Personal digital assistants

PDAs

Personal digital assistants are handheld devices that were originally designed as personal organizers, but became much more versatile over the years. The many uses and tasks of a basic PDA include many features calculating, use as a clock and calendar, playing computer games, accessing the Internet, sending and receiving E-mails, use as a radio or stereo, video record, recording notes, use for an address book, and use for a spreadsheet. Newer PDAs also have both colour screens and audio capabilities, enabling them to be used as mobile phones (PDA Phone), web browsers or media players. Many PDAs access the Internet, intranets or extranets via Wi-Fi, or Wireless Wide-Area Networks (WWANs).

PDA Terminology
Operating system - Is a program that after being primarily installed, by a booby program, will administer all programs of a PDA.

Processor - A processor is the logic circuitry that responds to and processes the primary instructions that drive a PDA.

Memory/storage – This is a part of the PDA’s hardware that retains physical state or data, even when there is no source of electricity powering it.

Bluetooth – This is radio technology built around a new chip that enables you to transmit signals over short distances between computers and hand-held devices without the use of wires.

Bluetooth is an industrial specification for wireless personal area networks, also known as IEEE 802.15.1. Bluetooth provides a way to connect and exchange information between devices like personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, laptops, PCs, printers, digital cameras and video game consoles such as the Nintendo Wii via a secure, globally unlicensed short range radio frequency.

The name Bluetooth is derived from the cognomen of a 10th century king of Denmark, Harald Bluetooth. According to the inventors of the Bluetooth technology, Harald engaged in diplomacy which led warring parties to negotiate with each other, making Bluetooth a fitting name for their technology, which allows different devices to talk to each other. The name of the king in Danish was Harald Blåtand and the Bluetooth logo is based on the H and B runes.

Wi-Fi :Also known as wireless fidelity. This type of wireless local area network uses certain specifications which conform to IEEE 802.11b.

Infrared port :A function that enables you to accept and send data from any other IR-enabled PDA.

Sync accessory :A cable that connects the PDA to another computing device through a USB or data port.

USB drive mode - Enables you to access, copy and move files between your PDA and the computer with Drive Mode. To access this you turn on Drive Mode, plug your sync cable into the USB port of the host computer, and the files stored on your PDA will appear as if you were using a USB drive. The benefit of the drive mode is that you are able to edit files without physically transferring them to the host computer. The changes that you make to the files are automatically sav

ed to your PDA:and not on the computer.

Web browsing :This is a navigation tool running on your PDA, which enables users to access web servers within the Internet, browse information, view images, and download applications.

Desktop sync :The ability to connect with a personal computer from your PDA and share information between the two units.

Handwriting input :A function where you can physically handwrite on the PDA screen, where it will then be transcribed into a typed form.

Stylus : A blunt, pencil-like instrument used for writing or making selections on a PDA's touch-sensitive screen.

The idea of remembering word patterns and connecting the dots might not sound like an easy way to write an e-mail.

But IBM researchers are betting that tracing letters on a touch screen will become the way to write on a handheld device like a PDA or mobile phone.

They have developed software that works by recognising the patterns of words.

"In the long run this will be one of the major interaction methods for mobile devices," said IBM researcher Shumin Zhai.

Dubbed Shark (Shorthand Aided Rapid Keyboarding), the team say the software is ready to go into commercial development and could be bundled with PDAs in the coming months.

Some TV companies such as the BBC are broadcasting their news on the services.