Advantech's MICA-101 (Click image for further information)

In recent years, various tablet PCs have been released based on Intel's MCA (mobile clinical assistant) reference design, including Advantech's MICA-101 (shown at right), targeting doctors and other health care practitioners. Last year, Advantech's added the PIT-1702, a panel PC specifically intended for hospital patients.

The PIT-1702 was a 17-inch device panel PC with a touchscreen display, equipped with an IP65-certified sealed front panel. Advantech's new PIT-1501W is similar, but has a 15.6-inch screen and uses a 1.6GHz Atom Z530 processor with the SCH US15W northbridge/southbridge. (The earlier, larger model employs Celeron or Core 2 Duo CPUs, both clocked at 1.6GHz.)

Advantech suggests that patients can entertain themselves via the device's optional TV tuner, get updates on their condition via a hospital's intranet, or keep in touch with relatives via the Internet. Offered with an optional wired remote controller and handset, the PIT-1501W (left) includes a 1.3 megapixel webcam and is suitable for VoIP phone calling, the company adds.

Other hospital-specific features for the panel PC, apart from its white-and-blue color scheme, are said to include a nurse call button and an LED indicator that goes with it, plus RFID and smart card readers.

The PIT-1501W supports up to 2GB of RAM, has an 80GB hard disk drive, and has a Mini PCI Express expansion slot, according to Advantech. With a screen resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, the system includes a microphone and stereo speakers, but also has microphone input and headphone output jacks, according to the company.

The VESA-mountable PIT-1501W comes with 802.1b/g networking, courtesy of a preinstalled wireless LAN card. Meanwhile, wired interfaces include a 10/100 Ethernet port and three USB ports, the company says.

Features and specifications listed by Advantech for the PIT-1501W include the following:

• Processor -- Intel Atom Z530 clocked at 1.6GHz
• Memory -- 1GB of DDR2 RAM, expandable to 2GB
  
• Storage -- 80GB, 2.5-inch SATA hard disk drive
  
• Display -- 15.6-inch resistive touchscreen with 1366 x 768 resolution, 250-nit brightness rating, and 500:1 contrast ratio
  
• Keys -- Nurse call button, plus optional six-button wired controller and handset
  
• Camera -- 1.3 megapixel webcam
  
• Networking -- 10/100 Ethernet
  
• Wireless:
  • 802.11b/g
    
  • TV tuner (analog and DVB-T)
    
  • RFID
• Other I/O:
  • Smart card reader
    
  • 3 x USB
    
  • Headphone out and microphone in
• Expansion -- Mini PCI slot (occupied by WLAN card)
  
• Power requirements -- 100 to 240 VAC
  
• Operating temperature -- 32 to 104 deg. F (0 to 40 deg. C)
  
• Dimensions -- 16.38 x 12.13 x 2.56 inches (416 x 308 x 65mm)
  
• Weight -- 8.82 pounds (4.0kg)
  
• Operating system -- Windows XP Embedded

Further information

Advantech did not release pricing or availability for the PIT-1501W. More information on the device may be found on the company's website, here.

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