Personal digital assistant: Encyclopedia II - Personal digital assistant - Functionality

Personal digital assistant - Functionality

Personal digital assistant - Touch screen

Practically all PDAs features a touch screen for user interaction, having only a few buttons usually reserved for shortcuts to oftenly used programs. The PDAs usually have a detachable stylus that can be used on the touch screen. Interaction is then done by tapping the screen to activate buttons or menu choices, and dragging the stylus to for example highlight text.

Text input is usually done in one of two ways:

• Using a virtual keyboard, where a keyboard is shown on the touch screen. Input is done by tapping the letters.
• Using letter or word recognition, where letters or words are written on the touch screen, and then "translated" to letters in the currently activated text field.

Personal digital assistant - Synchronization

An important functionality for PDAs is the possiblity of synchronizing data with a PC or home computer. The data synchronized is usually contacts, appointments and e-mail, allowing users to access the same information on the computer and the PDA.

The synchronizing also prevents the loss of information stored on the device in case it is lost or stolen. Another advantage is that data input is usually a lot quicker on a personal computer, since text input via a touch screen is still not quite optimal. Transferring data to a PDA via the computer is therefore a lot quicker than having to manually input all data on the handheld device.

Personal digital assistant - Customization

Like a personal computer, it is possible to install additional software on most PDAs. Software can be bought or downloaded from the Internet, allowing users to personalize their PDAs to their liking. Some PDAs also allow for adding hardware. The most common is a memory card slot, which allows the users to get additional and exchangable storage space on their handheld devices. There are also miniature keyboards that can be connected to some PDAs for quicker text input. PDAs with Bluetooth can also use Bluetooth devices like headsets with their PDAs.

Personal digital assistant - Other functionality

While not common, there are other functions that are commonly added to PDAs, although not all of them have every function. Some examples are:

• Audio recording
• Camera functionality, allowing users to take photos or short video clips
• Map functionality, with a GPS receiver for localization
• Cell Phone functionality, which lets users make and receive phone calls, SMS and MMS messages.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Functionality", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki