Tablets

I'm once again reaching out to ask what tablets people have used and had
success or failure with. I am guessing things might have changed some since
I asked this question last.

GSM capability is a must for us, as well as reliable GPS.

All inputs are appreciated.

(Also I thought I saw something about a new fancy interface for larger
tablet screens. Where is that at?)

The fancy tablet interface was work done by Instedd.

has some screen shoots.

We would like to move it into trunk, but it's
going to take a big effort (both code and coordination) and I'd love
some help on that. Any volunteers?

··· On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 07:32, Thomas Smyth wrote: > I'm once again reaching out to ask what tablets people have used and had > success or failure with. I am guessing things might have changed some since > I asked this question last. > > GSM capability is a must for us, as well as reliable GPS. > > All inputs are appreciated. > > (Also I thought I saw something about a new fancy interface for larger > tablet screens. Where is that at?) > > -- > Post: opendatakit@googlegroups.com > Unsubscribe: opendatakit+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com > Options: http://groups.google.com/group/opendatakit?hl=en

I did some intensive searching today and it seems that most tablets
with mobile data capability are rather pricey, starting at around $500
(if I'm wrong, please set me straight).

I found two exceptions that seem to be of passable quality (there are
other cheapies that just seem too clunky):

Anyone ever touched one of these? I think we'll order one of each to
check them out before committing to a large order.

··· On 5 March 2012 22:44, Mallikarjun Javali wrote: > Hi, > I have used ODK on Samsung Galaxy Tab (Android 2.2) and ViewSonic (Android > 2.2) > it works well with GPRS. the GPS sensor is reasonably good. > > Mallik > > On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 9:02 PM, Thomas Smyth wrote: >> >> I'm once again reaching out to ask what tablets people have used and had >> success or failure with. I am guessing things might have changed some since >> I asked this question last. >> >> GSM capability is a must for us, as well as reliable GPS. >> >> All inputs are appreciated. >> >> (Also I thought I saw something about a new fancy interface for larger >> tablet screens. Where is that at?) >> >> -- >> Post: opendatakit@googlegroups.com >> Unsubscribe: opendatakit+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com >> Options: http://groups.google.com/group/opendatakit?hl=en > >

Thanks Thomas,

Please do keep the list posted on how these devices work out. Your research
is in line with what I've found as well.

Cory

··· On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 12:48 PM, Thomas Smyth wrote:

I did some intensive searching today and it seems that most tablets
with mobile data capability are rather pricey, starting at around $500
(if I'm wrong, please set me straight).

I found two exceptions that seem to be of passable quality (there are
other cheapies that just seem too clunky):

Anyone ever touched one of these? I think we'll order one of each to
check them out before committing to a large order.

On 5 March 2012 22:44, Mallikarjun Javali mallikarjun.javali@gmail.com wrote:

Hi,
I have used ODK on Samsung Galaxy Tab (Android 2.2) and ViewSonic
(Android
2.2)
it works well with GPRS. the GPS sensor is reasonably good.

Mallik

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 9:02 PM, Thomas Smyth thomas.smyth@gatech.edu wrote:

I'm once again reaching out to ask what tablets people have used and had
success or failure with. I am guessing things might have changed some
since
I asked this question last.

GSM capability is a must for us, as well as reliable GPS.

All inputs are appreciated.

(Also I thought I saw something about a new fancy interface for larger
tablet screens. Where is that at?)

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Post: opendatakit@googlegroups.com
Unsubscribe: opendatakit+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
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Hi all

I am tackling the same task of identifying a suitable/optimal tablet. In
Switzerland devices with GPS seem to start around 300CHF, roughly $350. I
have purchased an Acer, Toshiba and Samsung Galaxy Tabs, and hope to report
back some systematic feedback eventually.

For now I really struggle to get the GPS kick in within a reasonable time -
actually I only succeeded to get it going a few times. The GPS is activated
on the devices, but I am not sure whether I am missing something. Usually
it does not activitate within several minutes - clearly not fast enough for
use within a questionnaire.

  • What are GPS activation times to be expected with tablets/any devices for
    ODK?
  • What are the prospects for getting this to run in the background, while
    answering other questions of the form?
  • Are there any elegant solutions for using a map where one can pinpoint
    ones location manually? Given that many apps now provide this, users tend
    to expect this of ODK as well.

