| Palm-top computers or Personal Digital Assistants | | | | Computing's original ambition to create a |
| (PDA) have found their way into innumerable coat | | | | handwriting recognition software for other |
| pockets across the country, having replaced the | | | | devices; a process which convinced them that |
| revered authority of the paper based agendas | | | | they could create better hardware as well. Toy |
| and index cards. The Palm Corporation produces a | | | | Robots Initiative and Manipulative Lab created the |
| number of Personal Digital Assistants, which run | | | | design of the Palm Pilot with the purpose of |
| the Palm operating system. Palm pilot was the | | | | enabling just about anyone to start building and |
| name given to the first two generations of PDA | | | | programming mobile robot at a modest cost. |
| manufactured by Palm Computing in 1996; which | | | | In 1998, when Pilot Pen Corporation brought on a |
| was then a division of US Robotics, then of 3Com | | | | trademark infringement lawsuit, handheld devices |
| and finally a standalone corporation. | | | | from Palm venue as Palm Connected Organizers |
| Palm Pilot was the brainchild of Jeff Hawkins, | | | | officially and as 'Palms' more commonly. However |
| Donna Dubinsky and Ed Colligan who were the | | | | palm pilot had entered the vernacular as a |
| founders of Palm Computing. The first machines | | | | synonym for PDA. The Palm Pilot is bestowed |
| were Palm Pilot 1000 (RAM size 128 K) and Palm | | | | with many advantages. It is small enough to be |
| Pilot 5000 (RAM size 512 K). Though provided with | | | | carried during just about every waking moment, |
| a serial port, they did not have infrared ports, | | | | so that useful bits of information may have no |
| backlights or flash memory. After the first two | | | | need to find place in your already cluttered brain. |
| attempts, Palm Pilot Personal (RAM size 512 K) | | | | Also, it is a fully functioning computer where the |
| and Palm Pilot Professional (RAM size 1024 K) | | | | contents can be searched, as you want. Turn it |
| were introduced which had a backlight but no | | | | into what you like - patient-tracking device, |
| infrared ports or flash memory as yet. Meanwhile, | | | | calculator, repository of information, built-in |
| Palm Computing, which was a subsidiary of 3Com, | | | | calendar, address book, to-do list, memo pad or |
| became upset on not having enough control over | | | | almost anything else. What's more? This five |
| the palm pilot and founded Handspring in June | | | | inches, six ounces Palm Pilot is an easy fit in any |
| 1998, which due to the efforts of Hawkins | | | | shirt pocket and runs for weeks on two AAA |
| became the first Palm OS licensee. | | | | batteries. |
| Handspring later produced 'Handspring Visor', a | | | | However, theoretical drawbacks like "the Palm |
| clone of the Palm Pilot that included a hardware | | | | Pilot traces you wherever you are" has not |
| expansion slot. A standard feature of all Palm | | | | stopped it from being an enormous success. The |
| Pilots is to have 8 megabytes of memory and | | | | latest entry, the Palm VII brings us a step closer |
| internal rechargeable batteries. Handspring merged | | | | to the 'Total Connectedness' scenario of the |
| with Palm to form palmOne in 2003. The whole | | | | future. |
| idea of Palm Pilot had developed from Palm | | | | |