Langan Products, Inc. was incorporated in 1987, to develop and market complete, portable systems containing appropriate sensors, data storage and analytical software. Each component has evolved since to allow current technology in our miniature "measurers".
The challenge to identify sensors has required constant evaluation and research into just what is available and the veracity of the published specifications. It is necessary to become knowledgable in diverse fields of physics, physical chemistry, mechanical engineering and electronics. The search for the practical solution to measure each selected phenonmena in a portable way requires understanding each methodology, the language of the specialists therein, the limits they face and the comparison of different approaches of measurement. Each case is a specialized study, and not all studies are successful in the selection of a suitable solution.
The challenge to acquire data portably has become more common place than it was when we started. There are choices of many data loggers in the market now. In 1988, we designed the 'DataBear™ Measurer', a special purpose data acquisition board suited to measure and store the information we sensed. It has evolved over the years (with many changes 'under the hood') and remains our storage device of choice. Some special characteristics include a compact storage means, a set of published 'operational codes' (opcodes) which enable anyone to set the data rate, the number of enabled channels and several text fields. The DataBear (it 'bears' data!) continues to perform admirably.
The challenge to provide readout and reset software presented another dilema. The graphical user interface of the Macintosh made it an ideal solution, and the Mac has maintained its own evolutionary curve and capability over the years. Our "Sense-Your-World!™" Software stays with the Mac and continnues to improve. It is optimized to handle the thousands of data samples recovered from Langan instruments in a quick and useful manner. Most of the analyses otherwise accomplished in spreadshhets are already available without the limitations these standard packages impose.
With the introduction and subsequent dominence of the Windows operating systems and its underlying DOS foundation, we added capability. We first provided a quick and adaptable software application, "IBearM Reader" which enables anyone using 'Wintel' systems to interface with our instruments within the DOS shell. It was less graphic and complete than the Mac software, but IBearM displayed returned results, manipulated them quickly and allowed options for storage and setting the DataBear. Saved 'native' files can be read by the Macintosh application; 'text' files by spreadsheets and statistical applications of any computer.
In late 1999, we introduced the "Measurer's Window" software which operates using Windows95, Windows98, WindowsNT and Windows2000, all 16-bit operating systems. These native files can also be read using the Macintosh application and text files may be saved.
Over the years we have developed complete instruments to observe temperature, relative humidity, carbon monoxide, atmospheric pressure, carbon dioxide and other species on special order.
In 2000, new sensors are being incorporated into our product line. Our effort continues to be one of evolutionary development to observe the environment in 'small' ways! Langan Measurers continue to provide reliable elegant solutions for gathering useful data routinely and cost effectively. Let us know how we can help you:
(June 2000)