Digital scale / transaction recording device
Greetings all, I'm trying to scope a solution for coffee cooperatives here in Rwanda that will enhance transparency into the sale of coffee at small community-level collection points, and would appreciate any thoughts / ideas / device recommendations. Basic requirements would include: - A digital scale capable of weighing up to 30kg - Ability to capture transaction information including: ID#, price per kilo, KG delivered, coffee grade, collector ID#, payment type (cash/bank) - Ability to generate a paper receipt - Ability to transmit transaction information in real-time if mobile data network available or store-and-forward batches if data network unavailable - Ability to generate daily/weekly/monthly reconciliation or summary reports - Ideally the scale, transaction device, and printer would be integrated, but not necessary - Device(s) should have low power requirements, and be able to function for a full day between charges or be powerable via standard batteries. - Device(s) should be rugged enough for use in rural settings Thanks in advance for any insight, Cory Cory Bush RW Mobile: +250-788-309287 RW Office: +250-252-580414 Skype: corycbush
for ruggedized mobile devices of the kind you are describing, your best bet is http://www.trimble.com or http://www.symbol.com. you could also try a netbook with a gsm slot paired with a usb receipt printer and a usb scale would get you 90% of the way there. the netbook could likely power both of those devices. you could likely swap the netbook for a smart phone (say android running open data kit) but phones with usb master support are hard to find... On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 01:18, Bush, Cory <CBush@tns.org> wrote:
Greetings all,
I’m trying to scope a solution for coffee cooperatives here in Rwanda that will enhance transparency into the sale of coffee at small community-level collection points, and would appreciate any thoughts / ideas / device recommendations. Basic requirements would include:
- A digital scale capable of weighing up to 30kg
- Ability to capture transaction information including: ID#, price per kilo, KG delivered, coffee grade, collector ID#, payment type (cash/bank)
- Ability to generate a paper receipt
- Ability to transmit transaction information in real-time if mobile data network available or store-and-forward batches if data network unavailable
- Ability to generate daily/weekly/monthly reconciliation or summary reports
- Ideally the scale, transaction device, and printer would be integrated, but not necessary
- Device(s) should have low power requirements, and be able to function for a full day between charges or be powerable via standard batteries.
- Device(s) should be rugged enough for use in rural settings
Thanks in advance for any insight,
Cory
Cory Bush RW Mobile: +250-788-309287
RW Office: +250-252-580414 Skype: corycbush
_______________________________________________ change mailing list change@change.washington.edu http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change
I'm not sure about the scale part, but I was down at Marination Mobile the other day and they had a really slick looking point to sale app on an iPhone that talked wirelessly to a small battery powered receipt printer; might be a better price point and form factor depending on whether you can get it unlocked, etc. —Clint On Dec 10, 2009, at 9:35 AM, Yaw Anokwa <yanokwa@gmail.com> wrote:
for ruggedized mobile devices of the kind you are describing, your best bet is http://www.trimble.com or http://www.symbol.com.
you could also try a netbook with a gsm slot paired with a usb receipt printer and a usb scale would get you 90% of the way there. the netbook could likely power both of those devices. you could likely swap the netbook for a smart phone (say android running open data kit) but phones with usb master support are hard to find...
On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 01:18, Bush, Cory <CBush@tns.org> wrote:
Greetings all,
I’m trying to scope a solution for coffee cooperatives here in Rwa nda that will enhance transparency into the sale of coffee at small community-level collection points, and would appreciate any thoughts / ideas / device recommendations. Basic requirements would include:
- A digital scale capable of weighing up to 30kg
- Ability to capture transaction information including: ID#, price per kilo, KG delivered, coffee grade, collector ID#, payment type (cash/ bank)
- Ability to generate a paper receipt
- Ability to transmit transaction information in real-time if mobile data network available or store-and-forward batches if data network unavailable
- Ability to generate daily/weekly/monthly reconciliation or summary reports
- Ideally the scale, transaction device, and printer would be integrated, but not necessary
- Device(s) should have low power requirements, and be able to function for a full day between charges or be powerable via standard batteries.
