NEC LifeTouch Series Installation guide

Overview of “LifeTouch” Series Android Tablets
OHNUKI Takashi, HANAOKA Taira, ENOMOTO Koji, HONDA Kotaro
Abstract
The “LifeTouch” tablet series can be used easily, featuring a lightweight body, touch panel and Android OS. Advan-
tages include providing the necessary security functions for business use and supporting for customizations such as
the addition of other functions or a batch default setup.
Three products have been produced according to the different usage scenes. The “LifeTouch L,” which comes with
a large 10.1-inch LCD screen, features a thin and lightweight body, it measures 7.99 mm thick and weighs just 540
g. The “LifeTouch B” has a 7-inch screen and can be held with one hand, it is waterproof and could be utilized in
various business fields. The “LifeTouch W” features a book-style dual screen, which is adaptable for unique usage
scenes.
Keywords
LifeTouch, tablet, security, customization, thin and lightweight
Android, touch panel, dual screen
1. Introduction
The “LifeTouch” series of tablets are smart devices that can
be used easily, featuring a lightweight body, long battery op-
eration and touch panel, as well as offering the intuitive oper-
ation of the Android OS.
These LifeTouch tablets are intended for business uses such
as mobile work, presentations, industrial applications in man-
ufacturing plants and also provide services to corporations as
dedicated terminals. The LifeTouch tablets are different from
ordinary tablets available on the market as they provide addi-
tional functions, such as security and communication func-
tions necessary for commercial applications in a business
environment. They also support group automated installation,
as well as respond to customization requirements, which are
different for each business.
The LifeTouch tablet series product lineup includes three
products that can be selected according to the usage style. The
first one is the “LifeTouch L” tablet that features a 10.1-inch
LCD, intended for mobile work or presentations, thanks to the
visibility of its large screen with a wide viewing angle and su-
perior operability. The second one is the “LifeTouch B” tab-
let with a 7-inch LCD that can be held in one hand and features
both superior visible and portable size. It is waterproof and
dustproof, making it suitable for use outside offices or in man-
ufacturing plants. The third one is the “LifeTouch W” book-
style tablet that features two display screens, which can be
folded and carried around just like a notepad or a book.
The concept and features of the respective LifeTouch prod-
ucts are introduced in this paper.
2. “LifeTouch L” Model for Business Features Large and
Easily Visible Screen
2.1 Product Concept
The LifeTouch L business model ( Photo 1 ) is a smart
Photo 1 LifeTouch L.
NEC TECHNICAL JOURNAL Vol.7 No.3/2013 ------- 63
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Photo 2 Example of style of usage at meetings.
device intended for supporting business applications that re-
quire an easily visible, attractive and large screen for display-
ing information. The large 10.1-inch screen makes it suitable
for mobile work involving the presentation of materials, brows-
ing emails in a meeting or out of the office, sales work involv-
ing face-to-face presentations and customer service or for the
display of signage.
The slim and lightweight body, in addition to the large screen
with a wide view angle and a long-lasting battery, offers supe-
rior mobility to provide portability and operability of a tablet,
while it is still capable of supporting the work-style described
above.
2.2 Large Screen and Wide Angle of View LCD
The 1,280 × 800 pixel high-definition 10.1-inch LCD is
mounted as the display. A strong brightness and wide view-
ing angle IPS liquid crystal was adopted for the tablet, ena-
bling it to display beautiful images to each person viewing
from a variety of angles at the same time, making it suitable
for face-to-face interactions with customers at storefronts
( Photo 2 ).
2.3 Slim and Lightweight Driven by Long Lasting Battery
The portability, which is essential for smart devices, was
contemplated in order to achieve this slim and lightweight
body, which measures only 7.99 mm thick and weighs only
about 540 g, even though it is equipped with a 10.1-inch dis-
play.
