Episode 29 Useful Apps in the Field

Unexpectedly widespread Great pride　
Handwriting input apps used in construction, film studios, etc.

In the days of JustSystems, we have developed “Ichitaro” and other software that can be used on a computer designed for sitting at a desk and working steadily. The newly introduced iPad, however, does not have the constraints of a keyboard and mouse.

The time has come for us to provide an application that can be taken out and used whenever and wherever you want. Especially in the field, where the situation changes from moment to moment, there is no time to waste. Even the slightest delay can cause stress to the users. That is why I thought that an application that can be used easily and instantly is required.

When developing a handwriting input application for the iPad, I asked the development team to ensure that the image would remain clear and not jagged even when the screen was enlarged.
Thus we launched our notebook application “MetaMoJi Note” in 2012. This app has now become our signature product.

One day in the spring of 2014, we received a visit to our Tokyo office by people of Obayashi Corporation. They told us that they wanted to “promote the use of iPads in the field,” as iPads are often tucked away in the desks of their offices after they have distributed them to their employees.

Unlike PCs, iPads can be brought to construction sites and are expected to greatly improve work efficiency, according to a company representative. However, many on-site workers are reluctant to accept new technology.

Therefore, they interviewed field workers to find out what applications they were using, and found that many of them were using “MetaMoJi Note” instead of a field notebook, which is a handwritten notepad that construction foremen carry with them at all times.

The idea was to create an electronic version of the field notebook, which led to the start of the collaboration between our company and Obayashi Corporation. They requested a variety of functions, including automatic date addition, task management, and spreadsheets. Instead of implementing these requests as we were told, we proactively proposed specifications based on feedback from our users and considering the features of iPad.

Thus, with regard to “eYACHO”, the product which was completed in 2015, we are proud to say that it has surpassed the initial expectations of the people at Obayashi Corporation. It is now widely used not only on construction sites. We then developed “GEMBA Note” by removing construction-specific contents from “eYACHO” so that it could be used by field workers in a wider range of industries.

As intended, the product is now being used in a wide variety of settings. In addition to plant maintenance, inspection, design, and other construction-related fields, it is also being used in the filming of movies, interestingly.

According to Mr. Shinsuke Sato, a film director who has produced many hit movies, including “Kingdom,” a story about Qin Shi Huangdi, our product is used not only on set but also for location hunting and sketching props. When I visited the film studio, I saw the product being used as a communication tool between Mr. Sato and his staff. I could not be more pleased.

Furthermore, the product was also introduced to the dental practice. The application was highly valued by dental professionals, who found it troublesome to manage medical records using paper-based sub-charts.

Thinking back, our aspiration to contribute to the intellectual productivity of the Japanese people has not changed at all since we developed Ichitaro. Hatsuko and I are very proud that our applications are now playing an active role in a variety of fields that we could not have originally imagined.

“eYACHO” is widely used
in construction and other sites.