History of the PDA

History of the PDA.

The evolution of the PDA, which is also referred to as ‘Personal Digital Assistant’ spans almost 3 decades (1975 to the present). During this time, the handheld computer has seen many changes to what it is today. And during this time, several pioneering companies have played significant roles.

Each company contributed to the primary front-end features that are considered standard in modern devices, from the technology's invention to its acceptance as a mainstream product. Plus there have been several back-end technology developments and break-throughs in the field of architecture, chips, programming interfaces and speed. It is extremely difficult, if not almost impossible to know who invented the first miniature keyboard although there is a relevant patent. However, we can say with near certainty, which were the first handheld devices to include these technologies. It is the gathering of all these first-of-breed offerings that together created the modern handhelds.

The modern PDA is the ideal combination of maximum computing power in minimum space. Until quantum computing and nanotechnology are perfected, which will probably be many decades from now, the PDA will remain the smallest practical computer. Besides, the PDA is a digital device that has a one-handed design, can function independently, and features a non-appliance, non-mathematical application set. Here “digital,” means that we can rule out analog assistant devices… the abacus, slide rule, compass and such others. Anyone can argue that these were the earliest human PDAs, but the question obviously applies only to modern electronics.

“One-handed design,” means that it must be approximately palm-sized or handheld. Anything bigger than a videotape or anything that requires two hands to reasonably use isn’t a PDA. “Function independently,” means that it must not rely on externally plugged power and that it must not require the user to carry extra components. “Non-appliance, non-mathematical application set,” refers to the “assistant” part of a PDA. If it is a digital, handheld, and self-powered but only carries out the function of a calculator or plays games or translates words, then it does not fall in to the category of a PDA.