Is there a screen/keyboard combo that simply displays whatever I type? I could use an old computer for that, but I would rather use something specifically built for that purpose.
I want to use this for a car wash. The law requires that every car that enters the car wash must be recorded on a notarized book. So somebody has to walk from the car wash to the central office where we keep the book to write down the license plate and then go back to start washing the car. Multiply by 50+ times a day and you can see the time wasted on those trips.
I want to keep the keyboard somewhere in the car wash and the screen in the central office. The guy who washes cars will type the license plate on the keyboard and the gal who sits at the office will see the number on the screen and write it down on the book.
The distance is about 50 yards. Laying 50 yards of cable won’t be much of a problem, but I would prefer something wireless.
Technically you have to write down any car that enters the premises, even if it doesn’t want to be serviced. For example there are people coming with two cars, drop one for washing and leave with the other car. Both cars have to be recorded.
The tax agents run frequent checks and they are very happy when they find cars around that are not recorded/misrecorded (and it is not too hard to miss writing down a car or write a wrong number on busy days). Then the tax agent says “The fine is X euros, but if you give me X/3 euros I will forget it ever happened.” The fine is usually 1000-2000 euros for every car missed.
Company I used to work for produced something like this, using a Toshiba tablet PC over a wireless network. It was designed for warehouses and factories, but it was very similar to your requirement. A fair old investment though.
I thought of the walkie talkie idea, but I assume there is some need for caching of the data at the office end, in case there is nobody free there to receive the number immediately.
I think there were once such things as text intercoms, but I’m not sure they are still made.
Why can’t the log book be kept where the data is gatherered? Or at least one page at a time, on a clipboard? Then when the page is full, schlep it back to the office and put it in a binder. Cheaper than a computer of any stripe.
Seems like a waste of capacity to throw something nice like that at such a simple task.
Actually, probably any one of the wide range of RF Data Collection Terminals would do the job, but the trouble with one of these little gadgets is that eventually, someone will just stroll in and walk off with it.
I think I’d probably go for installing an old-ish PC with a network connection (wired or wireless) and using an instant messenger or LAN chat program to handle the communication. Might also be additional benefits from making it two-way, for example if the office staff want to ask the car wash guy if he’s available for overtime, etc…
How about a simple PDA wrapped in a plastic baggie? Inelegant, I know, but maybe they even make waterproof models. Then you can input the license numbers as they come it and just sync the PDA later, or write the numbers in your book manually.
Heck, they have kiddie PDAs that would certainly hold enough information for a shift and cost under $20.
Or a text-messager set, like this. (Essentially a text-based walkie talkie). Or a Nintento GameBoy Whatever it is that has wireless texting - my kid and his friends sit on opposite ends of the couch and text each other via their handheld gaming thingies.
Look in the kid’s aisle - cheaper stuff with sturdier casings.
I just had a demonstartion for a similar system with a tablet pc. It keeps statistics and does some other fancy things but the cost is 7000+ euros which is too much for me.
This could work but looks like it operates with IR so it will need line-of-sight between the two terminals.
She is usually busy and sometimes has to go outside so she’s going to miss some car numbers.
This is probably the best and most reliable solution but I would prefer a text intercom style device.
How 'bout just a cheap, digital camera? Does the record have to be in the office all the time, or is it okay to have the record in the camera until you download the images?
Even better, a video camera of everything that goes into the carwash. You can transcribe the plates later. Or won’t that suit the “every car on the property” rule?
It’s a braille display that happens to also have an LCD that I assume displays in the latin alphabet. There may be other similar products, this is just the first one I found. (Just search for “braille display LCD”)
If your guys are fine to learn braille, then you don’t even need the LCD, of course.
Probably though it’s going to be easier (and potentially cheaper) for you to just get an old laptop with Linux installed, with a serial and power cable running inside. From there you can just log in to the computer inside (though that might involve some hoops.)
Given that they have to do this “by law”, I’m doubting revenue is a big issue.
Most likely this was something added to the lawbooks to help track criminals. Maybe they figured that stolen cars will be washed soon after being stolen, or something… (I have no idea.)
