Mobile Computer Setup

(Updated March 2022)

Mosaic Vivarium uses a web browser interface to enter data. Therefore, plans must be made for animal facility users to have access to barcode scanners and computers.

The exact quantities of equipment depend on the animal facility's physical layout. For example, some facilities have suites of six rooms within an outer room consisting of a central access hallway. In this case, a mobile station parked in the hallway can be brought into each room on demand. In other cases, rooms are larger, and having a workstation in each room is useful.

Key suggestions:

1. Have a conversation with animal facility staff to see and understand how they work.
2. Purchase one instance of a commodity equipment setup before committing the entire facility.
3. Beware of requests to over-use mobile devices – these are suitable for some operations, but many animal operations require staff to frequently use both hands and only periodically turn to a data entry station. It is useful to have a large form factor data entry station that can be seen from a couple of feet away.

If your facility has wireless network access, the following setup can be put on a lab cart for convenient cage-side record keeping with Mosaic Vivarium. Prices are approximate.

1. Laptop Computer ($700+)
   
   Memory should be 16 GB RAM or more and a display resolution of 1920x1080 or better and a touchscreen is ideal.
     
   You can use a smaller screen, but the ease of visibility is key. 
   
   The processor should be equivalent to or better than an Intel Core i5 at 3 GHz.
   
   Also, see Tablet Computers for Mosaic Vivarium.
   
   
   
2. Plastic Supply Cart on Wheels ($150 - $300 )
   
   For example, https://www.uline.com/Grp_37/Utility-Carts
   
   NOTE: Not all lab floors are level - consider a cart with wheel locks.
   
   
   Dedicated healthcare workstations are also an option:
   
   
   

   M38e Computing Workstation - Capsa Healthcare
   Medical Cart Workstations for Hospitals & Clinics | Ergotron
   
   
3. Commodity Label Printer 
   
   from vendors such as iDPRT, Dymo, Brother, Zebra...
   
   See Cage Card Printing for more printer options.
   
   See Cost Effective Cage Card Printing for better label choices.
   
   
4. Barcode Scanners
   See our complete review of barcode scanner options for Mosaic Vivarium
   https://mosaicvivarium.blogspot.com/2012/06/barcode-scanners-for-mosaic.html
   
   
5. UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply / Portable Power) ~$210
   
   This is just to run the label printer which cannot run from the USB power alone. Plug the UPS into the wall when the cart is not in use.
   
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00429N19W
   
   For the CyberPower models, get versions with the LCD display in order to be able to shut off the audible notification when the unit is operating on battery power.

Cost Effective Cage Card Printing

Updated Dec 2011

Mosaic Vivarium generates cage cards as PDF files which you print.  A very cost effective printing solution is to purchase a $130 DYMO thermal (black and white) label printer:

DYMO LabelWriter 450 Turbo

You can attach this to the USB port of a laptop on a cart in your facility and print labels one-by-one as needed with no waste of label stock.

The majority of Mosaic Vivarium cage card templates are sized for part number 30256 labels.  These are 2-5/16" x 4" (300 labels/roll) and will adhere to a 3x5" index card leaving a border. By using colored index card stock, you can color cue your cage cards by type.

Direct from DYMO is a little expensive.

Here are a couple of sources for lower prices on DYMO 30256 labels.  We recommend trying a roll to make sure you are getting the print quality you expect.

https://www.officesmartlabels.com/

https://www.discountthermallabels.com/

https://www.labelvalue.com//

Leave a comment for the community on your experiences with these sources.