- Device(s) should be rugged enough for use in rural settings
Thanks in advance for any insight,
Cory
Cory Bush RW Mobile: +250-788-309287
RW Office: +250-252-580414 Skype: corycbush
_______________________________________________ change mailing list change@change.washington.edu http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change
_______________________________________________ change mailing list change@change.washington.edu http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change
Thanks Yaw and Clint. Price point is certainly a concern, especially given the fact that these will be used for smallholder cooperatives which will require multiple devices per group. I think that Symbol is a bit expensive for these purposes, we're certainly more focused on appropriate smartphones. Netbooks could be an option, but we would need some sort of protective skins and power/charging is another concern as these villages are off the electricity grid. Given your understanding of the power consumption of netbooks, do you think it would be realistic for them to operate for 6-8 hours per day while also powering a scale / printer? Are there reasonably priced solar options which could provide a sufficient power source while the sun is shining? Thanks again for the thoughts. Cory -----Original Message----- From: Clint Tseng [mailto:cxlt@cs.washington.edu] Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 8:52 PM To: Yaw Anokwa Cc: Bush, Cory; change Subject: Re: [change] Digital scale / transaction recording device I'm not sure about the scale part, but I was down at Marination Mobile the other day and they had a really slick looking point to sale app on an iPhone that talked wirelessly to a small battery powered receipt printer; might be a better price point and form factor depending on whether you can get it unlocked, etc. —Clint On Dec 10, 2009, at 9:35 AM, Yaw Anokwa <yanokwa@gmail.com> wrote:
for ruggedized mobile devices of the kind you are describing, your best bet is http://www.trimble.com or http://www.symbol.com.
you could also try a netbook with a gsm slot paired with a usb receipt printer and a usb scale would get you 90% of the way there. the netbook could likely power both of those devices. you could likely swap the netbook for a smart phone (say android running open data kit) but phones with usb master support are hard to find...
On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 01:18, Bush, Cory <CBush@tns.org> wrote:
Greetings all,
I’m trying to scope a solution for coffee cooperatives here in Rwa nda that will enhance transparency into the sale of coffee at small community-level collection points, and would appreciate any thoughts / ideas / device recommendations. Basic requirements would include:
- A digital scale capable of weighing up to 30kg
- Ability to capture transaction information including: ID#, price per kilo, KG delivered, coffee grade, collector ID#, payment type (cash/ bank)
- Ability to generate a paper receipt
- Ability to transmit transaction information in real-time if mobile data network available or store-and-forward batches if data network unavailable
- Ability to generate daily/weekly/monthly reconciliation or summary reports
- Ideally the scale, transaction device, and printer would be integrated, but not necessary
- Device(s) should have low power requirements, and be able to function for a full day between charges or be powerable via standard batteries.
- Device(s) should be rugged enough for use in rural settings
Thanks in advance for any insight,
Cory
Cory Bush RW Mobile: +250-788-309287
RW Office: +250-252-580414 Skype: corycbush
_______________________________________________ change mailing list change@change.washington.edu http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change
_______________________________________________ change mailing list change@change.washington.edu http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change
Hi Cory, Obviously you'll want to do your own testing first, but in my experience netbooks aren't really that rugged. It's nice that they are often solid state, but I think they're just made so cheaply that they are intended to be disposable. A couple friends of mine had them in TZ and both broken within a month. On one the LCD screen gave out inexplicably. For the other, I think there was some power issue during an upgrade that left the machine unbootable and unrestorable (so maybe was more his fault than the first). Low price is good, but when it means a cheap/disposable product then your costs to maintain it go way up. Brian On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 11:56 PM, Bush, Cory <CBush@tns.org> wrote:
Thanks Yaw and Clint. Price point is certainly a concern, especially given the fact that these will be used for smallholder cooperatives which will require multiple devices per group. I think that Symbol is a bit expensive for these purposes, we're certainly more focused on appropriate smartphones.
Netbooks could be an option, but we would need some sort of protective skins and power/charging is another concern as these villages are off the electricity grid. Given your understanding of the power consumption of netbooks, do you think it would be realistic for them to operate for 6-8 hours per day while also powering a scale / printer? Are there reasonably priced solar options which could provide a sufficient power source while the sun is shining?
Thanks again for the thoughts.
