Scientists need information—fast, accurate, and on-demand. But they also need to know their data is protected. That’s why we’ve added View-Only Mode to the Labguru mobile app, Labhandy.
This feature lets you pull up protocols and experiments on your phone or tablet, wherever you are, without the risk of accidentally changing anything. Whether you're on-site, in the field, or just double-checking a step mid-protocol, View-Only Mode gives you confidence that what you see is exactly what was documented—nothing more, nothing less.
Here’s what it means for your day-to-day work and why we built it specifically with lab scientists
in mind.
In modern labs, mobility isn't a trend—it's a necessity. Scientists aren't always at their desks. You're at the bench pipetting reagents, walking between stations, inspecting samples, attending internal reviews, or even off-site conducting field research. In these moments, the ability to instantly reference your latest experimental protocols or results from your phone or tablet is transformative.
Our mobile app already empowers you to access your lab notebook, experimental records, and protocols wherever you are. But the introduction of View-Only Mode takes this a step further by providing safe, read-only access—allowing you to consult critical information with confidence, without risking unintended edits or disruptions to your research workflow.
At its core, View-Only Mode is a feature within the Labguru Mobile app (Labhandy) that allows users to access certain types of records in a read-only state. When this mode is active, you can open, browse, and read protocols, experiment records, and any documents linked to them. You have full visibility of the information, just as you would on a desktop computer or in edit mode.
The key difference is that in View-Only Mode, all functions that allow you to make changes, add information, delete data, or alter the content of the records are temporarily disabled. The interface might look slightly different, perhaps with editing buttons hidden or greyed out, clearly indicating that you are in a non-editable state.
Think of it like receiving a digital document that you can read and print, but you can't type into it or change any text. This ensures that the original information remains exactly as it was saved, protecting it from unintended alterations that might occur when working on a mobile device, especially in hands-on situations.
This feature was born from direct feedback from our user community who needed more flexible, on-the-go access without the risk of inadvertently modifying their work.
Across disciplines and environments, we kept hearing the same concerns:
"Sometimes I just need to quickly check the instrument usage instructions while I'm in the middle of an experiment."
"Our QA/QC teams need to review experiment data quickly, but without the risk of making any accidental changes."
"Often, we only need to see one specific value to keep a process moving—and we need to find it fast, whether we're between labs, on the manufacturing floor, or in a meeting room."
View-Only Mode was designed to address all of these challenges head-on. It gives you the ability to consult your protocols or experiments in real time without the risk of unintentionally changing a single word—ideal for referencing instructions mid-experiment with full peace of mind. In fieldwork scenarios where quick access to data is critical but editing must remain restricted, this feature keeps your team informed while maintaining control. And in highly regulated environments like cleanrooms, where compliance protocols prohibit mobile edits, View-Only Mode allows safe, read-only access to critical information without compromising data integrity or operational standards.
The Benefits of Incorporating View-Only Mode into Your Workflow
Implementing and utilizing a feature like View-Only Mode within a mobile ELN/LIMS app offers tangible benefits for individual scientists and the research team as a whole:
We believe that supporting science means more than just checking compliance boxes or integrating with enterprise systems. Built by scientists who understand the realities of research, our platform—along with Labhandy, —offers a seamless, mobile-first experience that empowers teams at multiple stages of discovery. From the lab bench to critical decision points, our tools are intentionally designed to streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and move science forward with confidence.
Access your lab data securely, wherever you are. Book a demo or get in touch, and we’ll show you how to stay protected while working on the go.