Tag Archive for: computer

Magical medical-grade computers

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Magic MRK8I used to work in healthcare, and like many people involved in that field, I became quite cynical about its practice.  For one thing, modern medicine may be hi-tech, but people can treat it as if it was magic. Patients sometimes demand prescriptions from a doctor for medicines that they can get over the counter. The prescription is unnecessary, but it is “magic,” because it is from a doctor.  Doctors have been known to take x-rays, not for diagnostic purposes, but because the “magic” image impresses patients and helps ensure compliance.

What about so-called “medical-grade” computers? Do doctors really need one? What exactly is a “medical-grade” computer, and is it good for anything else besides healthcare?  Are they magic or hi-tech?

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My laptop is hot. What should I do?

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hot laptopThe hot days of summer are associated with swimming, BBQs, and other good times.  However, it is no fun when your laptop overheats.  Here are a couple of things to do when your computer becomes too hot to handle: Read more

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Did smartphones & tablets kill the PC? Part II: Software & innovation exhaustion

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This article is a second in a series.  To read “Part I:  It’s an iPad world, not Windows PC at work, tablets at home8’s” and the article in full, click here.

 

The PC is not dead; it’s just not at home

With 300 million sales this year, it may be a bit premature to mourn the passing of PCs.  What the decline in PC sales really signifies, some argue, is the death of the home desktop. Take a look at these Business Insider illustrations:

 

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Why cloud computing may not be big deal in 2013

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cloud computing

The beginning of the New Year often marks an avalanche of stories enthusing about the “next big thing.” Usually, a glorious, completely transformed future is predicted due to the disruptive qualities of a new technology.

This article will be the first of a series in which I’ll try to let the steam out of a few commonly hyped trends.  To be clear, each of these technical innovations represents genuine change in the way we approach mobile computing.  I just think there are going to be bumps in the road.

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New Rugged AMREL Laptop Converts into Lightweight Tablet

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AMREL announced the launch of ROCKY U12Ci, a lightweight convertible  laptop / tablet.

“The ROCKY U12Ci is the one of the lightest rugged convertible notebooks to ever pass MIL-STD 810G for Drop, Vibration, and Shock,” said Kalvin Chen, AMREL’s Director of Technology Marketing.  “That’s the toughest military standard for ruggedness.”

The ROCKY U12Ci has a pivot hinge that allows the user to turn the 12.1” display 180° and flip the LCD/touch panel. The U12Ci functions equally well as a laptop and a tablet. Read more

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How do I maximize battery life for my mobile computer?

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Supposedly, a high number of people call a repair man to fix their television, when all they really need to do is plug it in. Similarly, most actions for maximizing the life of a battery for a mobile computer may be characterized as excessively obvious. Here is a list to help you “remember the obvious.”

1) Avoid unnecessary applications. Especially those that constantly run in the background. One expert suggested going as far as to uninstall them. We all know this instinctually, but how often do you actually check this? Even if you think you there is nothing unnecessary on your computer, take time out every once in a while and examine exactly what applications are running. Read more

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Recycling, Earth Day, COTS & National Security

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April 22 is Earth Day, a time in which we reflect on how our actions affect the environment.  These effects can be quite surprising, even dangerous.  For example, it probably never occurred to you that recycling computers could potentially hamper National Security.

To explain this bizarre chain of causality, let’s explain a few basics.  First, your computer is full of lead and lots of other nasty stuff. That’s why you are not supposed to just dump them the trash; decaying computers can pour a variety of toxins into landfills.  Secondly, your computer is full of gold and other valuable materials.  Computer disposal and recycling is a big business. You may have seen announcements, such as this one in the ARMY Times, offering cash or at least shipping costs for discarded electronics.  Computer and other electronics recycling have become standard features of church and other nonprofit fund drives. Read more

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Tablets rule, for now

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It may be hard to remember all the way back to 2010, but when the iPad was first introduced, no one was sure if the public would actually adopt it.  “People already have a smartphone and a laptop,” ran a common refrain, “What’s the point of another mobile form factor?”

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Typing

The Death of Keyboards & the Japanese Experience

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Are keyboards dead?  In view of their ubiquity, and proven usefulness, this may seem to be an absurd question, but some people are considering this possibility. The success of the keyboard-less iPad in penetrating the business market was one of 2011’s big surprises. Also, in an interview in the IEEE Spectrum, journalist Sally Wiener-Grotta noted the impressive number of stylus interfaces on display at the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES). She even cites studies that claim that when we use handwriting input, “… we absorb information better and we express information better…” Read more

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AMREL’s New Rugged Laptops More Powerful

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Faster, more powerful, and more flexible than earlier models, AMREL’s new RT9, RK9, and RF9 laptops are perfect for the data-heavy applications used by the military and public safety sectors.

“Every single upgrade in the new laptops was made in response to the critical needs of end users,” explains Ron McMahan, AMREL’s VP, Engineering Solutions. “Video streaming, biometric file transmission, mapping software, and other large footprint applications need greater shared system memory.  So, AMREL has added options for up to 8GB memory as well as faster processors and a larger memory cache.” Read more

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