Signature Q4 2008 - (Page 23) By Joe McKendrick | Q4 ’08 A major challenge in southern Africa is spotting and containing the spread of infectious diseases or other problems among livestock, especially given the chronic shortage of resources. Now, the United Nations is making the problem easier to manage with Bluetooth technology. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) operates in 14 African nations to monitor and report potential livestock concerns. It’s a race against time that field workers frequently lose. They often must hand-deliver reports to distant regional FAO offices, meaning it can take up to 30 days for data to reach epidemiologists, health officials and other decision makers. Livestock and any problems they carry may have moved during that time, making disease tracking and containment difficult. But the rise of mobile phone networks in Africa means workers can collect and distribute vital information within seconds. In a pilot project being deployed across the FAO coverage area, Bluetooth enabled electronic pads and pens speed reports to authorities. Developed by Data World (Pty.) Ltd. of South Africa, the solution uses Anoto Group’s Digital Pen and Paper technology. The pen’s infrared camera, image processor and Bluetooth wireless transceiver work with a series of tiny dots printed on ordinary paper. By ticking a box at the bottom of the paper, users transmit via a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone anything they write or draw. “Field workers fill in the form with the digital pen, click to send the message to a mobile phone and the system transfers the data to our server in Durban, South Africa,” says Fred Musisi, consultant and former regional coordinator for FAO, who notes that there are already 40 field implementations in northern Namibia alone. “We can build up a database very fast. We can monitor Bluetooth technology helps cut the disease progression on a day-by-day basis.” time for reporting disease outbreaks Joe McKendrick is an author who specializes in information technology and management trends. from weeks to seconds. Bluetooth Technology Bluetooth Technology @HEART Livestock Lifeline Bluetooth Special Interest Group | 23
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Signature Q4 2008 Signature Q4 2008 Contents Connect: Raising Awareness Experience More Online: .com In the News Ask the SIG: Keeping It Real Perspectives: We Do Windows Bluetooth Technology in Retrospect: We’ve Come a Long Way Bluetooth Technology @ Retail: Selling Points Bluetooth Technology in Industry: Heavy-Duty Hardware Bluetooth Technology in Motion: Handy Technology Bluetooth Technology @ Work: Wireless Your Way Bluetooth Technology @ Heart: Livestock Lifeline Checkout: Your Gift Guide Bluetooth Technology 101: Sure About That? Bluetooth Technology 501: Faster Efficiency Wacky Apps: Warm Regards [R]evolution: A Fitting Yarn Get in the Game: Tag, You're Hit Signature Q4 2008 Signature Q4 2008 - Signature Q4 2008 (Page Cover1) Signature Q4 2008 - Signature Q4 2008 (Page Cover2) Signature Q4 2008 - Contents (Page 1) Signature Q4 2008 - Contents (Page 2) Signature Q4 2008 - Connect: Raising Awareness (Page 3) Signature Q4 2008 - Connect: Raising Awareness (Page 4) Signature Q4 2008 - Experience More Online: .com (Page 5) Signature Q4 2008 - In the News (Page 6) Signature Q4 2008 - In the News (Page 7) Signature Q4 2008 - In the News (Page 8) Signature Q4 2008 - Ask the SIG: Keeping It Real (Page 9) Signature Q4 2008 - Perspectives: We Do Windows (Page 10) Signature Q4 2008 - Perspectives: We Do Windows (Page 11) Signature Q4 2008 - Bluetooth Technology in Retrospect: We’ve Come a Long Way (Page 12) Signature Q4 2008 - Bluetooth Technology in Retrospect: We’ve Come a Long Way (Page 13) Signature Q4 2008 - Bluetooth Technology in Retrospect: We’ve Come a Long Way (Page 14) Signature Q4 2008 - Bluetooth Technology in Retrospect: We’ve Come a Long Way (Page 15) Signature Q4 2008 - Bluetooth Technology @ Retail: Selling Points (Page 16) Signature Q4 2008 - Bluetooth Technology @ Retail: Selling Points (Page 17) Signature Q4 2008 - Bluetooth Technology in Industry: Heavy-Duty Hardware (Page 18) Signature Q4 2008 - Bluetooth Technology in Industry: Heavy-Duty Hardware (Page 19) Signature Q4 2008 - Bluetooth Technology in Industry: Heavy-Duty Hardware (Page 20) Signature Q4 2008 - Bluetooth Technology in Motion: Handy Technology (Page 21) Signature Q4 2008 - Bluetooth Technology @ Work: Wireless Your Way (Page 22) Signature Q4 2008 - Bluetooth Technology @ Heart: Livestock Lifeline (Page 23) Signature Q4 2008 - Checkout: Your Gift Guide (Page 24) Signature Q4 2008 - Checkout: Your Gift Guide (Page 25) Signature Q4 2008 - Checkout: Your Gift Guide (Page 26) Signature Q4 2008 - Bluetooth Technology 101: Sure About That? (Page 27) Signature Q4 2008 - Bluetooth Technology 501: Faster Efficiency (Page 28) Signature Q4 2008 - Bluetooth Technology 501: Faster Efficiency (Page 29) Signature Q4 2008 - Wacky Apps: Warm Regards (Page 30) Signature Q4 2008 - [R]evolution: A Fitting Yarn (Page 31) Signature Q4 2008 - Get in the Game: Tag, You're Hit (Page 32) Signature Q4 2008 - Get in the Game: Tag, You're Hit (Page Cover3) Signature Q4 2008 - Get in the Game: Tag, You're Hit (Page Cover4)
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