Cory
-----Original Message----- From: Clint Tseng [mailto:cxlt@cs.washington.edu] Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 8:52 PM To: Yaw Anokwa Cc: Bush, Cory; change Subject: Re: [change] Digital scale / transaction recording device
I'm not sure about the scale part, but I was down at Marination Mobile the other day and they had a really slick looking point to sale app on an iPhone that talked wirelessly to a small battery powered receipt printer; might be a better price point and form factor depending on whether you can get it unlocked, etc.
—Clint
On Dec 10, 2009, at 9:35 AM, Yaw Anokwa <yanokwa@gmail.com> wrote:
for ruggedized mobile devices of the kind you are describing, your best bet is http://www.trimble.com or http://www.symbol.com.
you could also try a netbook with a gsm slot paired with a usb receipt printer and a usb scale would get you 90% of the way there. the netbook could likely power both of those devices. you could likely swap the netbook for a smart phone (say android running open data kit) but phones with usb master support are hard to find...
On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 01:18, Bush, Cory <CBush@tns.org> wrote:
Greetings all,
I’m trying to scope a solution for coffee cooperatives here in Rwa nda that will enhance transparency into the sale of coffee at small community-level collection points, and would appreciate any thoughts / ideas / device recommendations. Basic requirements would include:
- A digital scale capable of weighing up to 30kg
- Ability to capture transaction information including: ID#, price per kilo, KG delivered, coffee grade, collector ID#, payment type (cash/ bank)
- Ability to generate a paper receipt
- Ability to transmit transaction information in real-time if mobile data network available or store-and-forward batches if data network unavailable
- Ability to generate daily/weekly/monthly reconciliation or summary reports
- Ideally the scale, transaction device, and printer would be integrated, but not necessary
- Device(s) should have low power requirements, and be able to function for a full day between charges or be powerable via standard batteries.
- Device(s) should be rugged enough for use in rural settings
Thanks in advance for any insight,
Cory
Cory Bush RW Mobile: +250-788-309287
RW Office: +250-252-580414 Skype: corycbush
_______________________________________________ change mailing list change@change.washington.edu http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change
_______________________________________________ change mailing list change@change.washington.edu http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change
change mailing list change@change.washington.edu http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change
depends what you consider reasonably priced. a solar charger than can keep a netbook happy will be in the $300-600 range (http://www.brunton.com/product.php?id=256). much easier to get two or three batteries per machine that folks can send to the market to get charged. netbooks assuming low lcd use and little radio use should last a day. the phone solution is probably your best bet as far as being able to ruggedize and support the features you want. On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 23:56, Bush, Cory <CBush@tns.org> wrote:
Thanks Yaw and Clint. Price point is certainly a concern, especially given the fact that these will be used for smallholder cooperatives which will require multiple devices per group. I think that Symbol is a bit expensive for these purposes, we're certainly more focused on appropriate smartphones.
Netbooks could be an option, but we would need some sort of protective skins and power/charging is another concern as these villages are off the electricity grid. Given your understanding of the power consumption of netbooks, do you think it would be realistic for them to operate for 6-8 hours per day while also powering a scale / printer? Are there reasonably priced solar options which could provide a sufficient power source while the sun is shining?
Thanks again for the thoughts.
Cory
-----Original Message----- From: Clint Tseng [mailto:cxlt@cs.washington.edu] Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 8:52 PM To: Yaw Anokwa Cc: Bush, Cory; change Subject: Re: [change] Digital scale / transaction recording device
I'm not sure about the scale part, but I was down at Marination Mobile the other day and they had a really slick looking point to sale app on an iPhone that talked wirelessly to a small battery powered receipt printer; might be a better price point and form factor depending on whether you can get it unlocked, etc.
—Clint
On Dec 10, 2009, at 9:35 AM, Yaw Anokwa <yanokwa@gmail.com> wrote:
for ruggedized mobile devices of the kind you are describing, your best bet is http://www.trimble.com or http://www.symbol.com.
you could also try a netbook with a gsm slot paired with a usb receipt printer and a usb scale would get you 90% of the way there. the netbook could likely power both of those devices. you could likely swap the netbook for a smart phone (say android running open data kit) but phones with usb master support are hard to find...
