More device updates for CAPI Software for mobile survey

Wednesday, May 6, 2009 by Sean Conry
I recently wrote about the Wild West of mobile devices - that was within the context of self-completed surveys and survey software on respondent devices. But what about mobility in terms of more traditional CAPI / MCAPI for a mobile device survey?

Netbooks and their equivalents are some of the only hardware projected for sales growth this year, and when I look at some of these entrants, I can see why. Check out the CTL 2go. Windows and a touch screen for $499? It even has a handle and is semi-rugged (tested for 50cm drop)! It's almost as if they had interview research in mind when they built this thing.





The popular Asus eee will also soon be available in a touchscreen..










Crazy keyboard computer

Some other cool devices like this super keyboard computer can be found at PC World's "10  Most Anticipated Ultraportables and Netbooks of 2009" (Thanks to Mike for the forward)
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Devices with promise for CAPI and MCAPI Wireless Surveys

Monday, April 13, 2009 by Sean Conry
I recently wrote a post about a client who asked me about Palm, Market share of mobile devices, and what device to choose for their PDA Survey Software. Hopefully that helped spur thoughts on the state of the market today, but what's in store for the devices researchers will choose for tomorrow's Mobile Research?

In September 2008, professor Randall Stross from San Jose State University did an interview with the CBC where he noted that devices are getting ever more capable.

"There's no question that Google sees the biggest opportunity for growth is mobile access to the internet. Phones are becoming ever more capable of performing the same work that we use our desktops for. There's a whole new category of phones now, beyond the smartphone, that is designed from the ground up to interact with web services"

There's no doubt in my mind that hardware is converging...
 
Regular laptops are on the decline, but take a look at the proliferation of Netbooks (or mini-PC's, as they are sometimes called). One client of ours just decided to go with the Dell, although some other clients are also using the Asus EEE with great success.
Dell netbook

Netbooks don't have a touch screen, and you have to be aware that you might be buying the linux version, but you can't beat the price and battery life.
 
The UMPC (or ultra mobile PC) never quite took off with widespread appeal among consumers, but they can make a great survey device. Samsung, the main player in this space, is coming out with the next iteration of their popular Q1 line. Our company used the first release in the Q1 line, and I have to say, it was pretty nice.
You can't get a durable touchscreen device running Windows for much less.

And of couse there is the highly anticipated Palm Pre... (read more about this in other posts on this blog).

I am personally excited to see the Touch Book by Always Innovating (even though you can't get it with Windows). I understand offering linux, but they came up with yet another operating system (Touchbook OS). Sigh.

What about Android, and LiMO (or Linux Mobile) the open-source mobile operating systems?

Choice is good for consumers, but at some point, the vast proliferation of operating systems and technology standards make it tougher for business users to decide what platform to standardize on.

The shining ray of light in the chaos of these mobile phone wars is the first hint of collaboration amongst the main competitors. It's a green initiative, but incredibly, at least 17 cell phone brands will be sharing the same universal charger by 2012. Of course Apple isn't going to cooperate, but they'll probably come up with their own way to solve the problem.

For researchers, it means you need to consider your mobile software and hardware in tandem. For more on this, Techneos has a great whitepaper I can recommend ;) - check out the last page for "10 tips"



 

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