Tablet PC as Pretty Cool Smart Client Platform

Introduce the Tablet PC and UMPC form factors Examine the Tablet PC’s and UMPC’s Role in the Enterprise Introduction to Tablet Development Extending Existing Applications for the Tablet & UMPC The Wow Factor: Tablets in Action Ideas and More

Frank La Vigne
Microsoft MVP: Tablet PC
INETA Membership Mentor for DC, Maryland and Delaware
Manager/Founder Silverlight SIG
Lead Designer @ AIS
Blog: www.franksworld.com
Company: www.appliedis.com
Twitter: @Tableteer
Feedback to
[email_address]

What Exactly is a Tablet PC?
A fully functional computer that supports all of the .NET Framework
Tablet PCs run Windows Vista and a special edition of Windows XP.
Is the next logical step in the development of portable computing
A great desktop computer when used in conjunction with external monitor, keyboard, and mouse

Convertible
Is both a laptop and a tablet
By far the most popular
Slate
“ pure” Tablets
Ultra-Mobile PC
Handheld versions of the Tablet PC
Other
Tablet PCs that fall into this category have radically different form factors and defy classification in the categories

Black Diamond Advanced Technology’s Switchback Ruggedized Ultra Mobile PC The market keeps maturing and more of these niche devices continue to appear. Motion Computing’s Motion C5 Medical Tablet PC

Computers with integrated Touch Screens leverage the Tablet PC APIs to enable Natural Input.

Natural User Interface

Smaller and lighter than traditional notebooks and laptops
7” or smaller widescreen display (800 x 480)
Less than two pounds
Standard notebook hard drive
Input via pen, touch, speech, & hardware controls
WiFi (802.11) and Bluetooth, 3G radio
3+ hours of battery (5-6 hours extended)
$799 - $1099
Windows Vista ™ – the mobile OS

SAMSUNG Q1 ULTRA MEDION RIM 1000 HTC SHIFT SONY VAIO U OQO 2 Keep in mind that these devices are running the full version of Windows

The Tablet Input Panel
Built into the Windows Vista and the Tablet PC Edition of Windows XP.
Provides a common means of data entry across all applications
Automatically detects when a text box has focus.

* 2006, All phones, ** all PCs Windows Mobile Windows Vista Smartphone Tablet PC Desktop PC Tablet and Ultra-Mobile PCs provide the portability of a Windows Mobile device with the flexibility and power of a Windows Vista PC. Notebook PC Pocket PC UMPC

Mobile Sales Force
Can enter sales data on the go
More effectively manage client meeting notes
Field Workers
Can enter data electronically
Information Workers
More effectively manage meeting notes
3G radio integration
Where do Tablet and Ultra Mobile PCs belong?

How much is your current solution costing you?
Paper has a low cost of entry with a High Cost of Ownership
Field Collection
Data Transcription
Errors in Data Transcription
Lost Productivity
Typical Paper Based Workflow for Field Workers Data Collection Phase Data Entry Phase Data Availability Phase Field Field Office Back Office

Fast Tracking Data into the Enterprise
Typical Mobile Device Based Workflow for Field Workers Data Collection & Data Entry Phase Data Availability Phase Field or Field Office Back Office
Mobile devices eliminate the need for duplication of effort
The type of mobile device depends on the needs of the field worker
Field is data now instantly available to the enterprise
Business Intelligence data always has the most up to date information
More agile business decisions

Ink object
Central to the Tablet platform
Contains stroke data
Contains all persistence mechanisms
Extensible via the ExtendedProperties collection

Stroke object
Represents a “stroke of the pen”
One pen down, pen move, pen up sequence
Has a rich API
PacketData, Points, Bezier Points, BezierCusps
Extensible via the ExtendedProperties collection
Controls rendering properties via the DrawingAttributes object
Resides in the Ink object in a collection

Ink can be captured via:
InkOverlay
InkCollector
InkCanvas (WPF)
InkCollector provides core functionality
InkOverlay adds easy to use editing modes (Ink, Select, Erase)
Each contains one Ink object
Full set of event notifications

Handwriting Recognition is built into the API
First-generation APIs placed emphasis on handwriting recognition
Ink can be converted to text rather easily
Call the ToString method in the Strokes collection
This type of recognition is centered on words
string recognitionResults = inkCollector.Ink.Strokes.ToString();

Ink Analysis API encapsulates handwriting recognition and structural analysis
Ink Analysis can understand document structure as well as content

Battery life
Network Connectivity
Always connected really mean “usually connected”
Network speeds can vary dramatically
Screen Resolution
Aspect ratio
UMPC standard resolution is 800 x 480
User Interface
Stylus friendly UI needs more space
Finger friendly UI need even more
Touch devices do not support hover events
Things to Consider

Because of form factor considerations, Tablet PC’s are typically used in Portrait Display mode.
Laptops and Desktop applications are almost exclusively designed for landscape display.
Portrait 4:3 Aspect Ratio Landscape 3:4 Aspect Ratio

Tablet PC Interface Considerations How to Frustrate Your Tablet PC Users: VERY BAD! Imagine trying to hit a 5 pixel space with your index finger!

Tablet PC was the result of years of research and several failed attempts (i.e. Pen Computing for Windows)
Handwriting recognition better than ever
Great for pictographic writing systems
Steadily gaining user acceptance
Great for increasing productivity of mobile workers
Students love it
Certain vertical markets are widely adopting Tablet technology
As more Tablets are sold, there will be increased demand for Tablet-savvy software (and developers)

Microsoft has changed their marketing focus
Tablet is rolled into Core OS
All but major PC vendors now make Tablet PCs
NUI Computing will be based on Tablet technology
Win7 adds more languages
Silverlight & WPF Support Ink natively
Tablet PCs have friends in high places

Tablet PC Developer Sites
Tablet PC Developer Site http://msdn.microsoft.com/mobility/tabletpc/
Tablet PC Talk http://www.tabletpctalk.com/
My Contact Information
Blog: http://www.franksworld.com/
Podcast: frankiesfridayflashback.com
Email: frank@franksworld.com
Further Reading
Building Tablet PC Applications by Rob Jarrett, Philip Su (Paperback )
Developing Tablet PC Applications (Programming Series) by Clayton E. Crooks
Hopefully, I will add my own book to this list one day.

Tablet PC as Pretty Cool Smart Client Platform

by Frank La Vigne on Mar 27, 2009

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