“How does the Capturx Pen Manager work?”

People often wonder what the Capturx Pen Manager is and how to use it. Capturx Pen Manager is the program the speaks between your digital pen and your computer. Capturx Pen Manager is easy to install, and requires just 512 MB of ram. After installing, writing on Capturx Enabled forms and docking your pen the Pen Manager will automatically open when the digital pen is connected to your PC. You can also access the Capturx Pen Manager by double-clicking the pen icon in your system tray.

The Capturx Pen Manager lets you:

• Route ink records directly from pen to email.
• Assigns passwords to the pen.
• View battery charge status of pen in use.
• View status of data on the pen.
• Update pen registration and personal information.
• Get updates about new versions of Capturx software.

Once your pen is docked you can do multiple things with the pen data, you can tell the pen manager to send the pen data in an email to a recipient, send the data to a Capturx server, or save the pen to a specified folder. By entering an email address, Capturx site address, or folder location into the “Destination” field and selecting Enable allows you to manage where your pen data is sent.

Learn more about our Capturx Mobile Forms Solutions here, email us at [email protected], or give us a call at 877-232-7903.

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Digital Pens vs. Tablets

Debating whether to choose tablets or digital pens as your new data collection device? Today’s blog will dive into the pros and cons of each.

The case for Digital Pens

Pros:

Digital pens, like those made from Anoto, offer the easiest transition into digital data collection for your field workers. The pen, which is about the size of a marker, scans the dot-matrix printed on your form and then instantly uploads the information when docked via USB-port. One digital pen can hold about 200 forms and when closing the cap when not in use, can last the whole day without recharging. If durability and reliability are a major factor in your decision making, the digital pen makes perfect sense. It is small enough to be placed in a pocket or worn around the neck, and is durable enough to be taken out in extreme weather conditions.

Cons:

There aren’t many downsides with the digital pen. That said, without proper care and organization, you can end up losing the pen or breaking it. Most digital pens are water resistant, not water proof. If you end up dropping your pen in water, it will fritz much like any other hardware device. The best solution for these problems is to attach the pen to a lanyard to secure it.

The case for tablets

Pros:

It has only been a few years since the first tablets were introduced, but already they are making huge strides as an enterprise ready solution. A tablet is a great, lightweight mobile device for your field service teams that provides real-time access to critical, time-sensitive data. Paired with Capturx Forms Service, you can fill out digitized forms on the tablet, and instantly review the data after submitting, reducing paper costs as increase the quality of information into your backend-system. 

Cons:

Whenever there is a dramatic shift in the way we manage our workflow, there’s always pushback. An older workforce that is used to using pen and paper might be resistant to using tablets in the field. This can be overcome by excellent training and support for your workforce. Another disadvantage is their durability. When working in harsh environments like oil fields, you must protect your tablets in hard casings or make sure your device is intrinsically safe. There are options for you to choose from that vary in price.

Whichever device you choose, the benefits far out-weigh the disadvantages of using new technology to collect data from the field. Both devices give you real time visibility from the field and minimize the risks and liabilities from missing documentation.

If you are interested in learning more about digital pen and tablet technology, or want to learn more about our Capturx solutions please email us at [email protected] or call 877-232-7903.

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Best Practices for Writing on Capturx Mobile Forms

In todays blog post we will give a few helpful hints for writing on Capturx-enabled forms with digital pens to ensure the most accurate collection of data. As discussed in our earlier blog, the digital pen is capturing the “dot matrix” or “watermark” on the page in relation to the ink strokes. To achieve most efficient recognition it is important to write as legible and clearly as possible in each textbox.

Writing Styles:

• Use printing and cursive writing and avoid block printing or all CAPS (capital) letters.
• Cursive handwriting or printing that is neat and legible works the best and write in the same orientation as the printed form.
• If your writing starts in the field and extends beyond its boundaries, Capturx will assign that ink to the intended field.

Numbers & Dates:

• For best number recognition, write numbers in order from left to right.
• Numbers with a decimal point should start with a “0” followed by a thick decimal point (e.g. 0.0625 or 0.25)
• Use month-day-year convention (e.g., 11-21-2013) *Do not use slashes in dates (11/13/2013) as they may be interpreted as 1’s.

Slashes & Punctuation:

• Exaggerate forward slashes to avoid their looking like the number “1”. Slashes should be sloped at 45 degree angle and as tall or taller than the adjacent letters or numbers.
• Exaggerate your punctuation marks so they are recognized more easily (i.e. use thick decimals, periods, points, and apostrophes).
• Dollar Signs should be written as “$” with a single vertical line. Dollar signs are not needed in cells formatted as “Currency,” the software will add them.

Quotes & Parallel Letters:

• Avoid crossing adjacent “t”s with a single horizontal stroke or running over into the “l”, such as in “Seattle”.
• Do not use double-quotes (“) or the word ditto to mean “same entry as above.”

Street & Internet Addresses:

• Include spaces between numbers and letters (2413 Pacific Avenue).
• Make big thick “dots” for email and Internet addresses. Since email may contain numbers or letters, exaggerate character in the address.