(I will also post these under a separate query on the list)

Thanks,
Thomas

··· On Tuesday, March 6, 2012 7:09:17 PM UTC+1, Cory Zue wrote: > > Thanks Thomas, > > Please do keep the list posted on how these devices work out. Your > research is in line with what I've found as well. > > Cory > > On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 12:48 PM, Thomas Smyth wrote: > >> I did some intensive searching today and it seems that most tablets >> with mobile data capability are rather pricey, starting at around $500 >> (if I'm wrong, please set me straight). >> >> I found two exceptions that seem to be of passable quality (there are >> other cheapies that just seem too clunky): >> >> - Huawei Mediapad >> ( >> http://www.amazon.com/Huawei-S7-312U-7-Inch-GB-MediaPad/dp/tech-data/B00739TMNM/ref=de_a_smtd >> ) >> - Dell Streak 7 >> ( >> http://www.amazon.com/Dell-STREAK7-16GRAY-Unlocked-Android-Honeycomb/dp/B0062W95R4 >> ) >> >> Anyone ever touched one of these? I think we'll order one of each to >> check them out before committing to a large order. >> >> >> >> On 5 March 2012 22:44, Mallikarjun Javali wrote: >> > Hi, >> > I have used ODK on Samsung Galaxy Tab (Android 2.2) and ViewSonic >> (Android >> > 2.2) >> > it works well with GPRS. the GPS sensor is reasonably good. >> > >> > Mallik >> > >> > On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 9:02 PM, Thomas Smyth wrote: >> >> >> >> I'm once again reaching out to ask what tablets people have used and >> had >> >> success or failure with. I am guessing things might have changed some >> since >> >> I asked this question last. >> >> >> >> GSM capability is a must for us, as well as reliable GPS. >> >> >> >> All inputs are appreciated. >> >> >> >> (Also I thought I saw something about a new fancy interface for larger >> >> tablet screens. Where is that at?) >> >> >> >> -- >> >> Post: opendatakit@googlegroups.com >> >> Unsubscribe: opendatakit+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com >> >> Options: http://groups.google.com/group/opendatakit?hl=en >> > >> > >> >> -- >> Post: opendatakit@googlegroups.com >> Unsubscribe: opendatakit+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com >> Options: http://groups.google.com/group/opendatakit?hl=en >> > >

Thomas,

Usually GPS takes a while to locate satellites the first time, but then it
is much faster for subsequent readings (because it maintains a fix for the
current location). We have surveyors fill out a very short "login form"
when they arrive at a given village; in this form, we capture their GPS
location, surveyor ID, village ID, and other basic information. Since that
is their first GPS reading, it takes a few minutes -- but it's generally
okay since they have not yet begun any actual interviews. Then, they
proceed with interviews in the village and GPS readings are quite quick.

We also specify in our protocol that they should step into the clear, away
from any buildings, in order to capture a GPS reading. That makes it easier
to get a satellite fix.

Best,

Chris

··· On Monday, July 23, 2012, Thomas Götschi wrote:

Hi all

I am tackling the same task of identifying a suitable/optimal tablet. In
Switzerland devices with GPS seem to start around 300CHF, roughly $350. I
have purchased an Acer, Toshiba and Samsung Galaxy Tabs, and hope to report
back some systematic feedback eventually.

For now I really struggle to get the GPS kick in within a reasonable time

  • actually I only succeeded to get it going a few times. The GPS is
    activated on the devices, but I am not sure whether I am missing something.
    Usually it does not activitate within several minutes - clearly not fast
    enough for use within a questionnaire.

  • What are GPS activation times to be expected with tablets/any devices
    for ODK?

  • What are the prospects for getting this to run in the background, while
    answering other questions of the form?

  • Are there any elegant solutions for using a map where one can pinpoint
    ones location manually? Given that many apps now provide this, users tend
    to expect this of ODK as well.

(I will also post these under a separate query on the list)

Thanks,
Thomas

On Tuesday, March 6, 2012 7:09:17 PM UTC+1, Cory Zue wrote:

Thanks Thomas,

Please do keep the list posted on how these devices work out. Your
research is in line with what I've found as well.

Cory

On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 12:48 PM, Thomas Smyth <thomas.smyth@gatech.edu<javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', 'thomas.smyth@gatech.edu');> wrote:

I did some intensive searching today and it seems that most tablets
with mobile data capability are rather pricey, starting at around $500
(if I'm wrong, please set me straight).

I found two exceptions that seem to be of passable quality (there are
other cheapies that just seem too clunky):

Anyone ever touched one of these? I think we'll order one of each to
check them out before committing to a large order.

On 5 March 2012 22:44, Mallikarjun Javali <mallikarjun.javali@gmail.com<javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', 'mallikarjun.javali@gmail.com');>> wrote:

Hi,
I have used ODK on Samsung Galaxy Tab (Android 2.2) and ViewSonic
(Android
2.2)
it works well with GPRS. the GPS sensor is reasonably good.

Mallik

On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 9:02 PM, Thomas Smyth <thomas.smyth@gatech.edu<javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', 'thomas.smyth@gatech.edu');> wrote:

I'm once again reaching out to ask what tablets people have used and
had
success or failure with. I am guessing things might have changed some
since
I asked this question last.

GSM capability is a must for us, as well as reliable GPS.

All inputs are appreciated.

(Also I thought I saw something about a new fancy interface for larger
tablet screens. Where is that at?)

--
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Thomas,

You'd have to write custom code to essentially pre-load the GPS
location. The catch here is that you have to be smart about it, so you
don't kill the battery. Might be some external Android app (or Google
Latitude) that does something similar.

