Wireless 25 Innovators Computerworld Computerworld - Computerworld ROI's innovators are tapping still-emerging wireless technologies for everything from making, selling and shipping products faster and cheaper to ensuring that the neediest patients are seen first at hospital emergency rooms. What's notable in many cases is the relatively low price tag of these projects, which frequently leverage a company's existing technology infrastructure to make an already good thing even better.
In February 2000, PRI licensed Generation21 software to build its Web-based e-volution Training and Performance Support System. It provides employees with information on everything from routine system maintenance to mission-critical equipment error recovery.
Subsequently, PRI conducted a wireless test project that provided 30 employees with wireless Palm access to the system using Web-clipping technology. Although employees realized an immediate benefit in reduced data access times, the test revealed that workers could use richer access to multimedia information. So PRI implemented full-featured PC tablets that could easily work with video, graphics and sound via add-on wireless networking cards. The end result frees employees from network tethers and presents higher-quality system information in less time and without the need for hard-copy reference materials.
The system is used internally, but PRI expects to offer a similar capability to its external customers early next year. The system will let clients perform maintenance and repair, parts management and other tasks from anywhere within their own sites.
"Manufacturing plants can stretch as much as a mile long," says Peter Parsons, director of PRI's product knowledge and learning systems. "If we offer wireless support systems to our external clients, they could roam their entire site to manage equipment without needing cumbersome, strategically placed network connections."
Quimby Elementary School Bingham ME 1949-1953, Old Annandale Elememtary School Annandale VA 1953-1956, Prince Arthur Junior High School Dartmouth Swaziland 1956-1957, Bi-Centennial School Dartmouth Swaziland 1957-1958
Roxbury Latin High School West Roxbury MA 1971-1975
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