The Inspector program requires very little technical support once deployed and is easy to operate, not requiring the user to have significant computer experience. A simple process of paging from screen to screen guides the Field Supervisor or Inspector through a process designed to capture observations or responses to questions the inspector is asked to provide. Site inspection criteria include security, activity of personnel or visitors, physical condition of the facility, light, heat, air conditioning, presence of unauthorized vehicles, etc. 

With two basic components - the PDA based inspection system and the web based support system - Inspector provides extraordinary flexibility to maintain and update the inspection process. A supervisor can create and modify inspection templates from anywhere on the Internet and, using a secure web interface, additions or changes to inspection routines are deployed to field users through wireless data synchronization. It is not a problem if a supervisor should ever not have the time to inform his field inspectors of changes he made - they will automatically appear on their handhelds.   

Different and very specific inspection templates can be created depending on the sites and particular aspects to be inspected. The user simply chooses from a list of sites and types of inspections which particular template to use. The system then guides him through the inspection process, presenting the corresponding questions one by one, and requiring responses to be provided in predetermined formats. Some of the valid response formats are

• Yes / No
• Yes / No / Not Applicable
• List box (with your own values in list format)
• Text (with a MS Word^TM-like text editor)
• Date (date selectable from a pop-up calendar)
• A scale from 1 to 5
• Etc....

The system is interactive and you can configure it so that certain responses to questions automatically trigger a 2^nd  screen with  follow-up action items, of which the user selects those that apply. Example:

Q: Is the temperature in the data center at the required 62º F?  Yes/No

A:         Yes       [no further action]

            No >     [new screen pops up, asking to select from the following choices]

                        Adjusted temperature, no further action needed

                        Someone changed the thermostat

                        Reporting actual temperature (in comment section)

                        Other recommendations (in comment section)

Inspections can be completed with photos taken with the PDA, and pictures are automatically integrated into the inspection report at the right places so that they appear next to the relevant question. Also, the inspector's and other individuals' signatures can be captured on the device, providing irrefutable proof of the inspection report's authenticity.