As far as picking a location from a map, you can do this today if you
can guarantee network access because historically, the Google Maps
Android API hasn't supported offline maps. Their Maps app does have
offline mode, but you can't access it programmatically due to
licensing issues. This might have changed in Android 4.1, but I doubt
it. Might be able to get by with doing something with Locus Free which
has pretty good offline support, but haven't looked at Locus hard
enough to know for sure.

Anyway, hope that helps.

Yaw

··· On Mon, Jul 23, 2012 at 2:22 AM, Christopher Robert wrote: > Thomas, > > Usually GPS takes a while to locate satellites the first time, but then it > is much faster for subsequent readings (because it maintains a fix for the > current location). We have surveyors fill out a very short "login form" when > they arrive at a given village; in this form, we capture their GPS location, > surveyor ID, village ID, and other basic information. Since that is their > first GPS reading, it takes a few minutes -- but it's generally okay since > they have not yet begun any actual interviews. Then, they proceed with > interviews in the village and GPS readings are quite quick. > > We also specify in our protocol that they should step into the clear, away > from any buildings, in order to capture a GPS reading. That makes it easier > to get a satellite fix. > > Best, > > Chris > > > On Monday, July 23, 2012, Thomas Götschi wrote: >> >> Hi all >> >> I am tackling the same task of identifying a suitable/optimal tablet. In >> Switzerland devices with GPS seem to start around 300CHF, roughly $350. I >> have purchased an Acer, Toshiba and Samsung Galaxy Tabs, and hope to report >> back some systematic feedback eventually. >> >> For now I really struggle to get the GPS kick in within a reasonable time >> - actually I only succeeded to get it going a few times. The GPS is >> activated on the devices, but I am not sure whether I am missing something. >> Usually it does not activitate within several minutes - clearly not fast >> enough for use within a questionnaire. >> >> - What are GPS activation times to be expected with tablets/any devices >> for ODK? >> - What are the prospects for getting this to run in the background, while >> answering other questions of the form? >> - Are there any elegant solutions for using a map where one can pinpoint >> ones location manually? Given that many apps now provide this, users tend to >> expect this of ODK as well. >> >> (I will also post these under a separate query on the list) >> >> Thanks, >> Thomas >> >> On Tuesday, March 6, 2012 7:09:17 PM UTC+1, Cory Zue wrote: >>> >>> Thanks Thomas, >>> >>> Please do keep the list posted on how these devices work out. Your >>> research is in line with what I've found as well. >>> >>> Cory >>> >>> On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 12:48 PM, Thomas Smyth wrote: >>>> >>>> I did some intensive searching today and it seems that most tablets >>>> with mobile data capability are rather pricey, starting at around $500 >>>> (if I'm wrong, please set me straight). >>>> >>>> I found two exceptions that seem to be of passable quality (there are >>>> other cheapies that just seem too clunky): >>>> >>>> - Huawei Mediapad >>>> >>>> (http://www.amazon.com/Huawei-S7-312U-7-Inch-GB-MediaPad/dp/tech-data/B00739TMNM/ref=de_a_smtd) >>>> - Dell Streak 7 >>>> >>>> (http://www.amazon.com/Dell-STREAK7-16GRAY-Unlocked-Android-Honeycomb/dp/B0062W95R4) >>>> >>>> Anyone ever touched one of these? I think we'll order one of each to >>>> check them out before committing to a large order. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On 5 March 2012 22:44, Mallikarjun Javali wrote: >>>> > Hi, >>>> > I have used ODK on Samsung Galaxy Tab (Android 2.2) and ViewSonic >>>> > (Android >>>> > 2.2) >>>> > it works well with GPRS. the GPS sensor is reasonably good. >>>> > >>>> > Mallik >>>> > >>>> > On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 9:02 PM, Thomas Smyth wrote: >>>> >> >>>> >> I'm once again reaching out to ask what tablets people have used and >>>> >> had >>>> >> success or failure with. I am guessing things might have changed some >>>> >> since >>>> >> I asked this question last. >>>> >> >>>> >> GSM capability is a must for us, as well as reliable GPS. >>>> >> >>>> >> All inputs are appreciated. >>>> >> >>>> >> (Also I thought I saw something about a new fancy interface for >>>> >> larger >>>> >> tablet screens. Where is that at?) >>>> >> >>>> >> -- >>>> >> Post: opendatakit@googlegroups.com >>>> >> Unsubscribe: opendatakit+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com >>>> >> Options: http://groups.google.com/group/opendatakit?hl=en >>>> > >>>> > >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Post: opendatakit@googlegroups.com >>>> Unsubscribe: opendatakit+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com >>>> Options: http://groups.google.com/group/opendatakit?hl=en >>> >>> >> -- >> Post: opendatakit@googlegroups.com >> Unsubscribe: opendatakit+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com >> Options: http://groups.google.com/group/opendatakit?hl=en > > -- > Post: opendatakit@googlegroups.com > Unsubscribe: opendatakit+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com > Options: http://groups.google.com/group/opendatakit?hl=en