Electronic field notebooks

Today, much more than just data are produced electronically. Many documents needed for studies that fall under the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards regulations are being managed electronically. These records include not only data, such as chromatographic data from automated electronic capture systems and raw data collected in electronic field notebooks, but also other documents, such as methods, protocols, reports and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Frequently, these records are generated, distributed, reviewed, and archived electronically. 

Recently, the telecommunication industry has undergone rapid expansion, and a strong consumer trend towards smaller and lighter telecommunication devices, such as cellular phones and notebook computers, is indicated. Small connection sockets and chip carriers are micro-injection-molded parts requiring the high flowability, high mechanical properties and dimensional stability of LCPs. These merits are now thought to be another application field for LCPs in the electronics industry. 

These consist of field data sheets, sample storage records, bench sheets or laboratory notebooks, chromatograms, and shipping papers. Some of the laboratory records, in particular, can be electronic rather than paper. 

It is quite clear that we do not expect complete substitution of ordinary batteries by fuel cells in the portable field. Ordinary batteries will continue to maintain their leading market position as power sources for a large number of devices. Thus, disposable batteries are expected to maintain their importance for pocket flashlights and various medical devices, for example. Simple electronic devices such as portable radios, audio players, digital cameras, and so on, will continue to be powered by rechargeable nickel-cadmium and nickel-hydride batteries. Lithium-ion rechargeables are likely to continue in simpler mobile phones. Fuel cells will be attractive for more complex equipment, such as notebooks used for more than 2 hours at a time, for instance, where even lithium-ion batteries have insufficient energy density. 

A number of different lithium secondary systems serve for very low energy demands of electronic modules as memories and clocks. The batteries for these fields of application are manufactured as button cells. These cells are described first. Then for medium and high energy requirements lithium-ion batteries are explained. Today they are widely applied for portable electronic devices such as cellular phones and notebooks, which need much more energy than the aforementioned components for as many hours as possible (practically today up to 4 hours in notebooks). On the developmental stage it has been attempted to apply the lithium-ion technology also for much bigger accumulators, e.g. for so-called hybrid vehicles with a combined combustion and electric propulsion system. 

Nast consulting [NAS 11] has developed the software Eves (Electronic Safety Recording System) to cany out road SI. The application fields of the system were divided into two gronps, depending on the devices on which the system was supposed to run. For the higher road network, where SI is performed by car, the system has to ran on a notebook computer for the lower road network (e.g. cycle paths, footpaths, etc.), where SI is performed on a bike or on foot, the system has to ran on a mobile device. 

Since accidents, malfunctions, and sabotage do occur, all data to be stored electronically must be backed up, labeled with clear identification of the data, dated, witnessed, and stored in a place safe from magnetic fields or intervention. When original data are computer-generated or computer-collected, both the disk and a hard copy print-out should be labeled, signed, dated, and witnessed on each page (or on each disk). The disk should be write protected. Hard copy should be referenced in and attached to the handwritten notebook. 

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