Computing Devices

Summary

We are often asked what computing devices/hardware and operating systems are best suited for ClinSpark. That experience will vary depending on customer specific user needs and site computing environments.

Customer-Specific Use Case

A customer spoke on the topic of hardware at a ClinSpark user group meeting in 2017. Their presentation demonstrates various use cases and decisions on hardware, form factors, and medical devices.

That presentation can be viewed here.

Considering Each User Need

In practice, customers may decide to use a mix of computing devices depending on the environment.

• Recruiters are likely to use desktops or laptops.

• Computers in screening areas are likely to be static, and connected to devices such as vital signs and ECG.

• Customers may also want to have a static computer configuration in their clinic, e.g. one per bed, or one per pair of beds.

• Customers may want some mobile computers with medical devices - mounted on carts or poles (so called ‘COWs’ or computers-on-wheels).

• Doctors and study coordinators might want tablets for their portability, in order to do ‘ward rounds’.

• Labs may want to use tablets that are mounted away from the bench surface with scanners attached (scanners act as keyboard wedges).

• Customers may want some computers that are label printing workstations.

ClinSpark is designed to be flexible and utilized for a variety of use cases. Foundry Health recommends that customers investigate and experiment until they have found the right combination for each use case and environment.

Support for Google Chrome

Generally speaking, if a device is capable of installing/running Google Chrome, it can access ClinSpark. We recommend that customers check to see if their device meets the minimum Chrome system requirements.

Standard Desktop and Laptop Computers

Modern desktop and laptop computers come in hardware configurations that include different screen sizes, processors, operating systems, peripheral capabilities, and input controls.

In most environments where users need access to ClinSpark and the ClinSpark Agent for device connectivity, we recommend the following:

• Microsoft Windows 10 or later

• An Intel processor

• Minimum 4GB RAM

• Minimum 1 GB hard drive space

• Minimum screen resolution of 1024x768

• Standard input controls, such as keyboard and mouse/touchpad

• Multiple USB ports (e.g. for attaching medical devices, scanners)

Microsoft Windows

In our experience, Microsoft Windows is most commonly used in clinical research settings. Windows is also the most supported (and recommended) operating system for peripheral device manufacturers that our customers use. This includes application and driver support for interfacing with devices such as label/barcode printers, vital signs machines, and ECG devices.

Processors

The most common hardware configuration for Microsoft Windows are devices with Intel processors. To a lesser extent, some Windows devices also still use AMD processors. Either of these should work with ClinSpark and ClinSpark Agent configurations. However, we only develop and test interfaces on devices with Intel processors. Our recommendation therefore are computers with Intel processors.

Windows devices that use ARM processors will not work with many of the device integrations we’ve developed. This processor is also not widely supported by peripheral device manufacturers that our customers rely on. We do not recommend the use of Windows ARM devices in clinic settings for this reason. ARM devices may be suitable for some use cases, if only needing to access ClinSpark via web browser, but customers must investigate this hardware choice at their own discretion.

Tablet Computers

Tablet computing devices and multi-functional (2-in-1) laptop/tablet come in various hardware configurations. Most notably the difference between these and standard laptop devices will be the expanded (and focused) use of touch-screen capabilities with smaller screen sizes.

Foundry Health has observed an acceptable ClinSpark user experience on Windows-based tablet computing devices similar to the Microsoft Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Book.

Mobile Devices & Smartphones

Mobile devices and smartphones come with different web browsers and operating systems, in addition to being available in a variety of form factors and screen sizes. Mobile browsers are becoming increasingly more sophisticated, yet they do not offer the same user experience as their desktop counterparts.

ClinSpark is developed to be very mobile friendly, using the latest web technologies and principles such as responsive design. The mobile ClinSpark experience may vary depending on the intended use of the application.

If sites are using ClinSpark on a mobile device, we want to hear from our customers and get feedback on the experience. We expect mobile devices and use cases to play a key role in the future of ClinSpark.

We have not tested it ourselves but one customer has used handheld Zebra all-in-one devices combining a barcode scanner for certain use cases such as blood draws (example here https://www.zebra.com/us/en/products/mobile-computers/handheld/tc2x-series.html).

Chromebooks

Chromebooks run the Google Chrome OS. They are simple, cost effective machines. As the capabilities of Chrome OS evolve, device manufacturers offer different input capabilities such as stylus and touch screens. Chromebooks are typically limited in medical device integration capabilities, as these usually require Windows device drivers.

Chromebooks may offer a limited experience for certain users and applications.

Chromebooks seem to be well suited to use in the sample processing lab where the only connected device could be a barcode/label scanner.