PDA+Technology

=__//PDA Technology//__=

PDA's or Personal Digital Assistants are a lightweight, hand-held, usually pen-based computer used as a personal organizer. Other names that refer to the PDA are Pocket PC's and Palmtop Computers. PDA's are quite a new Technology to hit the market over the past few years and are continually being updated with the best and greatest technology. PDA's are used for a variety of different things, mainly however, they are used for business. With capabilities such as organizing phone and address books, creating spreadsheets, word processing, video capabilities, mass storage, e-mailing, internet, wi-fi, audio player, and an easy to use touch screen. These just touch on some of the newest PDA's features. The most recent introduction in the PDA technology world is the new PDA phones or also known as smartphones, which incorporates the cell-phone capabilities along with having the PDA capabilities all in one unit. Doing this allows the user to now only carry one unit, and it now offers other capabilities such as the ability to take pictures and record short video clips. They also offer bluetooth communication to transfer data back and forth with other handhelds which helps speed up the business world. Over time, the PDA phone will take over in the growing business world and could possibly even rule out laptops. I'm in

=__//The Basics: What PDA's do//__=

Even the basic models of PDA's handle the standard personal information management (PIM) functions, run application software, and synchronize with PC's.

Standard PIM functions: - store contact information - make to-do lists - take notes - track appointments with datebook and calander - remind you of dates and times with clock and alarm functions - perform calculations

Run specialized software applications: - pocket versions of Word, Excell, Internet Explorer, Outlook, and Windows Media Player - also, DataViz documents to Go, palmOne Media, VersaMail email software, and web-browsing software - all devices can run other kinds of software including games, expense, multimedia, travel, medical, exercise and diet, time and billing, and reference.

=__//The History of PDAs. Where they originated from?//__=

PDA technology today has come a long way compared to where it started. Now they can be the key to the center of a person’s life by keeping them on schedule, helping complete assignments and even incorporate games to kill time. Back in 1975, this kind of technology was not even thought of, or at least not planned to be on just a single device—in some cases—no bigger than a deck of playing cards. Back then, your PDA did one thing; calculate numbers. That’s right, PDAs of the past were no more than your average calculator. The world took a turn when personal electronic organizers came into production in 1984. Along with computers advancing at the rate that they did, the idea came to take bits and pieces of the computer technology in add it to the organizers, thus further advancing that technology. With all of the additions being made to the PDAs a key component to the evolution of this organizer is its compact size. With PDAs keeping up with computers the way they are, people might forget their once simple and basic form.

=__//The Future of PDAs. Where are they going?//__=

Some people say that Personal Digital Assistants are DEAD! That the rate in which techonolgy is increasing towards the new smartphones will wipe PDAs off the market. Although this might be a possible senario, PDAs are enhancing their technologies just as smartphones are. PDAs are these days mostly used for the busniess industry to make busisness travel easier for the employees. When someone goes traveling for business, taking a laptop along is not the easiest task. Laptops are heavy, bulky, and cost alot more than PDAs for the company. Not to leave out the increased security at the airport when taking a trip, the security officials ask travelers to take out the laptop, basically take it apart and even turn it on. A PDA can easily be scanned through an X-ray with no damage done to the device. A PDA with a wirelress keyboard can run about $470 when a laptop with just as much capabilities can cost you more than twice as much. One of the newest and most advanced PDAs on the market today is the PalmOne Tungsten T5. The T5 has come along way from the basic PDA and is capable of storing alsmot every type of file, from images, MP3s, video, documents and powerpoints and it also come standard with alarm clocks and calenders. This PDA can connect wirelessly to your cell phone to allow interent acess and file swapping and Bluetooth technology. The PDA is now starting to offer the newest WIMAX communication which will allow the user to connect wireless from a long distance. PDAs are not dead, and with the increase in techonolgies available, the personal Digital assistant is going to be a great, cost effective and stylish way to do business.

__//**External Links**//__ [|History of PDA's] [|Future of PDA's] [|Basics of PDA's] [|Top Ten PDA Models]