though the data has been typed in, eliminating the need for any special programming. Users can then dock their H/PC to a Windows 95 desktop PC and copy the collected data to a company network by using the utilities included with Windows CE 2.0. Markets that will benefit from this system include retailers, warehousers, distributors, freight companies, airlines, health care, parcel and package delivery companies, and manufacturers. Potential applications include point-of-sale, shelf price audits, store transfers, inventory management, tracking goods in shipping and receiving, order picking, stock pulling and put away, field inspection and audits, patient data collection, route delivery, and market research surveys. There are several advantages to attaching a bar code wand to Socket's PC Card adapter (1) A PC Card used as a drive that accepts a removable module. Typically used for flash memory cards, such as CompactFlash and SmartMedia, the PC Card adapter plugs into the PC Card slot of the computer, and the memory card plugs into the adapter. See CompactFlash and SmartMedia. rather than to the H/PC's built-in serial port. Socket's PC Card delivers power from the host H/PC to the wand. This eliminates the need for batteries in the wand, lowers cost, and simplifies maintenance. It also allows users to select their favorite H/PC without having to find a special interface adapter In communications, a device that connects the computer or terminal to a network. for the bar code wand. PC Cards adhere to adhere to verb 1. follow, keep, maintain, respect, observe, be true, fulfil, obey, heed, keep to, abide by, be loyal, mind, be constant, be faithful 2. a common physical standard while built-in H/PC serial port connectors vary from one manufacturer to another. Able to withstand heavy use, the advanced cable connector design reduces cable strain and ensures the wand is securely attached to Socket's PC Card. Socket's Battery Friendly(TM) PC Card draws less power (only 7mA) than any other PC Card serial adapter A device that adds a serial port to a computer. It plugs into the USB port and contains one or more serial port sockets. See serial port. , maximizing the battery life of H/PCs. The product achieves this low power consumption by incorporating Socket's proprietary chip technology. Welch Allyn's bar code wand is a contact scanner with a visible red light source. The wand is house in a rugged stainless steel stainless steel: see steel. stainless steel Any of a family of alloy steels usually containing 10–30% chromium. The presence of chromium, together with low carbon content, gives remarkable resistance to corrosion and heat. case and includes a tapered sapphire tip for durability and high first-time read rates. The software included with the system reads the data collected by the scanner wand and delivers it to Windows CE 2.0 applications as though it were typed from the H/PC's keyboard. Because scanned data will appear on the computer screen only when it is correctly captured, the system represents a reliable method of entering information into the H/PC without the risk of undetected keyboard errors. "Socket's Bar Code Wand Card is a major market advancement. It makes bar code scanning more accessible, affordable, and powerful," said Tom Ruhlman, product marketing manager at Welch Allyn. "Our rugged PC Card technology and Welch Allyn's stainless steel wand scanner both deliver the field-proven durability required for mobile data collection," added Peter Phillips, product marketing manager at Socket. The Bar Code Wand Card system consists of a credit-card sized PC Card, a flexible coiled cable, a wandscanner, and Windows CE 2.0 bar code scanning software. The software allows the wand scanner to be used with general-purpose Windows CE 2.0 programs such as Pocket Excel and Word. The suggested list price for the Bar Code Wand Card is $399. The product is available now through Socket's worldwide distribution. For more information, call Socket at 1-800-552-3300 or send e-mail to wandcard@socketcom.com . Socket Communications, Inc., develops and sells connection solutions for mobile computers, including PC Card hardware and software for wireless messaging, a family of Serial PC Cards, and Ethernet PC Cards, Socket's PageCard(R) is a PC Card alphanumeric pager that downloads wireless data to a mobile computer. Socket's connection solutions are based on its low power chip technology, making them ideal for battery-operated mobile computers and handheld devices. Details about Socket's product family can be found on Socket's web site at http://www.socketcom.com . -0- Socket Communications, Inc., Bar Code Wand Card, Battery Friendly, PageCard and PageSoft are registered trademarks or trademarks of Socket communications, Inc. Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. CONTACT: Socket Communications, Newark Peter Phillips, 510/744-2767 peter@socketcom.com or A&R Partners Bob Angus, 415/363-0982 bob_angus@arpartners.com |
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