BY TOBY GOOLEY, SENIOR EDITOR
TRACK AND TRACE
technologyreview
The what,
when, and
why of
rugged
handhelds If your handheld computers take a lot of abuse, maybe it’s time for “rugged” devices. Here’s a look at what makes them so tough, when they make conomic sense, and why sometimes they’re the only way to go.
WOULD YOU EVER TAKE A HANDHELD COMPUTER
into a swimming pool, drop it from the top of a climbing
wall, run it over with a dirt bike, or use it as a hockey puck?
Of course not! Yet some manufacturers of “rugged” handheld computers have produced videos showing their products being manhandled in those and other startling ways.
Those fanciful scenarios might seem extreme—after all, how
many warehouse associates go swimming or play ice hockey
during their shifts? But the tongue-in-cheek demonstrations
make a valid point: Some warehousing and transportation
environments are remarkably tough on handheld devices, and
it pays to have equipment that can stand up to abuse.
The added durability comes at a price, of course, but in
certain applications, rugged equipment might well prove
the most cost-effective choice. Here’s a look at what quali-
fies a device as “rugged” and the types of applications where
these units make economic sense.
WHAT MAKES A DEVICE RUGGED?
Rugged handheld computers are designed to work where
they’ll be exposed to potentially damaging conditions, such
as bad weather, shocks and drops, high or low temperatures,
and particulates like dust or sand. According to systems integrator Barcoding Inc. and handheld computer manufacturer
Psion, five factors determine whether a handheld computer
qualifies as a rugged device: the outer shell, the keypad, the
display, the internal components, and the accessories.
The outer shell absorbs impact and prevents penetration
by contaminants. Each shell carries an Ingress Protection
(IP) Code rating that consists of two digits. The first refers
