PC-based data logger ideal for education

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 10, 2000

Pico Technology has announced DrDAQ - a low cost, PC-based data logger supplied with everything (bar the PC) that schools, colleges and universities will need in order to conduct a wide range of scien

Pico Technology has announced DrDAQ - a low cost, PC-based data logger supplied with everything (bar the PC) that schools, colleges and universities will need in order to conduct a wide range of science experiments.

"Schools do not have a great deal of money to splash out on expensive equipment," says Mike Green, Pico Technology's Managing Director, "which is why we've produced a low cost, PC- based data logging solution.

DrDAQ can be at the heart of hundreds of experiments." DrDAQ plugs into the parallel port of any PC compatible lap-top or desk-top, taking its power from the port - so there is no need for separate power supplies.

The DrDAQ board features built-in sensors for light, sound waveforms, sound level, temperature, voltage and resistance.

In addition, a socket accepts any standard pH electrode and there are two sockets for a range of optional external sensors such as humidity, pressure and magnetic field.

DrDAQ recognises the presence of sensors and automatically scales and calibrates all readings.

DrDAQ is supplied with Pico Technology's popular software packages, PicoLog and PicoScope.

PicoLog enables DrDAQ to be used as an advanced data logger over long periods of time, whereas PicoScope enables DrDAQ to be used as an oscilloscope and spectrum analyser to analyse rapidly changing signals such as sound waveforms.

Both software packages are compatible with Windows 3.1x, 95/98/2000 and NT.

DrDAQ has been through extensive beta testing at a number of educational establishments.

As part of this testing, teachers have been carrying out experiments suitable for different age groups and different science syllabuses.

These have been added to the growing list of example experiments supplied as standard with DrDAQ "By combining the software, data logger and sensors into one low cost, ready to use package, DrDAQ looks set to revolutionise the educational data logging market." concludes Green.

"It's way ahead of the nearest alternative solution in terms of price performance, and we're sure schools are just going to love it.

We're extremely keen on promoting science in schools and this is our way of putting something back into the system." Full details of DrDAQ can be found at www.drdaq.com From this site, demonstration versions and upgrades of the software can be downloaded.

Students can also download free versions of the software, so they can view saved data or use DrDAQ at home.

Also available for download is a free collection of science experiments suitable for use with data loggers and oscilloscopes.

DrDAQ, on sale from April 2000 will retail for ?59.

Optional external sensors are also competitively priced, a DrDAQ with two external temperature sensors and a pH electrode will retail for ?99: all prices exclude VAT and delivery.