Motion Computing Updates Toughened Windows Tablet

Rugged tablet maker Motion Computing has introduced its latest model for the health care, field service and retail industries, with the CL910 Tablet PC.

The model has been updated with an Intel dual-core processor, 128GB of solid-state memory and 2GB of RAM. It runs Windows 7 Professional and incorporates a 1.6GHz Atom N2600 dual-core processor.

Tough Life

Like many rugged mobile devices, the CL910 conforms to the MIL-STD-810G military durability standards on shock and vibration and Ingress Protection (IP) 52 for water and dust. First responders in ambulances or at the scene of an emergency require this type of durability.

For hospital environments, the unit offers a highly sealed, chemical-resistant chassis, according to Motion Computing. Doctors and nurses can wipe down the CL910 with alcohol, ammonium chloride or other disinfectants.

With remote-monitoring of patients a growing trend in health care, the CL910’s Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity could allow the tablet to connect to self-monitoring health equipment such as glucometers and fitness sensors.

In addition, the unit’s Trusted Platform Module (TPM) offers secure data protection, Motion Computing reported. A security standard from the Trusted Computing Group, TPM is a chip that provides authentication for hardware and stores encryption keys, digital certificates and passwords.

Although the unit comes with Windows 7 Professional, the tablet will be eligible for a Windows 8 upgrade when the new OS is available, according to the company. Microsoft’s new Surface tablet will also come with Windows 8. Microsoft plans to release Windows 8 in October.

Introduced on 10 July, the CL910 features a 10.1-inch high-definition display with scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass, which provides extra durability for extreme work environments. Users can input data on the screen by two-finger touch or a high-resolution digitizer pen.

The CL910 will sell for $1,260 (£816) through PC resellers and distributors.

Device Features

Like the CL900 before it, the CL910 includes the SlateMate module consisting of a magnetic stripe reader and a bar-code scanner. Hospitals can use the magnetic stripe reader to admit or discharge patients from their hospital beds, and the bar-code scanner can match patient IDs with the correct medication. In addition, hospital staff can scan a patient’s wristband to gain access to electronic health records (EHRs) on the CL910.

Meanwhile, the built-in digital camera can snap images that can be incorporated into patients’ EHRs, Motion reported.

For retail, the SlateMate unit allows sales teams to scan products and swipe credit cards at the point of sale.

Motion’s J3500 Tablet PC, introduced in June 2010, also provides rugged features for health care and field service such as Corning Gorilla Glass and MIL-STD-810G military specifications for durability.

“Motion’s mission has always been to provide mobile workforces with the most comprehensive product line available, including rugged, purpose-built tablet PCs and productivity-enhancing accessories,” Mary Anne Gunn, Motion Computing’s director of corporate marketing, said in a statement. “With the latest enhancements to the CL910 Tablet PC, we are continuing to deliver on that promise with an array of solutions that are built to fit seamlessly into our target vertical environments.”

Other companies that offer mobile devices for extreme work environments include Dell, DLI, General Dynamics, Panasonic and Xplore. The Xtreme Tablet from Xplore can survive a stay in a tank of water and comes with a special dock to withstand shaking and vibrations.

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