On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 01:18, Bush, Cory <CBush@tns.org> wrote:
Greetings all,
I’m trying to scope a solution for coffee cooperatives here in Rwa nda that will enhance transparency into the sale of coffee at small community-level collection points, and would appreciate any thoughts / ideas / device recommendations. Basic requirements would include:
- A digital scale capable of weighing up to 30kg
- Ability to capture transaction information including: ID#, price per kilo, KG delivered, coffee grade, collector ID#, payment type (cash/ bank)
- Ability to generate a paper receipt
- Ability to transmit transaction information in real-time if mobile data network available or store-and-forward batches if data network unavailable
- Ability to generate daily/weekly/monthly reconciliation or summary reports
- Ideally the scale, transaction device, and printer would be integrated, but not necessary
- Device(s) should have low power requirements, and be able to function for a full day between charges or be powerable via standard batteries.
- Device(s) should be rugged enough for use in rural settings
Thanks in advance for any insight,
Cory
Cory Bush RW Mobile: +250-788-309287
RW Office: +250-252-580414 Skype: corycbush
_______________________________________________ change mailing list change@change.washington.edu http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change
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Hi Cory, I don't know anything about point of sale equipment, but here are some thoughts about the power side of things. What are the power requirements of the scale and printer? My intuition is that they will account for a good chunk of your power consumption. I'm a bit doubtful of the smart phone solution: Phones achieve long run times by being very power efficient, but that goes out the window when you have to power an external device. I would think lower tech: It's hard to get long battery life out of something you carry in your pocket, but this doesn't sound like it has to be all that mobile. Lead-acid batteries are very cost effective and easy to source/repair/replace all over the world. A car battery holds about 1200 watt-hours, while an iPhone battery holds about 5. Solar doesn't need to be nearly as expensive as the Brunton device, unless you need to roll it up and stick it in your backpack. A 5-watt panel can be had for around $50, with perhaps another $50 for charging electronics. Good luck, Eric Thus spake Yaw Anokwa (yanokwa@gmail.com):
depends what you consider reasonably priced. a solar charger than can keep a netbook happy will be in the $300-600 range (http://www.brunton.com/product.php?id=256). much easier to get two or three batteries per machine that folks can send to the market to get charged. netbooks assuming low lcd use and little radio use should last a day.
the phone solution is probably your best bet as far as being able to ruggedize and support the features you want.
On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 23:56, Bush, Cory <CBush@tns.org> wrote:
Thanks Yaw and Clint. Price point is certainly a concern, especially given the fact that these will be used for smallholder cooperatives which will require multiple devices per group. I think that Symbol is a bit expensive for these purposes, we're certainly more focused on appropriate smartphones.
Netbooks could be an option, but we would need some sort of protective skins and power/charging is another concern as these villages are off the electricity grid. Given your understanding of the power consumption of netbooks, do you think it would be realistic for them to operate for 6-8 hours per day while also powering a scale / printer? Are there reasonably priced solar options which could provide a sufficient power source while the sun is shining?
Thanks again for the thoughts.
Cory
-----Original Message----- From: Clint Tseng [mailto:cxlt@cs.washington.edu] Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 8:52 PM To: Yaw Anokwa Cc: Bush, Cory; change Subject: Re: [change] Digital scale / transaction recording device
I'm not sure about the scale part, but I was down at Marination Mobile the other day and they had a really slick looking point to sale app on an iPhone that talked wirelessly to a small battery powered receipt printer; might be a better price point and form factor depending on whether you can get it unlocked, etc.
—Clint
On Dec 10, 2009, at 9:35 AM, Yaw Anokwa <yanokwa@gmail.com> wrote:
for ruggedized mobile devices of the kind you are describing, your best bet is http://www.trimble.com or http://www.symbol.com.
you could also try a netbook with a gsm slot paired with a usb receipt printer and a usb scale would get you 90% of the way there. the netbook could likely power both of those devices. you could likely swap the netbook for a smart phone (say android running open data kit) but phones with usb master support are hard to find...
