One of the benefits of working as an editor for a major law enforcement publishing company is that I get to see some cool stuff before everyone else. Yes, I know that’s wrong on a lot of levels, but it’s a side effect of how marketing gets done. Recently I got to take a first look at the Getac EX80 Fully Rugged Tablet – the first one I’ve seen that designed from the inside out to be safe enough and rugged enough to be used in environments where explosive gasses might be in the air.
From their press release:
Getac is introducing the EX80 fully rugged tablet, its first Zone 0 device -- ATEX / IECEx Zone 0 and UL913-certified (Class I / II Division 1) for use in environments with the highest risk of explosion. Zone 0 environments are deemed as areas where explosive gas is continuously present in the atmosphere or present for long periods of time. Designed for use in hazardous and explosive environments, including those found in oil & gas, petrochemical, manufacturing, and munitions depots, the Getac EX80 incorporates a sealed anti-static exterior with surface temperature control to limit the possibility of explosion due to electrostatic charges, hot surfaces, heat energy or friction.
My comments:
“…for use in environments with the highest risk of explosion.” Pay attention. For every HazMat or SWAT operator that has to go into areas where a high risk of explosion can exist (and yes, we unfortunately do at times), THIS is a tablet you can take with you. Leave your smart phone outside… be careful with your radio comms equipment… but this tablet? Good to go.
From their press release:
Egbert Schroeer, Worldwide Managing Director Process Manufacturing & Resources Industry at Microsoft Corp. says, “Getac EX80 brings digitalization to some of the most dangerous work areas in the world, where previously ‘pen and paper’ was the only safe option. By providing the latest (computer power) in both hazardous and non-hazardous zones, Getac EX80 drastically improves productivity and efficiency for any industry where safety concerns may be a barrier to accessing the latest technology with an intelligent edge device.”
My comments:
As fantastic and flexible as the human brain is, none of us is capable of performing the data collation and analysis sometimes necessary as fast as a computer. It’s why we use them. When you have to perform an analysis that you’d usually have to go back to your vehicle or office to do on a computer, this tablet allows you to have that power in your hand, even in that less-than-friendly environment.
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More information from the press release shows that the EX80 has an 8” touch screen with several touch modes so you can use it in the rain, while wearing gloves and/or using the included hard-tip Stylus. We all know the frustration of trying to use a “smart” device while wearing gloves, but that frustration gets erased here… and that matters since we all tend to wear gloves in an environment that might go boom around us.
The press release touts a battery life of over eight hours on a single charge and, while we know some missions can take longer than eight hours, that’s pretty significant. You won’t be USING the tablet for a straight eight hours… and if you are, either things have really gone to hell in a handbasket OR you should have planned a bit better before mission initiation.
For those “in mission” critical conference calls (that’s sarcasm), the tablet features a Full HD webcam and also incorporates an 8MegaPixel rear camera using an LED flash. While I joke about conference calls, quite often our most hazardous missions are supported from an external secure source, and interfacing with that source is vital. The 8MP camera allows for clear enough photos that additional data analysis can be performed.
The EX80 is MIL-STD-810G and IP67-certified to survive drops up to six feet and endure rain, moisture, vibrations, shock and extreme temperatures from -5.8°F to 122°F (operating temperature) and -60°F to 160°F (storage temperature). It is also MIL-STD-810G certified for Salt Fog. (NOTE: SALT FOG. How many items do you see rated to withstand SALT fog?)
Yeah… we see “rugged” tablets all the time but Getac hit a home run with this one. It might actually survive a full-on crappy mission to an unfriendly place… or me leaving it on the hood of my Jeep right before I take that trail I’ve been curious about. Check it out!
