Definitely one of the more out-there uses of the iPad that I've seen to date. Not sure a ruggedized or military version of the iPad is in keeping with Apple's aesthetic design sensibilities, but I suppose there are plenty of groups like this Naval team that will do whatever it takes to retrofit what they see as the right tool for the project at hand.
I'm with you Beth. Much like the experimentalists that hacked Microsoft's Kinect integrated sensor bar and brought them kicking and screaming toward their new product Kinect for Windows, innovators will continue to use what they have on hand to accomplish their tasks. If a $499 iPAD does the trick, I say hooray. Place it in the toolbox along side the duct tape, paperclips, and famous multi-thousand dollar hammers... =]
Once again, we see the advantages of pervasiveness. The story notes that the advantage of the iPad was its ability to support custom applications. Also, "other options were too expensive or would take too long to deliver." The lesson is that success breeds success.
Being a Navy man, I can assure you the Navy WILL find a way. It would be interesting to see a depth ruggedized version for research and/or SEAL team use. Way to go FAU and Harbor Branch!
Great, Navy. I think NASA would have launch several careers and employed a number of research universities - in any event, they would have found a solution.
Interesting use. Try one of the Android phones its cheaper.... Im sure a dozen other handheld phones can do the same.... some smart phones you can even strap to your wrist and pay less. ohh and i dont think you pay for android so yes you can install it in a System-On-Chip and build what ever custom device you want???
Its ok we know all the Apple Zealots are out there promoting iPad... i still say free software is better.... And hardware that can run on free software is even better :)
As an engineering person, I say Yay, using an everyday item which seems to have the flexibility to be used in such an unusual context, - that is what I do for a living, and that is what we all need to do.
In regards ervin, have you really read this article? you cite phones, but it was a tablet, don't let your misplaced loyalty to Bill Gates or "how we always do things" interfere with your problem solving abilities.
A new battery design, which replaces lithium with abundant and low-cost elemental sulfur, is still in its nascent stages but shows real promise for giving batteries more energy potential.
PTC will offer a virtual desktop environment for its Creo product design applications, potentially freeing engineers to run them from remote desktops on a variety of operating systems and mobile devices.
The push to achieving more intelligent, integrated manufacturing is putting a strong focus on networking and connectivity as key enabling technologies.
Now that solar and wind harvesting technologies are a thriving market, researchers are seeking other environmentally related energy sources for which they can create harvesting devices.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 5
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For industrial control applications, or even a simple assembly line, that machine can go almost 24/7 without a break. But what happens when the task is a little more complex? That’s where the “smart” machine would come in. The smart machine is one that has some simple (or complex in some cases) processing capability to be able to adapt to changing conditions. Such machines are suited for a host of applications, including automotive, aerospace, defense, medical, computers and electronics, telecommunications, consumer goods, and so on. This radio show will show what’s possible with smart machines, and what tradeoffs need to be made to implement such a solution.
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