Issue 24 Articles

Tetratab logoTETRATAB CASEPAD
with HexMount

The Future of the Mobile Data Terminal is Now a 4G Tablet

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The police have long since pioneered the concept of in-vehicle computing. The ability to both use your vehicle as a mobile office and as a way of consulting key identity data bases and number plate recognition systems have kept the police at the forefront of in-vehicle computing technology.

These systems have, until now, been the preserve of the more elite vehicles such as the road traffic policing cars. They are often complex fits and high cost, suitable for a high value vehicle but not so appropriate for the every day patrol car.

However, this has now all changed thanks to the CASEPAD. It is the next logical step in mobilising an entire fleet in an affordable way.

The CASEPAD is a full Windows 8.1 Pro tablet. It is a fanless and fully rugged PC but looks much like a consumer tablet. What is important is that its slim size and shape allows it to fit in areas where just the traditional mobile data terminal screen would fit – in effect the screen has now become the full MDT computer.

This banishes the need for heavy and power hungry PCs in the boot of the vehicle. There is no longer the need to run cables up and down the interior of the vehicle eliminating costly fits. The CASEPAD as a smartscreen in the front of the car is as straight forward as fitting a car radio.

The CASEPAD can be dash mounted using a specialist connection called the HexMount. This mount is discrete and strong and is tested to ensure that the device is correctly and safely held in the case of an accident. Having the device dockable allows not only the end user to take the device with them but also allows the IT department to swap devices in the car easily keeping the car on the road as much as possible.

For more common vehicles such as the Vauxhall Astra, there is a fully integrated fit where the HexMount and tablet become part of the vehicle dashboard with ergonomic placing of the vehicle switches, light bar console and TETRA radio head.

There are many advantages to this style of MDT and it is the users of the more traditional solutions that are the early adopters due to the simplicity of the CASEPAD fit. Leading ANPR providers propose the CASEPAD as the interface screen to their systems and there are kits developed specifically for BMWs, Volvos and Vauxhall Astras which are now ineveryday use.

With the planned implementation of 4G as the key communication bearer in the UK next year the CASEPAD is well placed to provide the users with the push to talk functions currently offered by the in car TETRA systems. More and more applications will become available enriching the user with information to best do his job.

In-vehicle screens are currently a debated subject – what information should be visible to users when the car is stationary or in use? The CASEPAD can detect when it is connected in the vehicle and if the vehicle is moving. Using specialist applications, the device can be made compliant with force policy and have the screen go blank or to only selected applications whilst the vehicle is in use. These applications can also allow the interface to be adapted to allow big button access when the CASEPAD is in use vehicle.

Tetratab logoFor more information visit:
http://tetratab.com

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