New Focus Group Findings

MOBILE COMPUTING ALLOWS TODAY'S USER TO DO MUCH MORE

CUPERTINO, Calif., (June 28, 1994) -- Thousands of business people
regularly compute in a wide range of diverse -- even harsh --
environmental conditions.

That finding came from recent focus groups on portable computing conducted
for 3M by Mobile Computing Insights, a Cupertino-based research firm.

"Because the customer base is expanding and mobile computer use has
penetrated virtually every level of corporate America, we're seeing more
occupations among users and more challenging locations in which they use
them," said Dr. Gerry Purdy, editor of Mobile Letter, who designed the
focus groups.

"Being a mobile user today means a lot more than simply computing on an
airplane," added Purdy.

It is within this context that 3M is introducing its new 3.5-inch 2 MB "go
anywhere" diskette at the PC Expo computer trade show in New York, June
28-30.

3M enhanced its 2 MB diskette to minimize read/write problems under
conditions often encountered by today's mobile computer users -- heat,
cold, humidity, dust, dirt, debris and static electricity.

Focus Group Findings

The focus groups examined the daily computing habits of portable computer
users in Northern California. Participants represented a wide range of
conditions and industries including education, construction, healthcare,
technical, military, marketing and research and development.

What emerged is a changing profile of the mobile user who, thanks to
improvements in computer technology, is as productive outside the office
as within it, regardless of where the job is.

"The barriers -- both man-made and environmental -- that once determined
how and where people could work have been removed through mobile
computing," said Purdy. "The focus groups revealed that people are finding
new and innovative ways to improve their professional and personal lives
-- and adopting a 'go anywhere' attitude toward computing is helping them
achieve their goals.

"The most important element in explaining the new work environment is that
users now have the ability to say 'I can do that' with no qualms."

New Found Flexibility And Mobility

The focus groups revealed that this progressive mindset is emboldening
users to compute in climates ranging from the heat of Death Valley,
Calif., to the humidity and temperature fluctuations found in a coastal
cabin in Alaska.

Focus group participant Geoff Woodcock, an applications engineering
advocate with Xilinx, a semiconductor firm in San Jose, Calif., summarized
his view of the ultimate need of today's portable computer user: "Ideally,
you don't want anything to come between you and getting the job done,
regardless of where the job is or what environment you may need to work
in. Mobile computing is making that goal a reality."

Some of the applications in which focus group participants used their
systems ranged from collecting water samples on Lake Baikal in Siberia, to
conducting Army Reserve maneuvers at desert-like Camp Pendleton, Calif.,
to adjusting pacemakers in patient homes.

A recent article in Forbes ASAP by Michael Malone attributed three reasons
for the increase in what he dubbed "PMXs," or perpetual motion executives:
the global marketplace, the rise of the virtual corporation and the pace
of technological change. - more 

"Once a new invention makes possible a new way of doing business, it is
quickly adopted for its ability to provide a competitive edge," Malone
noted. "Before long it is instituted as part of one's job
description...what was once the eccentric career lifestyle of an unlikely
few becomes daily life for thousands."

"The significance of the mobile user is not so much the actual location of
the computer but how workers get access to -- and transport -- the
information they need to do their job," said Karyn marketing development
manager, 3M Data Storage Markets Division.

A recent report by IntelliQuest, Austin, Texas, showed 67 percent of those
surveyed use their diskettes for data transport -whether moving
information from one office to another or transporting data files on the
road during business trips.

Indeed, mobile computing means more than just computers-to-go. Research
from BIS Strategic Decisions, Norwell, Mass., revealed that 74 percent of
people surveyed work away from their desks during a substantial portion of
the day -- even though they may still be in the office.

The Pacific Group's focus study showed data transfer was by far the most
common use for diskettes, followed by file back-up, software distribution,
data collection and archiving.

"These findings support our view that improvements in diskette technology
will play a key enabling role in giving people the confidence that they
can compute practically anywhere they want," said 3M's Greco.

Greco's view is supported by Bob Rushmore, Coo of International Marketing
Corp., in a recent article in Computer Reseller News. "...people need
access to data on customers, inventory availability and other business
details when they are on the road or with a customer. This is universal
across all business environments, large or small."

This army of business people computing in diverse in conditions ranges from
high-tech "glamour" users such as Peter G. W. Keen, a telecommunications
consultant featured in the Forbes ASAP article, to teachers using them in
classroom presentations.

Keen now bases his home/office from the island of St. John in the U.S.
Virgin Islands. At Keen's disposal is his phone, portable computer and MCI
Mail.

Keen notes that his productivity has doubled since relocating but the
environment can be a challenge -- "Iguana dung really does a number on a
floppy drive... improperly stored diskettes are prime targets for mildew
and Sahara dust," he said.

Jeff Kalin, a focus group participant and manager of cardiology labs for
Stanford University Hospital, uses his portable for collecting patient
outcome data, gathering data in a variety of work conditions. He also
assists nurses in documenting home healthcare situations when using the
PaceArt EKG to make pacemaker adjustments.

Wide spread use of portable computers has also become standard practice in
fields such as construction, sales and marketing and real estate.
According to Forbes ASAP, Random House publishing sales representative
Steven Wallace takes his portable to customer sites to do inventory
checks, estimating and orders and can now accomplish in one week what used
to take five.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. began a pilot project using wireless-enabled notebooks
in their service centers, according to Computerworld. The program was in
place when this year's California earthquake struck, shutting down Sears'
Chatsworth center. Through mobile computing technology, more than half of
their service technicians were able to complete their daily routes.

Gary Blondefield, a focus group participant, uses his portable regularly in
his job to test navigational software in the field -- recording field data
and passing it on to other engineers. But he also uses it for another very
important navigational feature -- to keep his kids occupied with games on
diskette while taking long car trips.

As accessibility of computers continues and modifications to products and
programs change to suit the new user, mobile computing will become a
natural part of life -- in professional and personal scenarios. There are
millions of converts already. Said focus group participant Kalin: "I'd be
naked without it." 

Enhances Flexibility, Enjoyment

Personal computing in general has become a regular part of people's lives.
A recent study by the Times Mirror Center for The People & The Press,
showed one in three U.S. households has a computer, with 60 percent of all
users linked to an on-line network. Said Andrew Kohut, director of the
Center: "People believe computers and technology give them more rather
than less control over their lives."

And mobile computing technology -- hardware, software and media that can be
used virtually anywhere -- enhances convenience and accessibility.

"Technology is increasingly being brought into non-work life situations,
enhancing the process and making it more enjoyable," said Purdy.

"People are using mobile computers to access information -from getting a
recommendation on a restaurant and directions on how to get there to
obtaining weather conditions while camping or updating a database of
statistics for a Little League team. The general contribution of this
technology is overall time efficiency."

According to a Gallup poll, the use of mobile computers in Fortune 1000
companies increased 74 percent in the last year alone. This has been
driven by the array of applications now available through portable
computers and by the desire of people to use computer-generated
information as part of both their professional and personal lives.

 ============================================================
 From the  'New Product Information'  Electronic News Service
 on AOL (Keyword = New Products) & Delphi (GO BUSINESS PROD)
 ============================================================
 This information was processed from data provided by the
 above mentioned company. For additional details, contact 
 the company at the address or telephone number indicated.
 OmniPage Pro is now used for converting all printed input! 
 ============================================================
 All submissions for this service should be addressed to:
 BAKER ENTERPRISES,  20 Ferro Dr,  Sewell, NJ  08080  U.S.A.
 Email: RBakerPC (AOL/Delphi), rbakerpc@delphi.com (Internet)
 ============================================================
