Abstract: An intelligent case for a handheld computer, the case including a compartment for removably housing the handheld computer; a microcontroller; a first communication device to enable communication between the handheld computer and the microcontroller; one or more recesses for housing one or more data-capture modules; and a second communication device to enable communication between the data-capture modules and the microcontroller; wherein the microcontroller includes: a module manager adapted to handle activation of the data-capture modules, collection of data from the data-capture modules, and communication of the collected data to the hand-held computer; and a first set of applications for controlling, in a first mode, at least some operations of the module manager independently of the handheld computer.