Motorola MC75 User Manual - Page 3

Barriers to the utilization of images in enterprise mobility applications improvements for workers out in the field. A picture truly is worth a thousand words - and in addition, in the enterprise environment, a picture can also protect the bottom line. For example, a detailed highresolution photo can provide: Bar code scanning has come to play a central role in today's enterprise, eliminating manual processes and bringing a new level of automation, productivity and accuracy to a wide range of applications. But in contrast, mobile image capture - photographs and video - is not nearly as common in today's enterprises. This low adoption rate is primarily due to technology limitations: • Lower resolution cameras incorporated into mobile devices and smart phones were incapable of capturing the level of detail needed in enterprise applications. • Existing long-range fixed focus technology posed a challenge for the capture of photographs and documents at close range - documents were often illegible and photographs often lacked clarity and detail. • The lower bandwidth of older cellular networks resulted in lengthy transmission times for large image files, often adding time and cost to everyday processes. Additionally, most enterprise class mobile devices previously required companies to choose between a bar code scanner and a digital camera. Given the fact that bar code scanning has become a "must have" application, and image capture has been to date a "nice to have" application, companies typically opted for and deployed devices with the more mission critical bar code scanning functionality. And as a result, the incorporation of digital cameras in enterprise mobile devices has been occasional at best - and the potential value of image capture in enterprise applications has remained primarily unexplored. The new role of imagery in enterprise data collection Today, the emergence of new technology capabilities is paving the way for the pervasive use of image capture in the enterprise. A key enabler for a new generation of image-based enterprise applications, image capture can be utilized to achieve further productivity, accountability and visibility • Indisputable proof that a large screen TV or other expensive asset arrived at a customer's door in pristine condition • Proof that a field service technician completed a repair • Documentation of maintenance that is required for an asset • Documentation of original condition to protect against or prevent insurance fraud • An instant electronic record of a document, such as a bill of lading When GPS technology meets the high resolution color camera, geostamping becomes a reality - the ability to append photographs with a time stamp as well as latitude and longitude data. Geostamping offers a new level of efficiency and accountability for field activities. The ability to augment photographs with GPS information provides organizations with undisputable confirmation that maintenance, service and inspection activities were performed at the right time and place - complete with a verifiable audit trail. Technology enablers for imagery applications The key technology advancements required to enable enterprise-grade image capture out in the field include: Advanced camera technology Until today, the available cameras in mobile devices were limited in resolution (typically under 2 megapixels) and offered only fixed focal ranges, significantly limiting the amount of detail that could be captured in a photo or document. Fixed focal length cameras are preset for long-range focus and lack the ability to capture detailed images on closeup shots, but today's new 2 megapixel autofocus cameras can capture details on images shot at close as well as far range. As a result, workers can easily capture the fine print on a full-sized document or the detailed damage to a piece of equipment, right from their mobile device. 1 WHITE PAPER: Leveraging the value of imaging in enterprise mobility applications