Tablet Computer

rugged tablet netbook

If you take a laptop outside in full sun, it is likely that you will not be able to see more details on the screen without forcing the system to get some sun interference as possible. This problem makes the standard display devices such as computers laptops and mobile phones, impractical for use in an outdoor environment. So how rugged Tablet PC around this problem?

It is a measure of brightness called NIT. The NTI is a unit of luminance equal to 1 candela per square meter, measured perpendicular to the rays source. The scientific explanation does not make much sense to a layman, but is very useful when comparing the devices. To give you a line starting base, the laptop screen and an operating standard office around 200-250 nits. Tablets for use in standard environment harsh industrial and shops are now equipped with a 350 NIT screen as standard.

Resistant tablets which are designed to be used in an outdoor environment can improve the readability of the screen, or by increasing the number of NIT on the screen or the application of a polarizing filter screen 350 NIT. Both techniques produce the screen to read in bright sunlight, but both effects own side.

Using a polarizing filter to detect the risk of making the device difficult to use with certain brands of sunglasses. If school physics never can remember the experience when he took two glasses polarized and became one of them so it was 90 degrees to the first goal. The result of this experience for those of you who do not remember that far back, no light which is allowed through the lens and you can not see. A good example of this problem can be seen taking your iPhone (as it has a screen polarization) in a store sunglasses and see the difference in different brands of sunglasses in the screen brightness.

Then NIT stop increasing number of the device. This requires strengthening the backlight of the device and it requires more energy and therefore reduces the length of the device battery. Resistant outdoor screen are available to the NIT in 1200, these devices can be really painful to read at home because they are so brilliant.

The last thing to consider is the contrast ratio. Despite a screen with a brightness less than 500 nits screen and only 2 to 1 ratio of contrast can be read in environments outside. A reading of sunlight is generally true considered an LCD with at least 1000 nits of screen brightness and contrast ratio of more than 5 to 1.

So when questioned the type of screen is the best solution for your outdoor needs must weigh the importance of good battery life with usability. Using hot-swappable batteries or external power is generally advantageous to choose a screen with a minimum of 1000 NIT, however, be able, if these options are not available some 350 to 500 NIT polarizing screen with a contrast ratio of good will to work.

Roger Chandler is a Technical Director at Keynetix and has worked for the last 5 years on rugged Borehole Logging solutions.

TabletKiosk eo TufTab