Personal digital assistants (PDAs) are handheld devices that were originally designed as personal organizers, but have now evolved over the years into small computers that can be used for administrative applications, communication and collaboration, and teaching and learning applications. A PDA may also be referred to as a handheld device, a Palm, or a Pocket PC.
PDAs have many uses: calculating, use as a clock and calendar, playing computer games, accessing the Internet, sending and receiving e-mail, use as a radio or stereo, video recording, recording notes, use as an address book, GPS and use as a spreadsheet. Newer PDAs have both color screens and audio capabilities, enabling them to be used as mobile phones (smartphone), web browsers or portable media players. Many PDAs can access the Internet, intranets or extranets via Wi-Fi, or Wireless Wide-Area Networks (WWANs). One of the most significant PDA characteristic is the presence of a touch screen.
By Alex Lloyd, Axiom Microdevices, Inc. Irvine, Calif. Conventional wisdom has it that increasing levels of integration bring benefits in terms of reduced cost, size and increased reliability.
