![[HSO]](../ir/yb-s.gif)
At the Halifax Summit, the job of the Sherpa (the senior official who
provides support to the world leaders) has become easier, thanks to a
systems integration solution --- pen-based computing --- developed by
Filbitron Marketing Corporation of Markham, Ontario.
If, in the course of the meeting, Prime Minister Jean Chretien needs
detailed trade figures, for example, he would turn to Canada's Sherpa,
Gordon Smith, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade. Pen-based computing allows Mr. Smith to communicate with
researchers by writing directly on a computer screen; he will get a
response back in the same way.
"I'm very proud that a Canadian company has developed this to the
point where we can use it at the Halifax Summit," said Mr. Smith, "and
I look forward to sharing this technology with my international
colleagues." All Sherpas for the delegations will have the opportunity
to use the system.
Previously, the Sherpa would communicate by phone and facsimile with
researchers in the delegation's offices. Pen-based computing offers
advantages over those methods in terms of speed and efficiency.
Further, the pen-based computing system is simple to use and
eliminates any possible errors that might occur when information is
transferred from a traditional note-pad to computer.
According to Filbitron's Vice-President, Jim Clark, the Summit's use of
this technology is only one of many possible applications. Other
applications include: taking inventory, placing orders, and site
inspections --- all of which are more efficient when data entry is done
simultaneously with data collection.
Filbitron's pen-based computing system uses light-weight tablet
computers, provided by Fujitsu Personal Systems, Inc., of Santa Clara,
California, and conferencing and communications software, provided by
SMART technologies Inc. of Calgary, Alberta.
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