This series reviews major developments in handheld computers, a genre of technology that includes PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), smart phones, and mini-tablet devices with up to 8 inch screens, but not laptops and their variation as tablet PCs.
Handhelds must be seen in a larger context, in the technology trends that have long been underway.
II. Beginning Palm PDA Operation and Information Management
III-Handwriting Recognition. Enter name into Memo Pad.
V. Large files: images and documents.
VI. Video and audio, Palm Zire 72 specs. ; Review. Note wireless capacity.
VII.a. Probes
VII.b. Handhelds for GPS (global positioning systems)
VII c. mini-tablet computers, from $100 OCPC initiative of MIT to the up to $1500 Fujitsu P1500
VIII. Implications for Learning Teams and Classrooms
IX. Implications for the digital divide. Keynote Speaker, Dr. Elliot Soloway, Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education,SITE 2003.
Executive Summary: PDAs are still under-appreciated today in education circles, and still undergoing significant development and change. Schools should at least have pilot projects underway with recent PDA technology. Given current costs and features, they are the best bet yet for achieving equity of access by our students to 21st century knowledge and skills. Beginning with November 2004 reports, analysis showed that PDAs are evolving into "smart phones" which have grown from 3% to 16% of the market in one year, indicated the beginning of the end for basic PDAs (Maslog-Levis, 2004). Smart phones combine PDA features with cell phone capacity and multiple other features such as cameras and GPS features. These smart phones can cost much more than basic PDAs. Today, sales of PDA-only units have plummeted downward while cell phone/wi-fi sales show rapid growth.
Dean, Katie (November 15, 2002). Study: PDA’s Good For Education. http://www.wired.com/news/school/0,1383,56297,00.html
Maslog-Levis, Kristyn (November 15, 2004). Disconnected PDAs are dead, according to RIM. ZDNet Australia Available November 15, 2004 at http://news.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/mobile/0,39020360,39173803,00.htm
Rappaport, Steve (2004). A Guide to Handheld Computing in K-12 Schools. Comprehensive CoSN report examines the current and future applications of handheld technology in the classroom, includes case studies. Available on November 15, 2004 at http://www.cosn.org/about/press/062004.cfm
Soloway, Elliot (2001). Supporting science inquiry in K-12
using Palm computers: a Palm manifesto.
Available 25 March 1, 2003 at
www.pdaed.com/features/palmmanifesto.xml
Other Handheld/PDA bibliographies:
Mobile Learning Bibliography http://learning.ericsson.net/mlearning2/resources/bibliography.doc
GoKnow.com http://goknow.com/GettingStarted/Documents/HH_Bibliography.pdf
Handheld Trade Press
http://handhelds.engadget.com/
CNET Handheld and GPS product reviews
PCWorld's section on Handhelds and PDAs
Origami (ultra-mobile PC) March 7, 2006, 8 inch screen; Gizmodo.com news story about current and future devices
-Fujitsu P1500 series, 8.9 inch screen: article 1;
Author: Houghton | PDAstoryframes.html - Updated May 31, 2006