Using Vital Signs

Palm IIIc Software: Handheld Overview

As you read through the Palm IIIc Overview, it may be helpful for you to have Vital Signs available for reference. Open the Vital Signs application through the Palm IIIc start page. Tap [Start] in the lower right-hand corner of the blue start page to begin.

There are four main Vital Signs screens, each with an assigned icon:

• Images / camera icon: The Images screen allows you to associate a digital image with your data record. Digital images can be made using a peripheral PalmPix camera.
• Location / Earth icon: The Location screen uses a peripheral GPS receiver to find your geographic position. The screen stamps your data record with the time, date, and latitude/longitude coordinates.
• Measurements / thermometer icon: The Measurements screen uses peripheral probes to measure and record water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and salinity.
• Anecdotal Observations / notebook icon: The Anecdotal Observations screen allows you to attach important field observations to your data record.

These four icons - representing the four Vital Signs screens - appear along the bottom of each screen. You may tap on these icons in any order to switch between them.

The location and measurement screens prompt you to plug in a peripheral device to the Palm IIIc. Peripheral devices include a GPS receiver, temperature probe, pH probe, dissolved oxygen probe, and a salinity probe. Data are automatically collected from these devices and transferred to your Palm. The observation screen asks that you manually enter notes using graffiti, the on-screen keyboard, or a peripheral keyboard.

As you move between the screens to collect and enter data, a check mark appears over the associated icon, indicating that valid data exists for that screen. Once any or all four screens contain data and you are satisfied with the contents, pressing [Store] saves all data from all screens as a single record in a database on the handheld Palm device.

Useful Vital Signs Functions:

• Edit: The [Edit] function - accessible through the blue Vital Signs start page - allows you to view and edit stored records. The edit function allows changes to the note-taking section only.
• Reject: On all screens, the [Reject] button clears the data from the current screen and allows you to start over. It does not alter the data on the other screens.
• Information Icon: There is text imbedded in the Vital Signs application that gives you more information about the page or peripheral you are using, including troubleshooting tips. This information is accessible by tapping the "i" icon in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.