technology
reseller.co.uk
RUGGEDISATION
35
Rugged means business
continuity in any environment
Simon Barnard, Exertis, computing general manager, highlights the qualities that
make rugged devices stand out from the crowd. Overleaf, we pick some of the best
new rugged devices on the market.
increasingly specify rugged devices.
In this context, it is important to
distinguish between the cost of replacing
a device and the cost of failure. While
rugged devices are more expensive than
standard devices to replace, the total cost
of ownership of a rugged device can be
less when you factor in the cost of lost
productivity and communication caused by
device failure.
Rugged devices have a number of
distinguishing features. They are usually
designed to have a longer life cycle,
probably double that of the average non-
rugged device; they are expected have
lower failure rates than normal devices;
and they are designed to perform at both
ends of the temperature scale, from zero
to well over 100 degrees (most non-rugged
devices are unreliable at temperatures
below 32 degrees and in excessive heat
will often fail altogether).
They are also expected to operate in
harsh environments and have appropriate
functionality, such as better than average
visibility. Ruggedised devices feature
sunlight filtration, glare reduction, anti-
reflective coatings and brightness ratings
up to 6000 nits compared to around 340
nits on standard devices. Equally, they will
need to perform in low light conditions
where backlit keyboards are an asset.
Rugged devices are expected to be
waterproof (IP68-certified), not just water
resistant, and to meet military standard
specifications (MIL-STD 810G certified)
for protection against shock and vibration,
heavy dust, high altitudes and humidity.
Inside, you’ll likely find a solid state drive,
instead of a mechanical variant.
Security features are also important, as
the user is likely to be out in the field and
require access to the corporate network
or the cloud and a secure means of
communicating and accessing data.
Rugged options
Market analysts suggest there is a shift
in form factor from notebooks to rugged
smartphones and tablets due to their
size and greater mobility. With increased
drive storage, memory capacity and faster
processing speeds, some smartphones
meet the requirements of sectors such
as delivery and courier companies where
screen size isn’t as critical and semi-
ruggedness is satisfactory. However,
notebooks and tablets continue to
satisfy the needs of industries and public
sector organisations with more corporate
requirements.
This September, Exertis is running three
roadshows in conjunction with Dell EMC,
where resellers can find out more about the
opportunities for sales of rugged devices,
including the Dell Rugged Latitude range.
These are taking place at the Ricoh Arena,
Coventry on Tuesday, September 19; at the
Madejski Stadium, Reading on Tuesday,
September 26; and at the Macron Stadium,
Bolton on Thursday, September 28.
In addition to Dell’s products, Exertis
offers a wide range of rugged devices to
suit diverse environments and industries,
including models from Acer and Asus and
the Linx tablet brand.
To find out more, visit
.
The use of technology isn’t confined to
the office or home. Indeed, we expect to
be able to use a mobile device wherever
and whenever it is advantageous to do
so, and that includes outdoors and in
extreme weather. Hence, the increased
interest in ruggedised devices.
Yes, you can put a tablet or smartphone
into a ruggedised case, but that’s not
going to suffice in extreme conditions or
when working in a manufacturing plant or
on a construction site. Nor is it likely to
meet the needs of users in the military,
law enforcement and many other vertical
markets where access to information is
mission critical and where rough and ready
are part of the job description.
Ruggedised devices need to be
durable, secure and capable of running
applications out in the field, but that
doesn’t mean they are immune to
broader technology trends, and today
there is a clear requirement for smaller,
lighter, less expensive versions to
replace cumbersome, heavier and costly
predecessors.
So what defines rugged?
Whilst there are no standardised terms,
people commonly refer to three levels of
ruggedness: semi-rugged, fully rugged and
ultra-rugged.
A semi-rugged device is likely to have
the same components as a non-rugged
model but with the added benefit of a
spill-resistant keyboard and a thicker case;
fully rugged devices have been certified
to meet certain specifications relating to
robustness, temperature, water and dust;
and ultra-rugged ones are expected to
be virtually indestructible and capable of
withstanding the most extreme conditions.
The level required will be dependent
on the application in question. In the
office or home, failure of a device is
less problematic than it would be in a
critical environment. Sectors such as
manufacturing, oil and gas, healthcare and
the military cannot afford to compromise
operations, productivity and reliability by
using consumer-grade technology, so they
Rugged devices
are expected to
be waterproof,
not just water
resistant, and
to meet military
standard
specifications
for protection
against shock
and vibration,
heavy dust, high
altitudes and
humidity
Whilst there are no standardised terms,
people commonly refer to three levels of
ruggedness: semi-rugged, fully rugged and
ultra-rugged.
Simon Barnard
