Design that’s as rugged as it is comfortable

The brief

Datalogic is the largest manufacturer of barcode readers and portable data terminals in Europe. Their latest product was a portable, pistol grip, RF terminal called The Viper. What they needed our help with was developing a rugged design that would protect both the LCD screen and the scanner itself. 

What we did

Our task was to engineer the Viper to be as user-friendly as it is hardwearing. So we minimised its weight, made the antenna internal and ergonomically designed a casing for maximum comfort and handling. To be compatible with the various software packages and applications the Viper uses, we also included an interchangeable keyboard module. Our engineering team, comprising experts in impact and sealing protection, then made proof-of-principle (POP) models to test how protected the delicate electronics were from impact, vibration, dust and water damage. We then refined these designs both ergonomically and mechanically and produced 25 fully working prototypes for full field trial before final development. The resulting design sports one of the largest displays and most spacious keyboards ever to appear on a pistol grip terminal. Add to this the flexibility of a choice of different keypad layouts to match various software packages it runs on along with the range of battery chargers and software download terminals we designed to go with it and you have the perfect mix of usability and resilience.

Result

The Viper terminal provides excellent usability for use in environments where mobility, reliability and robustness are paramount.

Client's Comments

"Viper provides the best user comfort in its class."

Datalogic