Margins and Wordlists:

• Use a 0.5 inch margin from the edge of the page when writing, to ensure that your ink is captured correctly.
• It is best to keep the pen stroke within the answer field or cell, and not overlap into another cell.
• A wordlist is a list of acceptable terms  - If you write abbreviations or partial terms, Capturx will not find a match and will return an empty field.

You can find all this information here. If you have any questions on best practices or want to learn more about our Capturx Solutions, email us at [email protected] or call 877-232-7903.

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Clean Gulf Conference – November 2013

Last week the Capturx team had the opportunity to share our technology at the Clean Gulf Conference in Tampa Florida. This conference was sponsored by some of the leaders in the Oil and Gas Industry including BP, ExxonMobil, and Chevron. The emphasis was on technology to help prevent future environmental disasters in the gulf; the majority of exhibitors had solutions to contain oil spills following spill disasters. It was fascinating to see all the different booths and the products they offer. There was everything from software solutions, environmental agencies to oil spill containment products. Download the free eBook about Top 3 Trends in Automating Data Capture.

The event was Wednesday and Thursday of last week, and was held in the Tampa Convention Center right on the Hillborough River in downtown Tampa. During these days we shared and discussed the problems companies are facing in environmental disaster situations. There were over 150 booths, and hundreds of visitors who filled the convention center.

The response of the show was very positive, guests and exhibitors were both very amazed by our technology and the realization that automated data collection is important for helping companies maintain assets to limit chances of environmental disasters. A few things guests were saying at the show were; “This will pay for itself” and “We have guys in the field that would love this.”

Being able to solve customers’ needs and demonstrate Capturx software for pens and iPads was a very rewarding experience for the Capturx team. We even got to catch up with current partners and clients like Rite in the Rain and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and learn how Capturx is helping them. Florida Fish and Wildlife uses our software in a variety of cases, one such example they shared with us is they have used Capturx for ArcGIS to map the location of dolphins they are tracking while flying overhead.

The show was a great success and we look forward to returning to next year's show in San Antonio. Check out the Clean Gulf website to learn more about the event and attending next years show. If you are interested in learning more about how Capturx helps emergency response groups get real-time visibility to response operations please email [email protected] or give us a call at 877-232-7903.

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Printing With Capturx

Over the last couple weeks we have discussed how digital pens and dot pattern work, today we'll conclude our 3-part series with the printing process. To review, the digital pen captures handwritten data based on its relation to dot pattern. Each piece of paper has a unique pattern that appears as a light shaded background.

The dot pattern is printed with high precision using black ink. We recommend a 4-color laser printer that supports postscript and has at least 256MB of memory and have tested a broad range from leaders such as HP, Okidata, Oce, Ricoh and Canon. Here's our sample list of compatible printers.

With the right printer Capturx turns ordinary paper into extensions of your computer desktop applications, enabling customers to print their own notebooks, forms, maps, and PDF files on plain paper and have single and multi-part forms pre-printed in high-volume print shops.

Want to learn more about the printing process or any of our Capturx solutions? Email us at [email protected]  or call 877-232-7903

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Additional Patent Protection for Capturx Natural User Interface Technology

Today we announced the expansion of our US patent protection for Capturx, our natural user interface technology platform. In 2013, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued six new Capturx patents for a total of fifteen giving Capturx the most compelling coverage in data capture and natural user interface solutions. The unique and patented Capturx experience speeds data capture and transmission without requiring expensive equipment, training, IT involvement, or changes to existing standard operating procedures.

Here's a note from our CEO, Ken Schneider from today's announcement: “Adapx believes investing in research leads to the development of superior solutions. We invest extensive resources in research every year, and our portfolio of 15 patents represents that investment – setting us apart."

1000+ Customers are Served by these 2 Capturx Patent Portfolios:
Military teams benefit from Multimodal capabilities by creating digital courses of action and integrating them into a range of mission command systems with simple speech and sketch. Enterprise and agency teams benefit from Mobile Forms solutions by immediately scanning handwritten data with digital pens and integrating digital versions into shared servers and systems.

View Capturx patents here and today's announcement here.
 

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3 Things You May Not Have Heard About the Shale Plays

Here at Capturx – we’re always keeping on top of the latest Oil & Gas news and latest trends since it is one of the largest markets that we support for our data capture solutions. This week we’re “digging” into the Shale Plays and uncovering 3 things you may not have heard or known about them.

The United States is going through an unprecedented upsurge in oil & gas exploration and production at is only expected to continue. This upsurge has been mainly in the Shale Gas Production Dakota and Rocky Mountain regions, and will serve the U.S. for many years to come.

1. Which regions are richest?
Rocky Mountain unconventional natural gas reserves are abundant albeit trapped in the shale deep beneath the earth. There are several such reserves that are getting increased focus like: The Washakie Basin, in Wyoming and Colorado; the Bakken Shale reserve in Montana & North Dakota, and the Raton Basin of Colorado and New Mexico.

