Often innovation can be achieved by taking and improving an existing product and by introducing a new technology – and that’s exactly what North East based Tracerco asked Sapere to help with. With their PED (handheld radiation monitoring devices) safety equipment they spotted a new possible set of markets which by integrating their devices with Android smartphones and utilising bluetooth, to create an Android app, they felt would allow new products to be created.
Problem
Tracerco needed a way to view and monitor real-time data readings from their PED’s in any environment. They also needed to do so simply with minimum setup required by the end user.
Traditionally this information could only be viewed after the event using a Windows CE application. However with the event of ‘ruggedised’ Android devices becoming available it became possible to create an application using Java to allow any Android device to act as a ‘hub’ for the PED’s.
Solution
Sapere created an Android app to monitor Tracerco’s PED’s. The PED’s are used to monitor an individual’s exposure to radiation, the Android app connects via Bluetooth to up to 7 PED’s which are then in turn given to individuals to carry, the app could then monitor each PED and track each individual’s radiation exposure in real-time.
The app itself is a perfect example of using Android devices in high-risk environments to ensure peoples safety and to capture information securely and in real-time.
Whilst capturing valuable data about radiation exposure the app also logs GPS information in real-time and uses audio and visual alerts to notify operators of changes in environmental conditions.
We’re often asked if there is a position for Android apps inside of industry and the Tracerco app project proves that there is a place and it’s a truly valuable one too.