| #ffffff;" /> | | | | Prior to the Newton,there were two kinds of |
| Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) is a much used | | | | organizers available in the markets which were |
| instrument which plays the role of both the | | | | known as the Psion Organizer and the Sharp |
| organizer as well as a phone.The main advantage | | | | Wizard.These were developed in the late 80s and |
| of the this device is that it can be used while on | | | | were intended to be portable computers.They |
| the move,is portable and can store a considerably | | | | featured a small keyboard,a rather small display |
| large amount of data. PDAs are supposed to be | | | | and some of the basic features like the alarm |
| an extension and complimentary to the PC,rather | | | | clock,calendar,telephone pad and the calculator.The |
| than being a replacement. | | | | Psion II which was introduced in 1986 was a huge |
| In other words,PDA denotes a small hand held | | | | hit and nearly half a million pieces of this device |
| device which is capable of computing,storing | | | | were sold. |
| information and retrieving the same as per the | | | | The original Palm Pilot or the PDA as we see |
| need or requirement.The term handheld is | | | | today was introduced in March of 1996 by Palm |
| synonymous to the one of the more popular | | | | Computing.This gadget ran on its own Palm |
| products called the Palmtop by Hewlett-Packard. | | | | Operating System,was the size of the shirt |
| The term PDA was first introduced on | | | | pocket and could be synchronized with the user's |
| January7,by the CEO of Apple Computers,John | | | | PC.The battery life of the instrument was longer |
| Sculley who brought out the instrument by | | | | and it could store thousands of contacts and |
| referring to it as Apple Newton.It was not a | | | | other details.The lack of keyboard in the |
| Personal Computer but a personal digital | | | | instrument contributed to its small size.The users |
| assistant.It could be best described as a useful | | | | had to use the Graffiti language and a stylus to |
| handheld device and a communication assistant | | | | access any information. |
| with a touch screen and a pen-stylus which | | | | With such products making the rounds in the |
| makes for easier handling of data and information. | | | | market,Microsoft too jumped in the fray with its |
| The Newton included applications like the | | | | Windows CE,its first operating system for the |
| Notes,Names and Dates and simpler tools like the | | | | mobile instruments.It was adopted by a wide |
| Calculator,Time Zone Maps etc.One of the | | | | range of manufacturers to bring out their versions |
| significant features of the Newton was the | | | | of the hand held personal computer. |
| handwriting recognition capability which made it | | | | Then in 1996,Nokia introduced the first mobile |
| one of the most advanced gadgets in the | | | | phone which contained all the features of the |
| industry.But the device was way too | | | | digital organizer and it was called the 9000 |
| heavy,expensive and the handwriting recognition | | | | Communicator.This developed into a huge |
| software not too accurate.So it was discontinued | | | | successful category of cell phones which are |
| in 1998,six years after its inception. | | | | known as the smart phones in today's parlance. |