Enterprise digital assistant
Encyclopedia
An enterprise digital assistant (EDA) is a handheld computer, born of the personal digital assistant
popularity which was adapted for extensive, more robust usage within the SME (Small to Medium Enterprise) and Enterprise business applications
as a data capture mobile device.
Over the years, these business applications have grown from simple batched data collection using barcode reader
s to include extensive usage of other expanding business technologies within the areas of WLANs
(Wireless Local Area Networks), GPRS Edge Communications, biometrics
, magnetic stripe, Smart Card
and RFID data capture technologies.
EDAs are also known as Data Capture Mobile Devices or Batch Terminals
or Portables.
EDAs have many uses in many types of business: Warehouse management, Inventory control and Field Services to mentions a few.
EDAs are to the business sector what the personal digital assistant was to the domestic sector, allowing business applications to combine a portable device with their data collection requirements.
As is the case with PDAs
, EDAs may include a touch screen, IrDA, Bluetooth, a memory card slot, however, EDAs may also include one or more data capture devices.
EDAs are available on a variety of different OS
Platforms i.e. WindowsCE, Windows Mobile, Windows PocketPC, Windows XP Tablet Edition, Linux (Various), Palm
, DOS and some proprietary OS
Platforms.
Boundaries among PDA
, smartphone
and EDA can be blurred when comparing the wide array of common features and functions. EDAs attempt to distinguish themselves with a pre-defined requirement for long term constant daily operation (Normally allowing a minimum of 8 hours). They seek a higher than normal impact rating
/ drop test rating and an ingress protection rating of no less than IP54, Most have at least one Data Collection function i.e. a Barcode
or RFID Reader etc.
An EDA is designed to withstand all-day everyday use in harsh or hazardous environments, these rugged compact devices can deliver wireless WAN
/LAN/PAN
voice and data communications, including VOIP functionality.
EDAs are available in a number of form factors, for example Handheld or Wearable and can be further extended to include figure barcode scanners, RFID panel antennas
, Swipe card readers, External Battery Packs
and Printer carry cases.
Where PDAs
are intended as single person devices for personal applications and usage, EDAs are very often intended as multi-person devices for business applications and usage.
PDAs can be expanded to add-on data capture functionality, whereas EDAs very often are designed without the need for additions and can include a combination of built in data capture functionality. Barcode scanner or RFID Reader, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi
, GSM, GPRS and VOIP are the most common standards of functionality within EDA mobile devices.
Personal digital assistant
A personal digital assistant , also known as a palmtop computer, or personal data assistant, is a mobile device that functions as a personal information manager. Current PDAs often have the ability to connect to the Internet...
popularity which was adapted for extensive, more robust usage within the SME (Small to Medium Enterprise) and Enterprise business applications
Application software
Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with...
as a data capture mobile device.
Over the years, these business applications have grown from simple batched data collection using barcode reader
Barcode reader
A barcode reader is an electronic device for reading printed barcodes. Like a flatbed scanner, it consists of a light source, a lens and a light sensor translating optical impulses into electrical ones...
s to include extensive usage of other expanding business technologies within the areas of WLANs
Wireless LAN
A wireless local area network links two or more devices using some wireless distribution method , and usually providing a connection through an access point to the wider internet. This gives users the mobility to move around within a local coverage area and still be connected to the network...
(Wireless Local Area Networks), GPRS Edge Communications, biometrics
Biometrics
Biometrics As Jain & Ross point out, "the term biometric authentication is perhaps more appropriate than biometrics since the latter has been historically used in the field of statistics to refer to the analysis of biological data [36]" . consists of methods...
, magnetic stripe, Smart Card
Smart card
A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card , is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits. A smart card or microprocessor cards contain volatile memory and microprocessor components. The card is made of plastic, generally polyvinyl chloride, but sometimes acrylonitrile...
and RFID data capture technologies.
EDAs are also known as Data Capture Mobile Devices or Batch Terminals
Computer terminal
A computer terminal is an electronic or electromechanical hardware device that is used for entering data into, and displaying data from, a computer or a computing system...
or Portables.
EDAs have many uses in many types of business: Warehouse management, Inventory control and Field Services to mentions a few.
EDAs are to the business sector what the personal digital assistant was to the domestic sector, allowing business applications to combine a portable device with their data collection requirements.
As is the case with PDAs
Personal digital assistant
A personal digital assistant , also known as a palmtop computer, or personal data assistant, is a mobile device that functions as a personal information manager. Current PDAs often have the ability to connect to the Internet...
, EDAs may include a touch screen, IrDA, Bluetooth, a memory card slot, however, EDAs may also include one or more data capture devices.
EDAs are available on a variety of different OS
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
Platforms i.e. WindowsCE, Windows Mobile, Windows PocketPC, Windows XP Tablet Edition, Linux (Various), Palm
Palm OS
Palm OS is a mobile operating system initially developed by Palm, Inc., for personal digital assistants in 1996. Palm OS is designed for ease of use with a touchscreen-based graphical user interface. It is provided with a suite of basic applications for personal information management...
, DOS and some proprietary OS
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
Platforms.
Boundaries among PDA
Personal digital assistant
A personal digital assistant , also known as a palmtop computer, or personal data assistant, is a mobile device that functions as a personal information manager. Current PDAs often have the ability to connect to the Internet...
, smartphone
Smartphone
A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera...
and EDA can be blurred when comparing the wide array of common features and functions. EDAs attempt to distinguish themselves with a pre-defined requirement for long term constant daily operation (Normally allowing a minimum of 8 hours). They seek a higher than normal impact rating
Toughness
In materials science and metallurgy, toughness is the ability of a material to absorb energy and plastically deform without fracturing; Material toughness is defined as the amount of energy per volume that a material can absorb before rupturing...
/ drop test rating and an ingress protection rating of no less than IP54, Most have at least one Data Collection function i.e. a Barcode
Barcode
A barcode is an optical machine-readable representation of data, which shows data about the object to which it attaches. Originally barcodes represented data by varying the widths and spacings of parallel lines, and may be referred to as linear or 1 dimensional . Later they evolved into rectangles,...
or RFID Reader etc.
An EDA is designed to withstand all-day everyday use in harsh or hazardous environments, these rugged compact devices can deliver wireless WAN
Wide area network
A wide area network is a telecommunication network that covers a broad area . Business and government entities utilize WANs to relay data among employees, clients, buyers, and suppliers from various geographical locations...
/LAN/PAN
Personal area network
A personal area network is a computer network used for communication among computer devices, including telephones and personal digital assistants, in proximity to an individual's body. The devices may or may not belong to the person in question. The reach of a PAN is typically a few meters...
voice and data communications, including VOIP functionality.
EDAs are available in a number of form factors, for example Handheld or Wearable and can be further extended to include figure barcode scanners, RFID panel antennas
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
, Swipe card readers, External Battery Packs
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
and Printer carry cases.
Where PDAs
Personal digital assistant
A personal digital assistant , also known as a palmtop computer, or personal data assistant, is a mobile device that functions as a personal information manager. Current PDAs often have the ability to connect to the Internet...
are intended as single person devices for personal applications and usage, EDAs are very often intended as multi-person devices for business applications and usage.
PDAs can be expanded to add-on data capture functionality, whereas EDAs very often are designed without the need for additions and can include a combination of built in data capture functionality. Barcode scanner or RFID Reader, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
, GSM, GPRS and VOIP are the most common standards of functionality within EDA mobile devices.