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Revised copy of ART review
From: Edward M. Zabrek, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. (stork@flash.net)
Mon, 16 Feb 1998 23:45:17 -0600
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Technology report from Ed Zabrek, M.D
Technology Correspondent
obgyn.net
Title: I am not CRAZY, I am talking to my HP/C!
I first heard about ART (Advanced Recognition Technologies, Inc.) at the Microsoft Windows CE launch party in Las Vegas back in 1996. I was waiting to get into the Mirage Theatre where Bill Gates was going to take the veils off of this top-secret project. As I was waiting, I saw three gentlemen playing with prototypes of the handheld units and observed them using the "handwriting recognition" feature (or so I thought). I was accustomed to using the Apple Newton's handwriting "intelligence" (or counter-intelligence--depending on your perspective) and remember being extremely impressed with its ease of hand recognition. I was also impressed that Microsoft was going to include this feature within their Windows CE software. The ART software developers I was so fortunate to be talking to informed me that Gates and Microsoft had elected to not include handwriting recognition with the first release of Windows CE, but had allowed ART to develop the application for Microsoft as a "Solution's Provider".
I worked the early HP/C's and CE 1.0 for about one month, and became so unimpressed with them; I went back my 200LX. I did not use the HP/C's again until I beta tested CE 2.0 for Microsoft last summer. Those of you who read my HP 620LX review, know that I am so impressed with this unit, I have finally been able to move from the DOS 5.0 based 200LX, to the technically advanced Windows CE 2.0 based 620LX. As with my 620LX review, I am typing this article on my 620 LX. I could not have done that on the 200LX with the same ease.
We are now 16 months from the launch of Windows CE 1.0, and much has changed. Windows CE, and the Handheld PC's (H/PC's) that have carried this compact operating system, has gone from "Gate's first big mistake", to a serious threat to the corporate and consumer future of laptop computers. Through all of this, ART has continued to thrive and develop incredible software for these pocket marvels.
Three titles I have recently tested are smARTwriter™, smARTcommand™, and smARTcontact™. SmARTwriter™ works with remarkable accuracy, after an initial 10 to 20 minute individual users training period. The program is continually active, placing an "arrow" icon on the right tool bar. Any user preferring to "write" their entries and documents into their H/PC's instead of typing on the "Chicklet" keys of the pocket size CE units will love smARTwriter™. There is also a jotter/scribble feature of this program, allowing the user to make hand drawn maps or "doodles" that can be e-mailed or saved for later usage.
The other two titles. smARTcommand™ and smARTcontact™,take advantage of the newer HP/C's built-in microphone/memo capabilities. (Casio is including several of ART's voice products with its new CASSIOPEIA™ A-20 H/PC.) I found smARTcommand™ very accurate and simple to train and use. The readme.txt manual is very helpful in showing you the less obvious features of the program, and is worthwhile to save on hard copy. A true benefit of this program with the CE 2.0 operating system, because unlike Windows 95, 98, or NT, there are not cascading menus, and relatively little screen real estate for program shortcuts. This program allows the user to literally “call up” a program or function by speaking into HP/C’s built-in microphone. The results are instantaneous and accurate. For example, if you wanted to synchronize your HP/C with your desktop, you could program a “Sync” command into smARTcommand™ while your are connected, and the two units would begin synchronizing. Unless you placed a desktop shortcut for this function, you would have to go through three menus to accomplish the same function.
SmARTcontact™ allows the user to “train” the HP/C to recognize voice commands to access their contact database phone numbers and E-mail. It even prompts you to input the appropriate voice command when you add a new contact to your list. You simply tap the smARTcontact™ icon on the task bar, say the “trained” contact’s name into the HP/C’s microphone, and the unit will display that contact’s phone number and E-mail address. The user is then prompted for the appropriate voice function (“number” or E-mail). Once that response is given, the unit responds appropriately by either dialing the phone number or accessing the e-mail address.
To quote Rick McCaskill, executive VP of ART, “Mobile computer users are seeking easier and more natural ways to interface with portable devices. ART has built the industry’s easiest and most affordable tool to allow software developers to add voice commands to their Windows CE 2.0 applications.” The cost for these programs ranges from $30.00 to $70.00 depending on the title. They can be ordered from ART's web site directly (http://www.artcomp.com).
I strongly believe that the HP/C is the portable and pocketable technology of the 21st Century. To date there is nothing else I have seen in current development that is as promising for the medical field. Many companies are starting to invest in and develop medical software for these handheld units. The ultimate goal is to have them work seamlessly with the physician office systems. In the future, as they are perfected, I will be reporting on them. One tool that has yet to be perfected is accurate, continuous speech, voice recognition technology. I look forward to the day that this software is available for the HP/C. I would not be surprised is ART leads the way in this quest. I believe that this will bring these units into the physician’s pockets as true portable electronic medical record and billing devices.
- Next message: Roberta Speyer: "Re: Revised copy of ART review"
- Previous message: Edward M. Zabrek, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.: "Advanced Software for Windows 2.0 from ART (Advanced"
- Next in thread: Roberta Speyer: "Re: Revised copy of ART review"
- Maybe reply: Roberta Speyer: "Re: Revised copy of ART review"
- Maybe reply: Roberta Speyer: "Re: Revised copy of ART review"
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