PDAs—The Second Digital Revolution
Do you remember when computers were first coming out and changing the way businesses operated? Pretty soon, it wasn’t just businesses—computers and the internet have changed the way that people live their everyday lives.
The same thing is happening again with PDAs. PDAs, or Personal Digital Assistants, are mini computers that fit into the palm of your hand. The capabilities of PDAs are practically unlimited!
In The Beginning
Personal Digital Assistants, also known as pocket computers or palmtop computers, did not always have such a wide array of features. When the digital instruments were first introduced, they were designed to be merely personal organizers. These personal organizers had a simple range of features, such as a notepad function, calendar, and calculator.
The Evolution Of PDAs
As PDAs became increasingly used for business purposes, more features were added to allow the user to have access to almost every form of communication available—right at their fingertips! Today, PDAs can access the Internet, receive and send Emails, play mp3 files, create spreadsheets, play games, record videos, act as cameras, and even act a phones!
Standard Features
There are a few features that every PDA needs in order to function. Typically, PDAs use a touch screen to enter data. A stylus is used to interact with the touch screen. For business use, PDAs typically have a full keyboard as opposed to a touch screen.
PDAs also have a memory card slot for storing information. Most early PDAs did not have a memory card slot, but it has become a standard feature. Personal Digital Assistants now typically have a Secure Digital (SD) or Compact Flash slot. Some even have a USB port to accommodate USB flash drives.
The final standard feature of a Personal Digital Assistant is Bluetooth or WiFi for connectivity. This is how the device is able to access email and the Internet anywhere, at any time.
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