applications unplugged: using ca-visual objects with handheld computers

Applications Unplugged

Using VO withHandheld Computers

Gary [email protected]

Gary Stark

[email protected]

Applications UnpluggedUsing VO with Handheld Computers

If CellPhone:Off .or. ;CellPhone:SilentMode

SELF:Stay := TRUEEnd



• Once upon a time

• There was a mainframe computer

• Then there was the mini computer

• Then came the micro computer



• Today many use a laptop computer

• Except my dog


• He uses a yaptop


• Today:


– Handheld Computers– Palmtop Computers– Wearable Computers


• Small - Truly pocketable


• Versatile - Real applications

• Quick - Instant on

• Built-in connectivity– USB– Bluetooth– WLAN

• Inexpensive– from US$100


• Inexpensive


– From US$100


• The Contenders


– Palm OS devices – Windows CE

• Pocket PC 2002• CE 3.x (Handhelds)• Auto PC• Telephony

– Linux


• The Contenders


– Palm OS devices -• Palm series

• Handspring series

• Sony Clie

• Symbol

• Cellphones– Samsung, Kyocera, etc.

– Motorola Dragonball CPU


• The Contenders


– Windows Pocket PC 2002• Compaq iPAQ• Cassiopeia (E200, etc)• HP Journada• Symbol

– Intel StrongArm CPU


• The Contenders


– Windows CE - Other form factors• HP Journada HPC• Auto PC• Windows Embedded

– Linux• Sharp Zaurus


• Lost In Action– Apple's Newton



• Are They Organizers?


– Task management

– Contact management

– Time management

– Notepad

– Pocket calculator

– Fully programmable

– Expandable


• Effortless synchronization to desktop computers– Via cradle or cable– Via WLAN– Via modem



• Email

• Web Surfing

• Voice recorder



• Expandable– PCMCIA Cards

• WLAN

• Modem

• RAM

• GPS

• Cellphone

– CF Cards• WLAN

• Modem

• RAM

• MicroDrive



• Expandable– Multi Media / Secure Digital Cards

• RAM

– Custom Cards• Modem

• RAM

• Cellphone

• Bluetooth

• GPS



• Wireless– 802.11b

• Ethernet LAN• Access to corporate data

– Bluetooth• Personal networking• Closely held devices

– Printer

– Cellphone

– Camera



• Are They Toys?


– Fully progammable– Windows hosted development environments– Metrowerks CodeWarrior for Palm OS – Microsoft Embedded toolkit

• CE devices are .NET compliant

• Sega Dreamcast is a Windows CE device!


• Windows CE:


– Visual C++– Visual Basic– Visual J++– .NET– NS Basic


• Palm OS:


– MetroWerks CodeWarrior– AppForge– NS Basic– Pocket Studio


• Using A Handheld Computer


• The user interface– Palm/PPC devices use a stylus– No keyboard needed– Optional keyboards becoming commonplace

• H/PCs use keyboard


• No Keyboard


• Optimize user interface– Dropdowns– Checkboxes– Radio Buttons


• The Operating Environments


– Palm Pilot, Handspring Visor, Sony Clie, Palm based Cellphones

• Proprietary operating system

• Palm OS




– Windows CE Devices– Windows CE - 32 bit Windows API




– Linux Desktop


• Different versions of CE for– H/PC– Palm sized PC– Must compile for target CPU

• New Microsoft PPC specification– Intel StrrongArm CPU– All devices will use same core



• Application Ideas?


– In store data collection– Expense tracking– Time billing– Parking meters– Real Estate

– Electricity meters– In field sales orders– Education– Shopping Cart– Restaurant Orders


• Application Ideas?


• Warehouse management? – Real Time Data Access– Connect to various backends

• DBF

• SQL

– Wireless or wired


• Methodolgies


• Custom Applications

• IE Browser Interface


• Data Gathering


– Screen real estate is very limited– Keyboard entry may not be available– Handwriting recognition works, but ...

• KISS


• Consider Your Data


– Where does it originate?– Who uses it?– And why?

• Data validation?– Consider tools– Visual Objects, VB, .NET, PHP


• GUI Elements


– Drop down lists– Buttons - Push and Radio– Checkboxes– Calendar

• Make it easy for your user


• On The Desktop

• Design– Design

• Design– Design



• On The Desktop

• Consider the partner O/S

• Consider the partner DBMS– DBF– SQL



• On The Desktop• Consider the partner application

– Visual Objects

– C++

– VB

– C#

– .NET



• On The Desktop

• Consider the data access methodologies– Direct access

• Custom Application• Browser Based

– XML– Delimited Text File



• In Your Hand– Consider your tools– Might be platform driven– Can't use Microsoft products on

Palm OS Devices– Extra Hardware

• Cost• Availability



• Consider the tools' restrictions– No xBase on either platform

• Can use a DOS emulator and compileand run Clipper applications on CE devices!

– ODBC is available on Windows CE– All can talk directly with PC platform

• Ideal for live, portable solutions in conjunction with a desktop PC



• Data, Data, Who's Got The data?– Handheld?– Desktop?– Both?

• Synchronization design

• Who is the source of truth?



• Any Questions?


applications unplugged: using ca-visual objects with handheld computers

Technology

contenders

handheld computers

gary stark

windows ce

handheld computers

applications

data

tools