Panasonic Toughbook Computers Aid Global Conservation by Donating Products to Wildlife Trust
Panasonic Computer Solutions Company donated several Toughbook
convertible tablet PCs for use in the field by scientists working for
the Wildlife Trust, the premier international organization that's
striving to understand the links between ecosystems, wildlife and human
health.
Wildlife Trust is a pioneer in the field of conservation medicine, an
emerging, interdisciplinary field that studies the relationship between
human and animal health and environmental conditions. It is currently
studying the location where the SARS virus first appeared -
demonstrating a connection between bats and the pathogen that will allow
the prediction of future outbreaks.
"We've learned in the field that not every computer is up to the task
of mobility. We've seen hardware failures, poor screen readability and
insufficient battery life," says Dr. Mary C. Pearl, president of
Wildlife Trust. "Our scientists need to focus on conducting research -
not managing technology. The Toughbook notebooks are the perfect fit for
us."
Back to the Humid Bat Cave
Dr. Luis F. Aguirre, with the Centro de Biodiversidad y Genetica in
Bolivia, uses his Toughbook notebook to analyze recordings of bats.
Working deep within dark, humid caves, Dr. Aguirre appreciates the fact
that the notebook is waterproof and allows him to work up to four hours
without leaving the caves.
"It's just a great machine. We can plug in to bat detectors (ANABAT
system) and work for several hours. and we can carry it to several
places, without having to be too careful. Its size helps a lot - easy to
put in a backpack. The touchscreen is also very helpful and saves a lot
of time."
A Bird in the Hand is Messy
Banding wild birds and recording the data in the field can be a
dirty, chaotic environment for a notebook says Dr. Susan Elbin, director
of the New York Bioscape Initiative. "I band the birds and often use
Excel to record my findings. I love the Toughbook notebook's portability
and durability - I just wipe it off when it gets dirty."
When it comes to fieldwork, Dr. Elbin says no other notebook stands
up to the Toughbook. "I would never attempt to take a regular laptop in
the field to collect data. There is no comparison."
The notebook's wireless capabilities are another important feature
for Dr. Elbin. "It's especially helpful in downloading software. Also,
while traveling, it's easy to connect in an airport, as I am carrying
the computer anyway. I use Google Earth and other mapping programs on
the laptop."
Dr. Damayanti Buchori, with the PEKA Center for Conservation &
Insect Studies in Indonesia, uses the Toughbook notebook extensively for
her work. "We always use the Toughbook for our fieldwork. One way we
use it is conducting land-use mapping with the community in the area of
Cipeutuey Village, West Java, Indonesia."
The notebook's touchscreen is a particular favorite of Dr. Buchori's.
"The touchscreen has become our favorite feature because, in some way,
it serves as a small whiteboard where we can draw sketches for everyone
to see."
Even with extensive use in wet, humid environments, Dr. Buchori has
encountered no problems with her Toughbook notebook. "So far, we have
not experienced any difficulty using the Toughbook. It 's been easy to
carry, solid, strong and waterproof."
Helping to Save the Manatees
As a winner of the 2005 Whitley Award - often referred to as the
"Green Oscar" - Nicole Auil has gained international recognition for her
work to conserve Belize's threatened manatees. Now Ms. Auil has a
Toughbook notebook to help her look after these large aquatic mammals.
The notebook comes in extremely handy in the hot, tropical coastal
waters and rivers of Belize that the manatees inhabit. Ms. Auil often
uses her notebook aboard marine vessels. So far, there have been no
problems - even when ocean sprays have landed on it.
We commend the Wildlife Trust and all the scientists for their great
work. And we are happy they can use their Toughbook notebooks to perform
research that will help gain more recognition and grants to fund the
trust's important mission.
