A History Of The Pda

By Author: Neo Nashville
Total Articles: 30
Comment this article

Palmtop computers, usually referred to nowadays as PDAs, have been around since the beginning of the eighties. However, they have only really taken off in a big way in the last few years. The simple reason for this is that more recent models have been able to do a heck of a lot more for us, thanks to innovative technologies such as 3G mobile telephony and wireless connectivity. A modern PDA, such as a Nokia N series or a BlackBerry, can do many of the things that a modern PC can do, such as connect to the internet, and run third party applications, as well as doubling as a rather swish mobile phone.

The first true palmtop computer, released in 1983, was the Casio PF3000, which was able to replicate all the functions of a paper based Filofax or Rolodex in one portable, battery powered package. Throughout the eighties and nineties, a number of similar items built by firms such as GO and Psion were marketed as digital personal organisers.

The term PDA was first used by Apple to describe their new digital organiser, the Newton, in 1992. The marketing hype described it as The Computer of the Future, which in some ways ...
... it was, as it did away with the keyboard to make way for a large touch sensitive screen and a small plastic stylus.

The concept was well ahead of its time, and huge sales were expected. Unfortunately for Apple, and even more so for those who bought one of these items, the handwriting recognition was somewhat less than reliable, making the entry of even simple information via this method something of a hit or miss affair. They did make subsequent revisions to the design which improved matters somewhat, but the negative publicity surrounding the initial models meant that the Newton was never destined to be a commercial success.

The next big thing in the world of the PDA was to come out of Finland in 1996. The Nokia 9000 communicator, dubbed the worlds first smartphone, combined the typical functions of a PDA with a mobile phone, allowing text messages to be typed using a QWERTY keypad amongst other things, and almost overnight became the biggest selling PDA of all time.

The PDA of today uses a variety of input devices such as trackballs, scroll wheels, thumb keyboards and touch screens. They also have a memory card slot for storing and retrieving information, and can use all manner of wireless communications technologies including Bluetooth, WiFi, and Mobile telephony.

One of the most important functions of a PDA is that you can connect to a PC and share the data between them, a technique known as synchronisation. This means that you can export all of your contact details, messages, and diary entries from your PC to your PDA, and vice versa, at the touch of a button. Not only does this mean that you don't have to enter any of the same information twice, but it also means that your valuable data is backed up, in case one or other device is lost or ceases to function.

The PDA has gone from being a simple pocket organiser to being a full blown wireless communications device with more computing power than a space shuttle in the space of less than thirty years. At the current rate of advancement, the mind boggles as to what form the PDA will take in the future!
Vodafone stock a large mobile phone range, including Blackberry for you to chose from.