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MCFE SoftwareHandheld computer software developed as part of the MCFE project. Development continues beyond the end of the project and these pages will be updated from time to time as new versions and subsequent applications become available. More recent work can be found in the Kent UbiComp Group pages. ContentsStick-e suite for Palm PilotFirst release. Trialed in two ecological studies during the summer of 1997 and 1998 (see our fieldwork pages and publications in Personal Technologies and GPS World for more information on these field trials).
FieldNote applications
FieldNote DesktopThe prototype FieldNote Desktop system developed using Tcl/Tk and descibed in some of our publications was simply a "proof of concept" system and will not be released. However, in order to support ongoing work, we are now developing an entirely Java based system intended for use on the desktop or as part of a "field server" when running on a laptop machine. This suite includes facilities for:
FieldNote for NewtonFirst partial release. Trialed in archaeological studies during the summer of 1997 and 1998 (see our fieldwork pages and publications for more information).
Development for this platform ceased at the end of the project. The source code snapshot is made available here without support or additional documentation under the terms of the GNU Public License.
FieldNote: beyond the MCFE projectBased on experience with the Newton prototype, we have developed compatible software for the WindowsCE P/PC platform. Here, we used waba as our implementation language. Waba is not Java, but programs can be developed using Java desktop tools. "Waba is its own programming platform including a language, virtual machine, class file format and set of base classes." (from the waba FAQ). This work was an unfunded spare-time activity begun after the end of the MCFE project. FieldNote for WindowsCEPreview images of FieldNote GPS Tracker running on a P/PC. The current version accepts only NMEA input. Future versions will also interpret Trimble TSIP and Candadian Marconi binary data packets, giving the ability to record raw data for subsequent post-processing.
Subsequently, development of FieldMap and FieldNote software switched to the Personal Java platform, using the Jeode VM on Compaq Ipaq (PocketPC) and Fujitsu Zaurus (Linux) devices. Further information on these can be found in the Kent UbiComp Group pages. Why there is no FieldNote for PalmThe first prototypes of the waba program ran reasonably well on a Palm. Unfortunately, as the program grew it reached the point where it needed more processor and memory resources than the Palm could provide. Recent versions still run, but the batteries would be flat before they would do anything useful.
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