The slim but lightweight body was created while maintain-
ing rigidity by separating the side and the back surfaces of the
frame structure, integrating the side surfaces through the cast-
ing of a resin form without any joining seams and using a single
aluminum plate to form the back surface. The flat shape means
it is easy to store and carry the tablet in a business bag where
it can be quickly removed and used immediately.
Furthermore, a thin 7,710 mAh large capacity lithium-pol-
ymer battery has been incorporated to achieve up to 13 hours
of battery operations (for web browsing; according to our in-
ternal measurement method). This makes it possible to work in
the field or in environments that do not provide a power source
for long periods of time.
2.4 Advanced Specifications
The LifeTouch L is characterized by a slim and light-
weight body, driven by a long-lasting battery, while it also
features advanced specifications, with an emphasis on per-
formance and connectivity.
● High performance platform
A high performance dual core OMAP4460 1.5 GHz was
adopted for the SoC (System on a Chip) and Android 4.0
was adopted as the operating system to provide a speedy
and delightful operating environment.
● Wireless LAN
The IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n is supported to respond to a wide
range of network environments. Furthermore, the 2.4
GHz band and the 5 GHz band of the IEEE 802.11n are
both supported.
● Expandability
The tablet incorporates a number of expansion interfa-
ces, Micro HDMI terminal for connecting to a projec-
tor, USB terminal (in the interest of keeping the tablet
thin, a special terminal is provided on the tablet for con-
necting a USB host cable for USB connections) for
connecting supported devices such as a keyboard, mi-
cro SDHC card slot and Bluetooth, etc. The possible
usage of the tablet expands when connected to a variety
of peripheral devices.
● Camera
A 1.2 M pixel front facing camera and a 5 M pixel rear
camera (equipped with flash and auto focus functions)
have been incorporated and can be used for video con-
ferencing or taking photographs both indoors and out-
doors.
● Security
A variety of security functions have been incorporated
into the tablet for business purposes. The tablet has in-
64
Smart devices
Overview of “LifeTouch” Series Android Tablets

herited the superior security functions of the LifeTouch
series, which prevents unauthorized use and provides
enhanced measures against loss and facilitates safe con-
nection functions for networks, including VPN.
3. Compact, Lightweight and Very Portable
“LifeTouch B” Series
3.1 Product Concept
The LifeTouch B series of tablets (LifeTouch B ( Photo 3 )
and LifeTouch B Plus ( Photo 4 )) are smart devices with a 7-
inch LCD, which support business use in stores, offices and
sales activities both in/out of the office thanks to clear
Photo 3 LifeTouch B.
Photo 4 LifeTouch B Plus.
visibility and excellent portability.
Furthermore, because of the dustproofing and waterproof-
ing features they can be used for inspections in manufactur-
ing plants or warehouses, as well as outdoors.
3.2 Rich Functions in a Compact Body
Specifications suitable for the operation of work site duties
outdoors are all integrated condensed in a compact body that
can be held in one hand.
● Compact and lightweight
Easily portable and operable, since it is a size that can be
carried in one hand.
● Battery replacement
The battery is removable and easy to replace whenever
the battery drains, which offers users the option of car-
rying multiple batteries as replacements to continue us-
ing the tablet when away from a charging point for long
periods of time.
● Security functions required for business
Just like LifeTouch L, the LifeTouch B series of tablets
feature various security functions. They can be used for
business with peace of mind, as they feature functions
that prevent unauthorized use, as well as provide meas-
ures against loss, while facilitating safe connection func-
tions for networks, including VPN support.
● 3G model
A model supporting the 3G connectivity is included in
the product line of LifeTouch B Plus, therefore the tab-
let can be used for business purposes by connecting to a
network from anywhere, while out in the field.
● Wireless LAN handover
Supports a wireless LAN handover feature that switches
over automatically to an optimum wireless LAN access
point, making it possible to use the tablet while moving
freely across environments, including those with multi-
ple wireless LAN access points, such as inside buildings.
● Expandability with consideration for usability
It can link up with other devices, such as digital cam-
eras or PCs with the use of the full size SD card slot or
bar code readers using the USB host function.