On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 01:18, Bush, Cory <CBush@tns.org> wrote:
Greetings all,
I’m trying to scope a solution for coffee cooperatives here in Rwa nda that will enhance transparency into the sale of coffee at small community-level collection points, and would appreciate any thoughts / ideas / device recommendations. Basic requirements would include:
- A digital scale capable of weighing up to 30kg
- Ability to capture transaction information including: ID#, price per kilo, KG delivered, coffee grade, collector ID#, payment type (cash/ bank)
- Ability to generate a paper receipt
- Ability to transmit transaction information in real-time if mobile data network available or store-and-forward batches if data network unavailable
- Ability to generate daily/weekly/monthly reconciliation or summary reports
- Ideally the scale, transaction device, and printer would be integrated, but not necessary
- Device(s) should have low power requirements, and be able to function for a full day between charges or be powerable via standard batteries.
- Device(s) should be rugged enough for use in rural settings
Thanks in advance for any insight,
Cory
Cory Bush RW Mobile: +250-788-309287
RW Office: +250-252-580414 Skype: corycbush
_______________________________________________ change mailing list change@change.washington.edu http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change
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-- Eric W. Anderson University of Colorado eric.anderson@colorado.edu Dept. of Computer Science phone: +1-720-984-8864 Systems Research Lab - ECCR 1B54 PGP key fingerprints: personal: 1BD4 CFCE 8B59 8D6E EA3E EBD5 4DC9 3E61 656C 462B academic: D3C5 D6FF EDED 9F1F C36D 53A3 74B7 53A6 3C74 5F12
Hi Cory - An interesting question and spec. Hopefully, I'm not too off base with this email. In the Seattle area, COSTCO, which sources its coffee from Rwanda, is potentially a good resource - but you probably already know that. I don't have a contact, but you might try finding the local COSTCO purchasing rep in Rwanda and/or send an email to the CEO, Jim Sinegal. http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/134/special-report-rwanda-rising.html COSTCO would have the kind of corporate relationships to perhaps help with this type of device sourcing. And $$. My guess is that there is nothing quite like what you are describing. Embedding of data in devices that are wireless network aware is still an emerging field. Rephrasing the question: How could you marry the ODK/ Android-device with a standard weighing device? Setting aside the specific data input device: A grocery equipment manager (that you might find at COSTCO), would be better able to send you device specs for a scale. My advice would be to keep the devices separate. Get a low cost analog scale, and have them record the amt on the Android. But that's not very technically satisfying... so if you do want to try for device convergence...most (all?) of the Android phones have a mini-USB port that I believe the ODK can access for other purposes (external bar code readers?). So the trick would be in selecting a weighing device (scale) with a serial data output and then in getting whatever drivers or API changes would be necessary to make the connection work (non-trivial). Under the heading: If you can build a solution for more than one customer, you have a market, it occurs to me this could also be useful in infant weighing programs, a part of many public health programs in Africa. So, you might find common cause around that, ie where the "transaction data of the coffee bean" is instead date of birth, mother's name, etc. Best of luck with this. Regards, James On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 1:18 AM, Bush, Cory <CBush@tns.org> wrote:
Greetings all,
I’m trying to scope a solution for coffee cooperatives here in Rwanda that will enhance transparency into the sale of coffee at small community-level collection points, and would appreciate any thoughts / ideas / device recommendations. Basic requirements would include:
- A digital scale capable of weighing up to 30kg
- Ability to capture transaction information including: ID#, price per kilo, KG delivered, coffee grade, collector ID#, payment type (cash/bank)
- Ability to generate a paper receipt
- Ability to transmit transaction information in real-time if mobile data network available or store-and-forward batches if data network unavailable
- Ability to generate daily/weekly/monthly reconciliation or summary reports
- Ideally the scale, transaction device, and printer would be integrated, but not necessary
- Device(s) should have low power requirements, and be able to function for a full day between charges or be powerable via standard batteries.
- Device(s) should be rugged enough for use in rural settings
Thanks in advance for any insight,
Cory
Cory Bush RW Mobile: +250-788-309287
RW Office: +250-252-580414 Skype: corycbush
_______________________________________________ change mailing list change@change.washington.edu http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change
-- James Dailey MicroEnergy Credits skype: jdailey +1 206 234 8435 mobile
participants (6)
-
Brian DeRenzi
-
Bush, Cory
-
Clint Tseng
-
Eric W Anderson
-
James Dailey
-
Yaw Anokwa