PDA

Personal digital assistants (PDAs) are handheld computers, but have become much more versatile over the years. PDAs are also known as small computers or palmtop computers. PDAs have many uses: calculation, use as a clock and calendar, accessing the Internet, sending and receiving E-mails, video recording, typewriting and word processing, use as an address book, making and writing on spreadsheets, scanning bar codes, use as a radio or stereo, playing computer games, recording survey responses, and Global Positioning System (GPS). Newer PDAs also have both color screens and audio capabilities, enabling them to be used as mobile phones (smartphones), web browsers, or portable media players. Many PDAs can access the Internet, intranets or extranets via Wi-Fi, or Wireless Wide-Area Networks (WWANs). Many PDAs employ touch screen technology.

FEATURES:

Currently, a typical PDA has a touch screen for entering data, a memory card slot for data storage and at least one of the following for connectivity: IrDA, Bluetooth and/or WiFi. However, many PDAs (typically those used primarily as telephones) may not have a touch screen, using softkeys, a directional pad and either the numeric keypad or a thumb keyboard for input.



Software typically required to be a PDA includes an appointment calendar, a to-do list, an address book for contacts and some sort of note program. Connected PDAs also typically include E-mail and Web support.

Touch ScreenTypical features

Currently, a typical PDA has a touch screen for entering data, a memory card slot for data storage and at least one of the following for connectivity: IrDA, Bluetooth and/or WiFi. However, many PDAs (typically those used primarily as telephones) may not have a touch screen, using softkeys, a directional pad and either the numeric keypad or a thumb keyboard for input.

Software typically required to be a PDA includes an appointment calendar, a to-do list, an address book for contacts and some sort of note program. Connected PDAs also typically include E-mail and Web support.

Touch screen

Many original PDAs, such as the Apple Newton and the Palm Pilot, featured touch screens for user interaction, having only a few buttons usually reserved for shortcuts to often used programs. Touch screen PDAs, including Windows Pocket PC devices, usually have a detachable stylus that can be used on the touch screen. Interaction is then done by tapping the screen to activate buttons or menu choices, and dragging the stylus to, for example, highlight.

Many original PDAs, such as the Apple Newton and the Palm Pilot, featured touch screens for user interaction, having only a few buttons usually reserved for shortcuts to often used programs. Touch screen PDAs, including Windows Pocket PC devices, usually have a detachable stylus that can be used on the touch screen. Interaction is then done by tapping the screen to activate buttons or menu choices, and dragging the stylus to, for example, highlight.

Although many early PDAs did not have memory card slots, now most have either an SD (Secure Digital) and/or a Compact Flash slot. Although originally designed for memory, SDIO and Compact Flash cards are available for such things as Wi-Fi and Webcams. Some PDAs also have a USB port, mainly for USB flash drives.

As more PDAs include telephone support, to keep the size down, many now offer miniSD or microSD slots instead of full-sized SD slots.

Most modern PDAs have Bluetooth wireless connectivity, an increasingly popular tool for mobile devices. It can be used to connect keyboards, headsets, GPS and many other accessories, as well as sending files between PDAs. Many mid-range and superior PDAs have Wi-Fi/WLAN/802.11-connectivity, used for connecting to Wi-Fi hotspots or wireless networks.



APPLICATIONS OF PDA :

1) Games
2) Phone calls
3) Emails / SMS
4) eBooks
5) Watching movies
6) Diary
7) Contacts
8) Alarms
9) Finances
10) Internet
11) Reference material (iSilo, TR3 etc.)
12) mp3 player
13) Golf score keeper
14) Calculator
15) Trip management
16) Torch (I've used it a few times for this)
17) Radio player (with internet)
18) Office document reader/editor
19) Medication manager
20) Diet manager
21) Photo viewer
22) To do list!
23) Pregnancy and Birth monitoring (Apparently it's true)
24) planning projects (bigger scope)
25) password keeper
26) weather (like when the satellite TV goes out so you can't get the weather channel, but you want to see the radar, since you are in a tornado watch)
27) Make little notes to remember/reference later
28) List questions for the pediatrician appointments.
29) In-car / other navigation
30) VOIP (Phone Calls...again)
31) Journal (Different from a diary)
32) Doorstop
33) Cookbook
34) News Reader (NNTP/RSS)
35) Camera
36) Flash drive
37) IM client
38) Wireless modem for laptop etc
39) Terminal Services / VNC client
40) Scanning barcodes
41) Giving presentations
42) Drawing pictures
43) Beaming / receiving business / vCards

and many more .............