● Stylish and user-friendly design
A “Flat Surface Design” that eliminates unevenness on
both the front and reverse side surfaces was adopted, so
that it can be used as an embedded system as well.
The rear camera is positioned at the center of the back’s
surface, so it is not covered regardless of whether the
NEC TECHNICAL JOURNAL Vol.7 No.3/2013 ------- 65
Special Issue on Smart Device Solutions

body is held vertically or horizontally.
A strap hole is also incorporated to allow a strap to be
fitted to prevent the body being dropped, enabling the
tablet to be used safely with outdoor duties.
3.3 Dustproof and Waterproof Features
Expand Usage Style
Dustproofing and waterproofing features reduce the risk of
malfunctions arising from dust or water ingress when the tab-
let is used outdoors or in a wet environment.
Furthermore, the LifeTouch B Plus is equipped with a high-
er level of resilient dustproofing and waterproofing, making it
possible to use the tablet in even rougher environments.
● LifeTouch B: IP54 compliant
● LifeTouch B Plus: IP65/IP67 compliant
4. Book-Style Dual Screen “LifeTouch W”
4.1 Product Concept
The LifeTouch W ( Photo 5 ) is a dual screen smart device
that can be folded shut, just like a book or a pad, making this
large screen tablet portable. The two screens can be used as a
single spread screen or they can be used as two individual
screens to use applications and services.
4.2 Book-style / Dual Screen Application
The LifeTouch W features a unique book-style shape and
dual screen.
Photo 5 LifeTouch W.
● Easily portable folding shape
The LifeTouch W can be opened to an arbitrary angle
(Photo 5) and features a shape like holding a book.
● Large screen stores away compactly
The tablet features a display area equivalent to a 10-inch
tablet when opened, with the incorporation of two 7-inch
LCDs, which can be stored away in a compact manner
by folding the tablet just like a pad for transporting. Fur-
thermore, since the liquid crystal surfaces are folded
inside, there would be no concerns for the display being
scratched whenever the tablet is carried in a bag.
● Two applications can be used simultaneously
Each of the two screens can be used to display and use
applications on each, individually.
For instance, one screen can be used to browse the web,
while the other screen is used for editing emails, mak-
ing it possible to work efficiently, without the need of
switching between two applications on a single screen as
with a smart phone for example.
● Framework and SDK makes application develop-
ment easy
Using the dual screen framework and SDK (Software
Development Kit) for LifeTouch W makes it possible to
develop applications that take advantage of the dual
screens. Furthermore, existing single screen applica-
tions can be operated on the overall display comprised of
two screens by modifying just a section of the defini-
tion file for the application.
5. Conclusion
The functions and LifeTouch products line-up will contin-
ue to be enhanced in the future, so that these smart devices can
be used for commercial applications of various businesses, as
well as dedicated terminals for cloud services intended for
corporate customers.
*Life Touch is a registered trademark in Japan owned by NEC Corporation.
*Android is a trademark or registered trademark of Google Inc.
*IPS stands for In Plane Switching LCD and is a registered trademark of Japan Display Inc. in
Japan.
*OMAP is a trademark or registered trademark of Texas Instruments Inc.
*HDMI is a trademark or registered trademark of HDMI Licensing, LLC in the U.S. and other
countries.
*SD and SDHC are trademarks of SD-3C, LLC.
*Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. (USA).
66
Smart devices
Overview of “LifeTouch” Series Android Tablets

Authors' Profiles
OHNUKI Takashi
Manager
Cloud Devices Division
Personal Solutions Operations Unit
HANAOKA Taira
Manager
Cloud Devices Division
Personal Solutions Operations Unit
ENOMOTO Koji
Manager
Cloud Devices Division
Personal Solutions Operations Unit
HONDA Kotaro
Manager
Cloud Devices Division
Personal Solutions Operations Unit
The details about this paper can be seen at the following.
Related URL:
http://www.nec.com/en/global/prod/smartdevices/
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