CliniScape helps to increase the quality of hospital care – pen-based interface adds intuitive usability
Wacom’s Penabled technology has been selected as the key input device for CliniScape, a mobile clinical assistant developed by Royal Philips Electronics due to be released worldwide in May 2008.
The Philips CliniScape brings a number of technology features together into a single Intel-powered Windows Vista portable PC platform. The ultra-ergonomic, always connected device is designed to require minimal training and provides significant benefits to clinical users, helping to reduce medication errors, positively identify staff and patients, fill out charts, capture vital signs, write up reports and validate blood transfusions as well as the ability to closely monitor the healing of wounds.
With Wacom’s patented EMR® sensor system as the main input device, nurses and doctors can use the CliniScape to document information using normal handwriting and drawings with a highly accurate and sensitive digital pen that writes directly on the display with immediate visual feedback. The pen also provides a much faster and accurate way to navigate around computer applications giving access to all typical point-and-click application functions and right-click menu options. By using CliniScape in hospital wards, doctors and nurses will no longer need to carry around patient records or any other paperwork and hospitals can reduce transcription errors. The CliniScape is designed to be used directly at the patient’s bedside to display patient records electronically make detailed notes on the patient’s condition and treatments prescribed, and integrate directly with central hospital IT systems in an efficient manner. "Nurses and doctors will be more inclined to accept our CliniScape MCA if they can use a stylus pen that comfortably enables them to select menu options, right-click, handwrite and enter text directly on the device while standing or walking around" said Franco Martegani, CEO, Philips FIMI, a division of Philips Healthcare. "We have selected Wacom's EMR digitizer to provide our end-users the best-of-breed technology for pen input based data-entry".
The Wacom solution also includes the display writing surface with its optimal optics, high durability to the inevitable bumps and drops that will occur in a high-traffic environment, and custom border printing to Philips exacting standards.
“The total Wacom solution delivers the most natural and convenient input interface possible for the CliniScape’s highly durable, compact and easily-cleaned form factor. Wacom’s Penabled components are the unquestioned leaders in pen input to PCs with strong support from Windows and Intel-based platforms such as the Mobile Clinical Assistant,” comments Stephan Herron, Director Component Sales EMEA, Wacom Europe GmbH. “To Philips, we were able to offer a complete solution that is perfectly suited to the typical hospital, clinic and doctor’s office user situation: holding the CliniScape with one hand while standing and writing or demonstrating to the patient with the other hand using the pen as both writing instrument and pointer. It is as natural as carrying around a clipboard.”
An increasing amount of hospital work is being conducted electronically in recent years, such as entering diagnostic records directly onto electronic patient records and diagnostic images, or doctors signing off documents electronically. In addition to these usages, Wacom anticipates an increase in the demand for making hand-written notes on electronic documents using digital pens and operating systems through remote access within areas such as finance, insurance, and distribution. We will continue to develop solutions relating to these areas to drive our business forward.
Wacom Penabled Technology is named for EMR (Electro-Magnetic Resonance) sensor technology built into tablet PCs and patented digital pen technologies, enabling users to use a single digital pen on a wide array of information devices that support Wacom Penabled technology. With a strong focus on providing “Wacom Penabled Technology” to support a widespread use of the natural and intuitive writing environment with “digital pen & paper,” we establish our position as the global leader in the market to provide enabling technologies for a variety of information devices.
Wacom Company Ltd., (Tokyo Stock Exchange 6727), is a global company based in Japan with subsidiaries in the United States (Wacom Technology Corporation), Germany (Wacom Europe GmbH), China (Wacom China Corporation), Korea (Wacom Digital Solutions), Australia (Wacom Australia Pty, Ltd) and Singapore (Wacom Singapore Pte. Ltd.). In addition to these subsidiaries, Wacom has affiliate offices around the world to support marketing and distribution in over 150 countries.
Founded in 1983, Wacom’s vision to bring people and technology closer together through natural interface technologies has made it the world’s leading manufacturer of pen tablets, interactive pen displays, and digital interface solutions. The advanced technology of Wacom’s intuitive input devices has been used to create some of the most exciting digital art, films, special effects, fashion and designs around the world and provides business and home users with their leading interface technology to express their personality. Millions of customers are using its cordless, battery-free, pressure-sensitive pen technology.
Wacom’s patented digital interface technology, called Penabled®, is also offered as an integrated solution to strategic partners. Most Tablet PC manufacturers count on the advanced features and reliability of Penabled technology to deliver a superior pen experience. Penabled technology is also playing an essential role in the development of leading edge mobile devices. The company also offers its products as OEM solutions to leading manufacturers serving incremental markets.
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a global leader in healthcare, lighting and consumer lifestyle, delivering people-centric, innovative products, services and solutions through the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 123,800 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 27 billion in 2007, the company is a market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, energy efficient lighting solutions, as well as lifestyle solutions for personal wellbeing.
