April/May 2008

 

Our impression

The DT-X7 series handheld terminal is the first Casio product to be developed using what the company calls Human-Centered Design (HCD) methodology. Essentially this tries to evaluate concepts such as 'usability' and 'fatigue prevention' objectively as part of the design process.

Casio says its research showed that usability was as important for users as functionality. By contrast, previous designs of industrial handheld terminal have focused on aspects that can be numerically analysed - dimensions, cost and so on. Such factors may be valid in their own way, but don't always tackle usability because this is so much more subtle an issue.

Four key criteria have influenced the design of the DT-X7 - low weight, easiness to hold, easy scanning, and easy key operation - and the result is a scanning device that looks dramatically different: something like a large multi-functional mobile phone, with the good looks to match.

 

In fact, the unit does actually share a number of features with mobile phones, including the positioning and colour-coding of the keys and the clear resin finish around the screen. Casio discovered that users tend to hold scanners in two distinct ways, depending on the task in hand; so the design takes account of this with three scan trigger keys at various positions.

The top of the terminal is angled downwards, matching the direction of the scanning beam. This arrangement is said to result in fewer eye movements for the user, and means the user holds the device in the hand in a more natural fashion.

There is a quite large raised contour on the back. Although functionally it forms part of the battery cover, the contour is not there to create room for the battery, but to make the device easier to hold and balance the centre of gravity. There are shallow grooves for the user's fingers.

The centre key helps natural finger movement and the most frequently-used keys are aligned within easy reach of fingers. This reduces the frequency with which the user has to re-grip the terminal, while minimising hand and finger strain.

The 2.4-in QVGA transflective colour LCD has high contrast, which makes it easier to read. The operating guide displayed matches the colour of the F1 to F4 function keys on the keyboard. One useful thing about the DT-X7 is that the screen graphics can match the colour-coded function keys, making it easy to navigate round applications and to turn them on and off.

Because slimness was a usability feature, Casio has had to use slimmer and more compact components than in its other models. The chip resistor, for example, measures just 0.6mm by 0.3mm, and components snap together rather than being screwed. The internal structure floats, so there is less risk of damage to the circuit boards.

Instead of the capacitor which Casio usually fits to its terminals to act as a backup power source in case the battery comes loose (too large and heavy for the DT-X7), there is a protrusion in the battery compartment to prevent the battery losing contact if it is dropped.

You'd expect that such a slim device would sacrifice some ruggedness, and this is true of the DT-X7, which has a drop rating of 1.1 metres, rather than the more conventional 2-metre drop rating. But the company has its eye on the front-of-store retail sector as well as warehousing operations for the DT-X7, where ruggedness is less of an issue.

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The DT-X7 is certainly easy to use, with three scanning buttons. When you get a good scan, the device vibrates to confirm. This is useful if you have a lot of barcodes close together and want to confirm you have scanned the correct one. There is also a mouse emulator, using the number keys.

Our DT-X7 came pre-loaded with a Casio training application that explains how to use the device - very useful, and it can be turned off once employees are proficient.

There is a remote display utility, which is useful for configuring a device like the DT-X7, which has no touch-screen capability, on a wireless network. You simply select 'WLAN Power' in the control panel to turn on power to the radio, and then 'WLAN Settings' to set up the network parameters; then you use the PC keyboard to type in WEP encryption code and so on.

Our verdict

Despite its slimness, the DT-X7 has sufficient ruggedness for a host of scanning operations. There's no denying that it is very user-friendly and one of the most intuitive designs we have come across.

Specification

Casio DT-X7

Dimensions 52.5mm (W) x 166mm(D) x 30.5mm (H)

Weight 145 g

Display Transflective TFT colour LCD; LED backlight

Keyboard Left, right and centre trigger keys; cursor keys; numeric and function keys. Microphone and speaker

Ruggedness Drop from 1.1 metres height; IP54

Operating system Microsoft Windows CE 5.0

Microprocessor Marvell PXA270 416MHz application processor

Memory 64MB RAM; F-ROM 64MB

Communications WLAN 802.11b/g standard; IrDA 1.3; Bluetooth 2.0

Interfaces USB 1.1, Ethernet and USB.

Power Lithium-ion rechargeable 1100mAh battery standard; 1880mAH optional; 15 to 36 hour life

Data input options Multiple barcode symbols. Scanning capability.

Scanner Laser scanner with 200 scans per second; 650km wave length and 1mW optical output. Readable distance 40 to 400mm; readable width 314mm; vibrator