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 M.A.X.
client: Motorola Communications Corp.
 When Motorola decided to revolutionize its alphanumeric pagers by adding a graphical user interface, they turned to Ratio to develop a device that would prove the feasibility of this concept.
Although the development of such a prototype was estimated to take
nearly two years, Motorola wanted it done in four months.
Ratio assembled an aggressive team of software developers, designers, and engineers to work concurrently on the solution. They conducted research to determine the most appropriate existing technologies for the pager. They selected the "track pad" as the
most intuitive means for users to input data. The user moves his/her finger like a mouse over the
pad on the back of the product, which translates the finger motions to the screen.
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M.A.X.
(continued)
 Concurrent with the hardware and enclosure development, software engineers began developing the applications needed to run MAX.
They
used AirScript, a new, dynamic information publishing language for pagers.
AirScript lets the pager run several different applications with text and/or graphics, enabling users to access movie listings, traffic reports, stock updates, or nearly any information the pager company wants to provide.
Ratio's team members
managed to develop a functioning unit-hardware, charger, enclosure, graphical user interface, AirScript applications, user guide, and packaging-in only seventeen weeks.
Ratio's close collaboration with Motorola's management enabled the two companies
to establish a new industry standard for high functionality pagers.
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The first challenge was to integrate MAX's highly sensitive radio with the pager's complex digital system, then fit it all into a compact enclosure. The designers created a stylish enclosure to accommodate the track pad and all the hardware, while fitting comfortably in the user's hands. The electrical engineers worked closely with designers to determine the best placement for the pager's internal circuitry and hardware.