2. How much output are we talking about?
It is expected that in one decade, these region will exceed Saudi Arabia’s production. An estimated several hundred trillion cubic feet of natural gas has the attention of many, as well as, the importance of limiting its environmental impact.

3. What about the environment? How are companies enhancing visibility in the field?
Oil & Gas companies have done a lot to reduce the environmental impact of fracking, but there is still much they can do to prevent major ecological disasters in these regions. It’s important that these companies work with the local government, industry and stakeholders to develop and use technology that further enhance their visibility to operations in the field.

Bigger Oil & Gas companies are adopting new technologies to increase their visibility into operations in the oil fields. Companies like Chevron, Anadarko and TransCanada are using a variety of different tools like digital pens, tablets and other mobile devices to limit their impact on the environment by gathering time-crucial data faster and saving time and energy inspecting pipelines and wells in the process (Click here to download “Automating Oil & Gas Field Capture” eBook).

Feel free to email us at [email protected] for any questions you might have on the Shale Plays, their environmental impact, and how mobile data collection technologies can help abide with environmental standards as well as speeding up the process of sharing asset data and extraction outputs.

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How does dot pattern work?

Last week we discussed the digital pen, this week we’ll discuss how the digital pen records handwritten data via the dot pattern.

Capturx works with digital pen and paper technology created by Anoto to capture handwritten data and integrate it into a range of systems.

Many questions we answer relates to the dot pattern – here’s a few we’ll address today:

1. What is that grey stuff on the page? The grey stuff is the dot pattern which is almost invisible to the naked eye. It co nsists of many small black dots that the pen scans and records as you write on the page.

2. Is special paper required? No, the dot pattern can be printed with any ordinary copy paper that can be found at Staples, Office Depot, etc.

3. How does the digital pen read the dot pattern? The digital pen scans the handwriting as it writes – tracking its location in relation to the dot pattern on each unique sheet.

4. How does the pen distinguish between different pages? Think of each worksheet as a unique digital finger print. You can have hundreds of copies of the same form, but the dots will be unique for each page you print.

5. Do I have to tell the data which worksheet it belongs to in my backend system? No, when the pen is docked the data will automatically be uploaded into the correct digital print version in your backend system.

In the coming weeks we’ll discuss the Capturx printing process. If you’d like to learn more in the meantime, please check out the link or email us at [email protected].

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The Digital Pen...

Details around digital pen specs have to be the most common questions and requests we get during our initial interactions with Capturx customers. We thought we'd take this week to introduce the digital pen and walk through how it works.

Capturx works with a digital pen, made by Anoto. The digital pen records data as it's written and then works with Capturx to upload the data into any back-end system. Teams can send and share data wirelessly by syncing the pen with a BlackBerry or simply connecting the pen via docking station to a computer.

The pen is very rugged, and has been used in inclement weather from the harsh freezing climates of the Canadian Oil Sands to Afghanistan desert. It can be used in rain, but is not submersible and can withstand a 4 foot drop when capped. Its Lithium-ion battery can handle 2 hours of writing non-stop or 10 to 12 hours of sporadic writing.  However, teams can write sporadically over a week's time if they cap the pen in between use. The pen can hold up to 50 pages of densely written A4/Letter size sheets and up to hundreds of pages of forms. In the upcoming weeks we'll walk through other components of Capturx like how the digital pattern and printing work, as well as, the security of the digital pen.

In the meantime if you'd like to learn more check out the links above and the digital pen data sheet here.

Still have questions? Reach out to [email protected] or call 877-232-7903.
 

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Capturx Partners with Simego for More Data Integration Options

Here at Adapx we work with 30+ partners to offer our customers easy Microsoft SharePoint integration into a range of systems like: SAP, IBM Maximo, EMC Documentum, Microsoft Dynamics, OSIsoft PI System, Oracle, Kronos, SalesForce, GeoPDF, and many more.

Thanks to our new partner Simego, a UK-based independent software and custom-development services company, Capturx customers can now easily get their Microsoft SharePoint data exported and integrated into SQL table(s) via OData.

As a quick refresher, Capturx for SharePoint enables teams to easily collect data with tablets or digital pens, and then send the data in real-time to their SharePoint Server. With Capturx, handwritten data is automatically captured, sent to SharePoint, converted to text, available for review, queued in automated workflow processes, and archived. From there, as mentioned above, integration into a range of systems is possible.

With Simego's Data Synchronisation Studio, Capturx customers can export data stored within their SharePoint Server and synchronize it with a SQL Server Database Table for reporting or archive purposes. The process is quick, easy, does not require special coding, and the Data Sync Project can be saved and scheduled to run at a specific time schedule either with Windows Task Scheduler, SQL Agent, or Simego Automation Server (Ouvvi). For a step-by-step guide to see how you can go about configuring the integration – jump over to the Simego website.

If you'd like to learn more please contact a Capturx Solutions Engineer by emailing [email protected].

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