Tablets have many benefits but they also have associated drawbacks and risks, particularly in larger utilities where crews experience harsh conditions, bright sunlight and often encounter connectivity issues. The small form factor and the high risk of damage are also key issues.  In these instances, pen and paper often remain the primary way of marking up design drawings and record plans.

But with the intersection of the 32nd square of the chess board with Moore’s law, we can begin to imagine an new solution.