Development of a Ruggedized Hand-Held Computer for Performance Testing inOperational Settings

摘要

Portable, ruggedized computers, capable of administering standard automated testsunder harsh environmental conditions, have been needed by researchers for many years. Particularly, military psychologists require tools which will permit the testing of soldiers during operationally-relevant field exercises without problems of equipment malfunctions.In 1984, the U.S. Army Research and Development Command sought to address this requirement by sponsoring a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) effort with Paravant Computer Systems, Inc. This SBIR resulted in the design and construction of the RHC-88, a notebook-sized, MS-DOS-based, IBM compatible computer which offers extensive programming flexibility in a portable, expandable, field-hardened unit. With the RHC-88, now it is possible to administer a wide variety of computer-based tests in the laboratory and in the field.