Handheld computer
A Handheld device (also known as handheld computer or simply handheld) is a pocket-sized computing device, typically utilising a small visual display screen for user output and a miniaturised keyboard for user input. In the case of the personal digital assistant (PDA) the input and output are combined into a touch-screen interface. Along with mobile computing devices such as laptops and smartphones, PDAs are becoming increasingly popular amongst those who require the assistance and convenience of a conventional computer, in environments where carrying one would not be practicable.
The following are typical handhelds:
- Information appliance
- Smartphone
- Personal digital assistant
- Mobile phone
- Personal Communicator
- Handheld game console
- Ultra-Mobile PC
- Handheld television
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Categories of mobile devices
Due to the varying levels of functionality associated with mobile devices, in 2005 T38 and the DuPont Global Mobility Innovation Team proposed the following standardized definition of mobile devices:
- Limited Data Mobile Device: devices that have a small, primarily text-based screen, with data services usually limited to SMS (Short Message Service) and WAP access. Typical examples of these devices are cellular phones.
- Basic Data Mobile Device: devices that have a medium-size screen (typically between 120 x 120 and 240 x 240 pixels), menu or icon-based navigation via a thumb-wheel or cursor, and which offer access to e-mail, address book, SMS, and a basic web browser. Typical examples of these devices are BlackBerry and Smartphone.
- Enhanced Data Mobile Device: devices that have medium to large screens (typically above 240 x 120 pixels), stylus-based navigation, and which offer the same features as the "Basic Data Mobile Devices" plus native applications such as Microsoft Office Mobile applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and custom corporate applications such as mobilized versions of SAP, intranet portals, etc. Typical devices include those running Windows Mobile 2003 or version 5, such as Pocket PCs.
Handhelds at Work
Handheld devices have become ruggedised for use in mobile field management situations to record information in the field. They are now used to achieve a variety of tasks for increasing efficiency that include digitizing notes, send and receive invoices, asset management, capture signatures, manage parts and scan barcodes etc<ref>Handhelds Work Benefits Sourced March 2007</ref>.
Internet faxing with handhelds
- Most handhelds can be used to send and receive faxes by email using an Internet fax service. Internet faxing also enables handheld users to print documents by sending them to a nearby fax machine. This service is available through most internet fax providers.
A pocket computer is a small calculator-sized handheld computer programmable in BASIC. This specific category of computers existed primarily in the 1980s. Manufacturers included Sharp, Casio, Tandy/Radio Shack (Selling Casio and Sharp models under their own TRS line), as well as Hewlett-Packard and many more.
Though not identical in principle, personal digital assistants, handheld PCs, and calculators serve approximately the same functions as the old pocket computers, generally with significantly more computing power in a package the same size or smaller.
Further Reading
- For further reading on the subject please refer to Pocket_computer in Wikipedia.
- For further related information please refer to Wikipedia Handheld computer
