Rugged Notebook
The new Algiz XRW rugged notebook is a rugged laptop with a 10.1-inch widescreen featuring sunlight-readable MaxView screen technology, and a 2 GHz Intel Atom processor. It includes a 64 GB solid state disk and 2 GB of DDR2 RAM. The Algiz XRW runs the Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate operating system. The Algiz XRW comes standard with Bluetooth, WLAN and GPS as well as a built-in 2-megapixel autofocus camera that allows video conferencing in the field. The notebook also has a 57.6 Wh battery that works for 8 hours on a single charge. This powerful performer offers ultra-rugged toughness. The “XRW” stands for “eXtreme Road Warrior,” and this device lives up to its name. Its keyboard and mouse-touchpad, illuminated by two led lights, are fully sealed, and it carries an overall IP65 rating against sand, dust and water. It meets stringent MIL-STD-810F military standards for withstanding humidity, vibration, drops and extreme temperatures. This rugged computing tool, with its take-it-anywhere functionality comes in an impressively portable package. The compact, slim Algiz XRW weighs in at only 3.3 lb.

NTSB on Twitter, YouTube
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) established a Twitter account and a YouTube channel as it broadens its communication efforts by moving into social media. The handle for the Twitter account is "ntsb" (www.twitter.com/ntsb). The YouTube channel is "ntsbgov" (www.youtube.com/ntsbgov). The NTSB will use Twitter to communicate with those interested in its investigative work and advocacy programs to enhance transportation safety. The YouTube channel will be a one-stop resource where the NTSB's advocacy video messages, transportation accident animations and other video products can be accessed.









New System for Determining the Dynamic Behavior of a Bus Body Structure
Federal and state requirements strictly prohibit using cell phones for calling and texting by operators of buses and trains. In an effort to keep public transportation safe, LA Metro has teamed with Berkeley Varitronics Systems (BVS), Eastman Telebell International Inc (ETI), and Mobile Video Systems (MVS) to launch a unique system that reliably detects cell phone usage and provides instant video archiving upon detection.

The system is in the final stage of development and is currently being field-tested. The cell phone monitoring system detects if an operator is texting/calling within the driver seat area and instantly triggers a video recording of that zone. The integration that yields this solution involves three devices: a cell phone tracker device (CPT) developed by BVS called Wolf-Hound, and a CCTV Camera and SSD4 mobile video recorder developed by MVS which provided the basis for co-development between MVS and ETI.

The patent pending cell detector utilizes an advanced algorithm that measures the radio frequency energy precisely within a given cell phone bandwidth. If the signal strength exceeds a predetermined threshold, a camera coupled to a DVR is triggered and time stamps the event.