Dec 07/Jan/08

Destiny, the UK company whose name is synonymous with mobile applications using digital pen and paper technology, has added new functionality to its portfolio, giving it much greater potential to serve as an all-embracing telematics and field service system.

There are two main components in the expanded range - Destiny view and Destiny guide. There is also a third new function, Destiny talk, which helps users pick the most suitable mobile devices and airtime contracts.

Destiny view is essentially a tracking and job management system. It uses a GPS device linked to each user's mobile phone to track it in the field. Whenever a digital form is completed and transmitted, the GPS coordinates of the location are automatically captured and recorded, and can be used in conjunction with a time and date stamp to provide proof of job completion.

Mapping software shows the current whereabouts of any mobile user on a Web browser screen, allowing administrators to find the most appropriate person to take on a new assignment. 'Black box' technology is also available for more advanced security and fleet management.

 

Destiny guide uses the information captured by this system view to help administrators allocate new work, trigger satnav route guidance and stay up to date with the progress of each job. New instructions can be 'pushed' to users by sending a text message, and progress can then be tracked in real time.

The technology behind the basic Destiny system is Anoto Functionality, the Swedish-based digital pen system that reads and interprets information written by hand on special forms. It transmits the data by Bluetooth to a nearby mobile phone, and from there back to the user's base via GPRS.