15 Ways iPad Goes to Work

During a dig in the ancient ruins of Pompei, an archaeologist records notes and sketches on an iPad. The iPad 2 even lets you take pictures in the field. Could Indiana Jones have used an iPad? You bet. If the bad guys stole his 3G iPad, Dr. Jones would’ve been able to track them and it down with the Find iPhone app.

Related apps: Archaeology (free), Archaeology — Oxford Dictionary ($15), Virtual History ROMA ($10)

From jam sessions to late-night DJs to one-man street bands, the iPad has become a musical creation sensation. The most well-known musical iPad app is Apple’s own GarageBand ($5), which can record and play back multiple audio tracks.

Related apps: DJ Mixer Pro (free), Pianist Pro ($5), GarageBand ($5)

Harris Corp., a tech vendor with $6 billion in annual revenue, is developing an iPad app that will let U.S. soldiers in war zones remotely control cameras mounted on tethered balloons and other unmanned aerial vehicles. Call it the iPad of war.

Related apps: Drone Control — Remote Control your AR.Drone ($5)

From carriers to construction workers, iPads are getting out into the field. At D7 Consulting, employees at construction sites from San Francisco to Las Vegas use iPads to input data and make out reports. iPads replace binders filled with paper. (Check out iPad at Work on Dirty Jobs: 5 Lessons Learned)

Related apps: Field Service ($10)