February 28, 2006
This edition of FlicWatch Developer Newsletter presents you with:
http://www.cebit.de
http://www.ctiawireless.com/
http://www.pubcon.com/
http://www.wildfoods.co.nz/wildfoods/foodfest/ Flic Fact-FDA Bar Code Rules, HIMSS06 Recap, and Hospital Adoption
Of special interest for Developers focused on Healthcare applications targeting Hospitals. The FDA Unit of Use Mandate requires that over the counter and prescription medications arriving in hospitals have the National Drug Code in machine readable, 1D linear bar code format at the unit dose level by April 26th, 2006. Simply put, the supply chain for drugs must soon provide bar coded prescription and over the counter medications at the unit dose level to hospitals. This further enables hospitals to implement patient safety programs where the patient is positively matched to over the counter and prescription medications. This mandate affects drug manufacturers, repackers, relabelers, and private label distributors of drug products. Hospitals are enabled by this mandate but are not compelled to act since the FDA has no direct jurisdiction. On a related note, JCAHO, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare, has proposed a related set of medication-use standards which does directly affect hospitals. In spite of this recommendation, hospital adoption remains low. One cited barrier to adoption of bar coded patient safety initiatives is lack of available funds, according to a survey conducted among 205 respondents at the recent HIMSS06 show in San Diego. Additional hospitals will adopt as more government and hospital funding becomes available. It is likely that “Jayco” will move its recommendation to a requirement once 15% of hospitals have adopted bar coding at the point of care. From Network World “In an HIMSS survey released at the show, as many as half of the 205 respondents cited the lack of financial support as a barrier to deploying IT projects and systems. The top priorities are reducing medical errors and promoting patient safety, and implementing an EHR [Electronic Health Record] system.” Read the full article at Network World Learn more at: Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations “Jayco”
Flic Product Spotlight- PC, PPC SDK and Wedge Software Product Preview Refresh Wanted! Beta Testers – SDK and Wedge Software for PC, PPC Last month, we provided a preview of our upcoming SDK and Scanner Wedge software for both the PC and Pocket PC. As release fast approaches, we are looking for eager beta testers to provide feedback on our new software. What’s in it for me, you ask? Upon completion of your beta testing and feedback to us, you will receive a care package from Microvision. We’re not going to ruin the surprise of what it contains, but I’ll give you a hint regarding one item: it starts with “t” and ends with “ravel mug.” Interested in beta testing any of the following?
If so, send us an email with your contact information, your address (we’re not as clairvoyant as Santa Clause), and which of the four you’d like to beta test. Once we’ve received your email, we will contact you with more details. I would like to participate in the Beta Program! Back to Top By Tony Cataldo
Question: What is a menu card and can I get one at a local restaurant? Part I: Using Menu Cards We have been asked why the Flic Scanner does not include a display, keypad, or other function buttons. Some applications have a need for entering an item followed by quantity or other information. Well, we designed the Flic Scanner to be simple and affordable. By adding a display or keypad, we would then have to include some way to program it. This would require an operating system, a file system to store the data, communications routines, etc. The scanner is then not so “simple and affordable”. So, why include this strange introduction? You must read on to find out. I Still Need More Information! Well, the above explanation still does not solve the original problem, namely, I (the user) need to capture more usable information using my Flic Scanner. Some reasons for wanting to capture additional information include:
Believe it or not, you can use the Flic Scanner to easily handle the above situations using a “menu card.” A menu card does not include entrees and prices (unless used in a restaurant application), but it does contain special bar codes used by your application. The special bar codes printed on the menu card allow you to capture additional information using your Simple and Affordable Flic Scanner. For example, you could solve the data collection problems by:
Keep in mind that the Simple and Affordable Flic Scanner is merely capturing data. Your host application interprets the raw data and takes the appropriate actions. That is, if you scanned quantity bar codes then the host must assemble the separate quantity digits into a single number. You can use Microvision’s SDK to provide the basic interface to the Flic Scanner and then add application functionality to parse and format the raw scanned data. Other Ideas The ideas above allow you to solve some of the common and generic data collection needs. Your menu card will vary depending on your needs. You could create function bar codes for starting and ending a job, checking in or out (an item or people for time-keeping applications). Menu cards allow you to create an entirely new dimension to your data collection activities. Look for Part II in our next newsletter. Part II: How do I create a Menu Card? You Ask, We Answer – Operating Modes
Back to TopTake advantage of this Special Coupon to Evaluate the Flic Scanner for your Application. Integrate the Flic Scanner into your application. Request the free SDK Check out the Compatibility Matrix. Report device compatibility issues or successes. Flic Support. Need Help? What else would you like to see in this newsletter or in the Developer Section of the website?
Partner with Microvision WirlessE provides you access to the Latin American Market.
WirelessE provides its customers with the best wireless service and service plan selection, from carriers like T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Cingular, and Sprint/Nextel in North America. In Latin America, WirelessE works with many carriers including Telcel, Telefonic Moviles, and CTI Movil. The company’s specialty resides in its capability to represent all of the leading wireless carries in a centralized location and enable businesses from small office/home office to Enterprise level customers with quantifiable, practical and secure wireless business solutions. Should Microvision’s developer community need to reach the Latin American market, WirelessE can provide the expertise and localized support. Learn more about WirelessE products and services. The developer community can effectively be divided into two groups – commercial and corporate. Commercial developers write software for resale, whereas corporate developers are employed by companies that develop applications for internal company use. These latter applications are not likely resold. Whichever developer type you are, Microvision can help. For commercial developers, we can help amplify your solution to the marketplace by placing you in our web based Flic Scanner Solutions Guide. The Flic Scanner web site receives significant web traffic from both technical and business users; this traffic can in turn be directed to your application that supports the Flic Scanner. If you are a commercial developer, take this opportunity to amplify your application.
Corporate developers face the age old make-buy decision. The Flic Scanner Solutions Guide exposes you to existing solutions that already support the Simple and Affordable Flic Scanner. Often, corporate developers find Microvision partner solutions provide the flexibility necessary to address their requirements even when customization and integration to other business systems is required. The Solutions Guide allows you to sort Flic Scanner solutions by Industry, Applications, Operating System, Software Categories, and Solutions Profile. Visit the Solutions Guide now to locate an application that fits your needs. |
WirelessE is a San Diego, California based multi-carrier agent representing
the best value in wireless service rate plans, mobile devices and
solutions that its carrier, equipment and solutions partners have
to offer. WirelessE offers its products and services in the North
America and Latin American markets. The company distributes mobile
devices from Audiovox, BlackBerry, Palm, iMate, Qtek and Sendo, wireless
PC cards, wireless modems, wireless GPS solutions, mobile POS, sales
force/CRM solutions, the wireless EvoScan Bar Code Scanner (a private
labeled Flic Scanner), and multiple other wireless accessories. The
breadth of product solutions is complemented by training services
for businesses seeking support in a wireless system deployment. 
Click