LabQuest for Vernier Software & Technology

Vernier Software & Technology has been an innovator of data-collection technology for over 25 years. Beginning with the Apple II, Vernier has been creating easy-to-use and affordable science interfaces, sensors, and software. Their products can be found in education from elementary school to college. Vernier helps teachers enhance their science curriculum, increase learning, and build students’ critical thinking skills.

Vernier turned to OpenedHand for help in creating what founder Dave Vernier described as the “most exciting addition to our product range in 25 years” - the Vernier LabQuest, an affordable, standalone and rugged handheld computer for both data collection and analysis. The Labquest connects with Vernier’s wide range of sensors and its software provides instantaneous measurement or realtime graphing and analysis of results. It is an exciting and effective tool to be used across the science curriculum.

Vernier recognised that using embedded Linux would give them the flexibility, power, and cost effectiveness to build such a device, but they lacked in-house experience with Linux as a device platform. Vernier sought OpenedHand’s experience and knowledge of device development with open source technologies.

OpenedHand recommended the use of GNOME Mobile which provides a Linux, X-Windows, and GTK+ based software stack. OpenedHand then developed an application framework on these technologies that would fit the requirements for the device and analysis software. The Poky platform build tool was used to develop and integrate this framework, an optimised Linux core, and Vernier’s application work with the target ARM-based hardware.

As well as a development tool, Poky QEMU integration provided the basis for a both an important developer tool and a simulation training tool for teachers to demonstrate usage of the Labquest to students.

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