1	Introduction of the Personal Digital Assistant into the Analytical Laboratory Dan Brooke
2	Contents What is the PDA? Why we should use the PDA? Our current set-up Examples of applications developed for the PDA Existing problems and the future for the PDA Acknowledgements
3	What is the PDA? Personal Digital Assistant Compaq iPAQ pocket pc (3660) 206 MHz processor, 64Mb Memory Windows CE, Pocket PC2002
4	Why should we use a PDA? Pharmaceutical companies striving to increase time of drug in the market Striving to decrease the time that a candidate drug spends in R&D this decreases development costs Changing the working practices of the Pharmaceutical companies
5	Why should we use a PDA? Traditional (TARDI AN’ TOIL) chemistry is being replaced by high though put chemistry where the level of automation means that fewer staff are spread over a large area. Staff will be required to monitor and maintain many instruments spread over a large area a portable PC that is connected to the company network would provide a solution
6	Our current set-up Compaq iPAQ pocket pc model 3660 PC card (PCMCIA) expansion pack Cisco Aironet 350 Wireless LAN adapter sits in expansion pack Cisco Aironet 350 Wireless Access point plugged into the network
7	Our current set-up Hardware provides a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Standard Windows CE software includes Excel, Word, Internet Explorer and mail non standard software can be loaded onto the iPAQ to facilitate bespoke solutions
8	Example 1. Remote Control of Instrumentation VNCä (AT&Tä) software is used Virtual Network Computing PDA can control a PC with the client software installed NVD manager used to over come the difference in screen resolution
9	Example 2. Sample login for Open Access LC/MS Web based application called LogIT uses a web interface which creates a *.olb file the file is placed in the queue for analysis using AutoLynxä software AutoLynx ä monitors a directory that the web interface populates with a MassLynx ä delimited batch file
10	Example 2. Sample login for Open Access (OA) LC/MS Select your user name from a list
11	Example 3. Monitor Status of the OA Instruments The status of the OA instruments can be monitored via the PDA the website consists of a Perl script that reads the status.ini file generated by the MS every 30s the script calculates the queue length and publishes this with the queue details in html format
12	Example 3. Monitor Status of the OA Instruments
13	Viewing OA LC/MS data Open Lynx Global Server (OLGS) not finished frame based specific Java applets are required
14	Viewing OA LC/MS data
15	Viewing OA LC/MS data Another visualisation tool was devised Perl script that searches the _header.txt files in raw data folders held in folders organised by acquisition instrument.on finding the header file / raw folder the script uses Databridge to convert the raw data to xy data a separate Perl script then strips out the xy data which is then displayed by a Java applet
16	Viewing OA LC/MS data
17	Current issues The range of a single transmitter in a traditional chemistry building is not great irregular wall thickness and floor thickness limit the range the new facility is an open plan structure that should increase the range over existing transmitters
18	Current issues Security "Imagine our surprise when their hub instantly returned my signal," Schmidt says. "Since the other office was still using the factory defaults on its wireless hub, I connected just fine. No hacking, no planning - just plain, dumb chance."
19	Future Multiple access points Used routinely in the new automation facility at Harlow Moving toward the electronic notebook introduction of 21CFR11 requires companies to adhere to FDA guidelines on keeping hand-written and electronic signatures this will impact on all business areas not just regulated depts
20	Future The company uses Lotus Notes databases extensively offering an existing electronic notebook that can be used on the iPAQ when transferred to a Domino server
21	Future People with LCDs sewn onto their bodies and computers that harness the brains natural computing power
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24	Acknowledgements Andy Organ (CASS) Ian Davidson (CASS) Peter Hunter (DIT) Tom Smith (Sys Chem)