At least once a week, I get a call from an integrator or end user looking for a discontinued PC to work with their application. Since I understand the issues faced due to existing custom software and peripherals developed to interface with that specific PC, I have always tried to source the exact PC configuration …
8 Ways to Help Select a Replacement for Your End of Life PC Read More »
I have spent over 12 years in Industrial Automation & Data Acquisition and have worked with many customers in the Print Circuit Board (PCB) Industry. During this time, I have seen increased requirements for lot traceability by end users due to quality concerns. With strict traceability reporting requirements and the potential for lot rejection, PCB …
How to Handle PCB Component Reel Scanning & Employee Accountability Read More »
I recently wrote about the true meaning of innovation, (click to read ‘What is Innovation…really?) and my thoughts brought me to another topic along the theme of change—disruptive technology. “Disruptive technology” sounds like an irritation. I guess change can be perceived that way. Harvard Business School professor Clayton M. Christensen identified emerging technologies as falling …
I have to admit that when I first saw the TC8000, I was surprised, even skeptical. I was accustomed to mobile computers that look either like a consumer-styled smartphone or the more rugged, gun-style form factor. The Zebra TC8000 doesn’t resemble either. For one thing, it has a handle. Yes, a handle. In a day …
The Zebra TC8000: A New Look in Rugged Mobile Computing Read More »
Innovation is one of those words—like “quality” and “value”—that can be overused and the power of the term can become diluted. It has been used to speak to major advances like the calculator or the computer. Simply defined it is a new idea, method or product. I like to think of innovation in terms of …
A study reported in the Journal of Quantitative Criminology showed that body cameras may cut in half the use of force by police and reduce civilian complaints by 90%. Body-worn cameras are gaining in popularity for Police Officers in the approximately 18,000 agencies around the country. The U.S. Justice Department announced a plan to help …
Police Body-Cams: Are you ready for all the data? Read More »
If you’ve ever had an application that called for Wireless I/O modules, you know that historically there have been several limitations to using one. In fact, one manufacturer after another has attempted to provide a full-proof module that performed successful Analog and Digital Input/Output data collection but there always seemed to be snag with the …
4 Reasons Why Advantech Wireless Remote I/O is a WISE Choice Read More »
Long before the Olympic torch is lit at the Summer Games in Rio, fans will be taking part in the worldwide spectacle. Mobile app developers have launched programs that will do everything from letting you watch your favorite sport to helping you find a clean toilet in Rio. Here’s a list of 6 great Apps to …
“It’s just easier to do it myself.” I cringe when I hear this statement. It represents short-term thinking. In the long run, it’s never easier to do it yourself, over and over again—unless you don’t value your time. By not systematizing tasks, you doom yourself to juggling more responsibilities than you should. A process presents a …
6 Tips to Help You Build Processes for your Business Read More »
More and more, we’re hearing people talk about the Internet of Things. What are these “things” that seem to be driving a new wave in our culture? There are techie types who can explain IoT—because we need another acronym—in terms that resonate with all the clarity of that garbled voice at the drive-through. I thought …
The basics of the Internet of Things: What’s IoT and why do I need it? Read More »